Since 1992, The Directors Guild of America has hosted annual seminars featuring its nominees for outstanding feature film directing. Since its inception, film and television director Jeremy Kagan has moderated these sessions in which the finest contemporary directors weigh in on every aspect of the filmmaking process. In this book, Kagan has culled the most insightful and entertaining responses from these acclaimed directors. From script development through pre-production to production and post-production, they offer personal insights into every step of the creative process. Directors Close Up will be of interest to both professional and aspiring directors, as well as to film fans who will enjoy this inside look into making movies.
In Directors Close Up 2, Kagan shines his spotlight on nominees from the 2006–2012 seminars as they discuss their work on some of the most brilliant films of the last several years. the directors offer personal insights into every step of the creative process. They also reveal their candid takes on the best and worst aspects of their profession. Featuring materials from their productions—including storyboards, script notes, sketches, and on-set photos.
IN Directors Close Up 3, Kagan shines his spotlight on nominees from 2013 - 2020 seminars as directors discuss their work on some of the most brilliant films in the last several years. From preproduction to production to postproduction, the directors offer personal insights in every step of the creative process. They also reveal their candid takes on the best and worst aspects of their profession.
KEYS TO DIRECTING is a “living” eTextBook created by Professor Jeremy Kagan of the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. This unique educational interactive e-TextBook reflects the decades of his teaching, his being Chairperson of Special Projects at the Directors Guild of America, and his multi award winning professional work in features films and television.
What makes this online book stand out is that embedded in the text are hundreds of video clips to illustrate the various issues. It also is continually changing as new approaches to directing challenges get incorporated along with new clips from movies and television to keep the book current.
Professor Kagan has interviewed hundreds of the greatest directors edited in the three volumes of Directors Close Up and their processes and insights offer in Keys to Directing a variety of approaches to deal with casting, motivating performances, rehearsal and camera for storytelling. The casting chapter examines different methods from the conversational to readings, how to work with couples, non-actors, children and stars. The chapters on directing performances explore many methodologies to directing actors and specifically cover intentional, attitudinal and technical directing. Professor Kagan presents a concept of character development called the Relationship Tree and examines issues of status, prior circumstance, personalization, typologies, being in the moment, emotional truth and how to deal with an actor who disagrees. Rehearsal techniques are explored in detail. And in the chapters on camera, the eTextBook addresses lenses, shot sizes, the "line," camera moves, points of view, green screen, and many more aspects of how to tell your story with the camera.
Here are some endorsements by well-known filmmakers and educators:
"KEYS TO DIRECTING is rich and informative, profound yet eminently clear in dispensing smart, intuitive, applicable advice and instruction. Acquired over decades of directing, teaching and in-depth conversations with fellow filmmakers, Kagan’s depth of knowledge is evident in every word, his wisdom matched by the palpable affection and respect he clearly has for the mysterious, difficult, joyous craft of directing. A uniquely valuable read for the filmmaking novice and experienced director alike."
- SHAWN LEVY, film director of Night at the Museum, Free Guy, Deadpool and Wolverine
- SHAWN LEVY, film director of Night at the Museum, Free Guy, Deadpool and Wolverine
"Jeremy Kagan's 'KEYS TO DIRECTING' is an incisive text on the art and craft of motion picture directing. With moving images to illustrate the lessons, Jeremy has created an excellent and straightforward explanation of the basic skills needed to become a filmmaker."
- JOHN LANDIS, film director of Animal House, Trading Places
"Jeremy Kagan, who I have had the pleasure to work with, has been an outstanding film and television director for four decades and as a tenured professor teaching film direction at USC he has now created a unique insightful interactive eBook on learning the craft. It is not only great for the beginner but a wonderful refresher course for the most skilled professional."
- THOMAS SCHLAMME, television director/producer of West Wing, Manhattan
"A wonderfully clear, articulate, intelligent and enlightening look into the basic tools of directing. Certainly, the use of clips from so many various sources is a major step forward. The Scalar application allows you to illustrate in a way that we’ve only been able to do in the classroom with Power Point or more clumsy methods."
- JOHN BADHAM, teacher and film director of Saturday Night Fever, WarGames
"As a teacher of film directing I always approach a new book on the craft with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. But as soon as I began reading Jeremy Kagan's 'Keys to Directing', I knew I was in for an experience that would both intrigue and inform. It's a special treat to read about techniques, philosophies and approaches to the world of directing from such a unique perspective as Jeremy Kagan's. And then add to that mix the delightful and informative quotes and insights of those master directors and storytellers that Mr. Kagan has so meticulously interviewed and studied over the past 25 years. Cherish this book as an essential companion as you venture deeper into the often complex and illusive world of cinematic storytelling."
- MARK W. TRAVIS, author of Directing Feature Films and The Film Director's Bag of Tricks
In this book, author, Jeremy Kagan shares his personal journey surrounding the day before his birthday—the day that he dies. An inspirational book about death. It is based on a personal journey and is in the form of a multi-layered and illustrated memoir. The story tracks a near death experience weaving commentary, history, and spiritual insights; and it is intended to broaden the readers’ perspective about their own mortality or as suggested by this manuscript – their own immortality.
