Good on you for creating a guide about something you love! I remember as a child when my very staid grandparents asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said "a camera man" not knowing the proper title for a director at the time. Their surprised looks of dissapproval and admonishment to find an interest in a "real" job, is a telling example of how not to snuff out the desires of someone so young.
While I never did enter that field, I could never stop analyzing the hows and whys when watching a film or video. How did they get the camera to move so smoothly when filming someone running down the street? (tracks). How did they get those shots high above the heads of the actors? (before I learned about the utility of cranes).
I'd often have to guess at what was going on behind the camera, and would try to piece together what was happening with every scene. What really got me was the art behind those long scenes shot in one beautiful take. I knew there had to be a lot of planning behind them (and a little bit of luck).
I watched a documentary on audio in film and really learned to appreciate how much it adds to the moviegoing experience. The lighting, textures and general ambiance (I'm a big fan of the art deco and steampunk periods), all combine together into a (hopefully) beautiful whole. :)
Hey Ever,
It is a magical place and I love it dearly... though it might be hard for people to understand after reading the book and seeing all the nightmares one has to endure. But despite all the difficulties, I'm always eager to get to it again.
I'm a fan of well-done long takes myself. In fact, I have a script that I sold that currently getting some traction (including some A-list actor interest). Probably only a small chance I'll get to direct, but I have the opening scene planned out (at least in my mind) as a single long take. Actually, in this case it's necessary for reasons I won't get into (as I don't want to spoil anything).
But I'll always reflect on Goodfellas, Touch of Evil and Old Boy as among my favorites. Maybe some day I'll give the world a great one for future generations to talk about film school!!