Review of Setting Up Your Shots by Jeremy Vineyard (2008)

Patrick Charsky

10/29/2019

Setting Up Your Shots by Jeremy Vineyard is an introductory text about various filmmaking techniques. The author is a filmmaker himself. Illustrations are used throughout the book to show how a filmmaking technique is presented visually. The illustrations are done by Jose Cruz who is also a filmmaker. The book is rather short. It only runs 146 pages and it’s format is more like powerpoint presentation slides than a typical text page from a book. The book I also horizontally longer than a typical book. It gives you a visual sense of how each technique would be reflected on a large rectangular screen.

The book talks about a plethora of filmmaking techniques. It shows how to use various camera shots, angles, and setups. The pan, tilt, the birds eye view are among the many that are discussed in the book. Montage is also talked about. So is the composition of a film shot using deep focus or triple or quadruple figures in a shot. Layering is also discussed. The film also talks about new or experimental techniques like biomass which is when an abundance of people crowd the screen. This is also applied to the use of animals or rain drops.

The book is short and to the point. Each topic only runs about a page long. There are many, many examples which illustrate each point. Most of what it talks about is filmmaking 101 or a basic level course. This is good for beginners or more advanced filmmaker looking for a review or to use as a reference when thinking of filmmaking ideas.

The book isn’t too advanced. The pages are short, sometimes a little too short. And most of the topics would be covered in an introduction to filmmaking class. The illustrations are adequate, nothing more. This is a bare bones approach to learning some of the basics of filmmaking.

The author has said that this book if for people who can’t afford to go to film school and are looking for a crash course in filmmaking techniques. That is just what this book is; a crash course on how to shoot or edit films. It will appeal to a beginner looking to understand some filmmaking methods or as a reference tool for someone looking for ideas about how to shoot, setup, or edit a film. Recommended to filmmakers new and experienced.