Micro-Budget Methods of Cinematic Storytelling

A Practical Guide to Making Narrative Media with Minimal Means
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-75514-4
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 320 Seiten, Format (B × H): 145 mm x 222 mm, Gewicht: 536 g

This accessible handbook is a practical guide to the concepts and techniques of micro-budget, cinematic storytelling. It’s written to be useful and efficient, packed with lessons, examples and practices from the Author’s extensive filmmaking experience and decades of teaching students all over the world.

Demystifying the complex creative process involved in filmmaking, this text provides concrete, detailed and specific steps to develop innovative concepts and execute effective films with micro-budget methods. With a wide range of references, instruction, and illustrations, the reader will learn how to make the most of powerful cinematic tools under budgetary constraints. The focus on cinematic storytelling addresses the fundamentals of understanding principles in all creative practices in any genre, platform, style or duration of any narrative art. The information and lessons here are foundational, presenting a new perspective on the creative process for beginners and experienced alike.

This book is the go-to resource for beginners and students entering today’s industry, as well as those micro-budget and low-budget filmmakers looking for expert inspiration and insight.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mahaffy, Jake

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Theater- und Filmwissenschaft | Andere Darstellende Künste Filmwissenschaft, Fernsehen, Radio Filmproduktion, Filmtechnik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction / MICRO-BUDGET SECTION; 2. Efficiency & Proportion; 3. Micro-budget Methods & Maximization Tactics / STORY SECTION; 4. Narrative & Narration 5. Story Forms & Screenwriting; 6. Performance & Appearance; 7. Performance Modes / TELLING SECTION; 8. Creative Vision; 9. Critique & the Art of Observation; 10. A Director’s Function; 11. Directing Cine-motion / CINEMATICS SECTION; 12. Subjectivity & Mystery; 13. Blocking & Visualization; 14. Editing & Sequence; 15. Case Study: Free in Deed; 16. Conclusion & Goals; Filmography; Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Jake Mahaffy’s micro-budget, self-made films have screened around the world at film festivals and independent venues such as Venice (winning the Orizzonti Best Film Prize/2012, 2015, 2016), Sundance (2004/05/06/08/09/15), SXSW (winning the Narrative Grand Jury Prize/2008, 2016), Rotterdam, Leeds, AFI, Stockholm, Edinburgh, Moscow, Ljubljana, Boston MFA, MoMA (NY), and many others. He founded, developed and led filmmaking programs at several universities as an Associate Professor and has mentored and consulted on projects around the world.