Film as Argument - by Darren Paul Fisher (Paperback)

About the Book

This book makes the case that the secret to feature filmmaking is that it is fundamentally the practice of making a very specific type of argument. It deep dives into how filmmakers are trained and taught to think about filmmaking, looking at hundreds of films to explore why knowing this can both unlock a greater appreciation of the form and improve a filmmaker's technique.

Book Synopsis

If you've picked up this book, it's most likely that you have an interest in movies over-and-above the typical audience member. Perhaps a screenwriter, producer or director looking to improve your work, always searching for any insight that will result in better cinematic storytelling. If that's the case, then good news: this is the book for you. It asks a deceptively straightforward question. Why do we make feature films?

Is it to entertain? To move and audience? To tell a powerful story? For fame and fortune?

You may have answered yes to each, but those answers don't account for the practice overall. Most books about screenwriting and directing are primarily concerned with craft and technique, but how can you truly understand filmmaking - or make the best films - unless you know what purpose it really serves.

So what's the secret? As the title of this book suggests, making feature films is fundamentally the practice of making a very specific type of argument. To see how this works, we will deep-dive into how filmmakers are trained and taught to think about filmmaking, and what traditions they knowingly or unknowingly follow. We will look at hundreds of films and some major case studies, including Toy Story 3, Schindler's List, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Amour, and mother!, to explore how and what films argue, and why knowing this can both unlock both a greater appreciation of the form, and improve the impact your films make.

Review Quotes

"Entertaining and accessible, Film as Argument delivers a powerful message: To move an audience a narrative film must be truly convincing. By redefining the characteristics of a successful film and with fresh insights into the how and why of creative practice, this book will revolutionize your understanding of filmmaking."--Bren Simson "author of Storytelling for Directors: From Script to Screen"

"A clear step-by-step book on how and why we make films. I loved reading it. I could not put it down."--Wayne Blair "director of The Sapphires"

"A thorough exploration of cinematic storytelling, its purpose, and to some degree its responsibility. The book identifies narrative strategies that will undoubtedly be of value to both creative practitioners and anyone interested in the past, present, and future of feature filmmaking."--Billy Frolick "screenwriter and film director"

"Every filmmaker should read this book."--Phillip Noyce "director of Patriot Games"

About the Author

DARREN PAUL FISHER is an international multi-award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, and head of Film, Screen and Creative Media at Bond University, Australia.