Rating: 
Summary: Praising the unexpected
Review: All the previous reviews are extensive and revealing about this very good book. Although i like to praise two thinks about it that impressed me.
The first is the wonderfull way the author initialy explains to the reader the power and the importance of the script. The second is the chapter called "The process of writing" itself. This chapter is an unexpected powerfull gift to the aspiring screenwriter/director who has ideas or pictures and visualisations in his mind and wants to give them life in the form of a good script.
Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable
Review: I first came across this book in film school. I did not intend to be a director back then, I intended to be a writer. And I still refuse to touch a splicer. The startling thing about this book was, it had more to say about story and scene construction -- and more concisely -- than most books out there about actual writing. I've kept it with me ever since.
Rating:
Summary: Plain speak on directing
Review: I have read many books on directing, and recently been directed my first project with a real budget, real crew. This book is the best for learning the production process, and covers it all in a plain-speak nuts & bolts fashion. A great resource ro prepare a director who wants to work at the professional level.
Rating:
Summary: Essential primer for any (semi-)serious filmmaker/student.
Review: Kudos to Mr. Rabiger for making a comprehensive manual tackling issues from script to rehearsal to mise-en-scène fundamentals to editing. He dispels the myth that film directing is that illustrious, far-away, somehow unobtainable form of "magic." Instead, he spends 500+ pages explaining technique, and offering advice that, in a subtle way, is saying "Get off your ass and make films." The point here is NOT to create a masterpiece the first time out. It's about making mistakes, picking yourself up, and trying again. And again. And again. Success in film will NEVER come overnight. He makes that point perfectly clear. He also stresses the importance of learning how and why great films remain great---hint: analysis. Learning the principles of areas like screenwriting, acting, cinematography, and editing are essential. It's like taking apart a machine, learning how it works, then re-assembling it, with a better understanding of its nature. But make sure the theory goes into practice. Otherwise, this book will be a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: Essential primer for any (semi-)serious filmmaker/student.
Review: Kudos to Mr. Rabiger for making a comprehensive manual tackling issues from script to rehearsal to mise-en-scène fundamentals to editing. He dispels the myth that film directing is that illustrious, far-away, somehow unobtainable form of "magic." Instead, he spends 500+ pages explaining technique, and offering advice that, in a subtle way, is saying "Get off your ass and make films." The point here is NOT to create a masterpiece the first time out. It's about making mistakes, picking yourself up, and trying again. And again. And again. Success in film will NEVER come overnight. He makes that point perfectly clear. He also stresses the importance of learning how and why great films remain great---hint: analysis. Learning the principles of areas like screenwriting, acting, cinematography, and editing are essential. It's like taking apart a machine, learning how it works, then re-assembling it, with a better understanding of its nature. But make sure the theory goes into practice. Otherwise, this book will be a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: Essential primer for any (semi-)serious filmmaker/student.
Review: Kudos to Mr. Rabiger for making a comprehensive manual tackling issues from script to rehearsal to mise-en-scène fundamentals to editing. He dispels the myth that film directing is that illustrious, far-away, somehow unobtainable form of "magic." Instead, he spends 500+ pages explaining technique, and offering advice that, in a subtle way, is saying "Get off your ass and make films." The point here is NOT to create a masterpiece the first time out. It's about making mistakes, picking yourself up, and trying again. And again. And again. Success in film will NEVER come overnight. He makes that point perfectly clear. He also stresses the importance of learning how and why great films remain great---hint: analysis. Learning the principles of areas like screenwriting, acting, cinematography, and editing are essential. It's like taking apart a machine, learning how it works, then re-assembling it, with a better understanding of its nature. But make sure the theory goes into practice. Otherwise, this book will be a waste of money.
Rating:
Summary: A useful book for any aspiring video or film-maker
Review: The book is well written and interesting. I found the chapters and appendices on how to find schools, how to start your career very practical and useful.
Rating:
Summary: This book should be more famous
Review: This book doesn't seem to be particularly famous, but it's one of the best books out there on the spirit of the artist as well as the nuts and bolts part of directing. I've bought about three or four feet of books and this is a keeper. You'll refer to it many times and read different chapters at different moments. It's a mature book that doesn't pander to just the dreamers. The cute books are for the dreamers. This one's for the terrified but willing. His other book, "Developing Story Ideas" is good as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Could the author please be more discouraging?
Review: This book is dense and filled with all sorts of self-important and sometimes useful information, but the overall tone made me consider writing a nasty letter to the author. Unfortunately, there is no one distinct chapter entitled "You Probably Will Never Make It As A Director So Get Used to The Idea of Editor, Writer, or Gaffer," so you never know when some discouraging, negative, excitment-crushing comment will pop up. This book is not simply realistic in alerting the reader to the idea that the industry is a tough market, it makes directing sound impossible and you a giant fool for expecting to break into it. How about a little encouragement, Rabiger? Just because you didn't become a famous director yourself doesn't mean there aren't some talented future directors out there currently disguised as innocent victims of your wretched book.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable
Review: This book is designed as a textbook for an aspiring film student. It covers all the basic skills that are necessary in making a movie. It is very complete. Aside from the useful technical knowledge in this book, which alone would give it 5 stars, Rabinger has the student/reader do excercises that has the student develop their own sense of asthetics. Of all the books on filmmaking that I've read, this is one of the most comprehensive, and consequently, most valuable.
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