At Raindance we have filmmaking professionals teach our film courses, but that’s not the only way to learn from them. These eight books have been written by Raindance tutors past and present.
Writing
The Science of Writing Characters: Using Psychology to Create Compelling Fictional Characters by Kira-Anne Pelican
If you want to write complex, realistic characters then Kira-Anne Pelican’s book is the best starting point. The Science of Writing Characters is a comprehensive guide to help writers create compelling and psychologically-credible characters that come to life on the page and screen. Drawing on actual psychological theory and research, ranging from personality theory to evolutionary science, the book equips screenwriters and novelists with all the techniques they need to build complex, dimensional characters. The book uses examples from characters you’ll know from Ebbing, Missouri to even Westeros.
Kira-Anne Pelican teaches Using Psychology For Writing Characters at Raindance.
The Virgin’s Promise: Writing Stories of Feminine Creative, Spiritual, and Sexual Awakening by Kim Hudson
The Virgin’s Promise demystifies the complexities of archetypes and clearly outlines the steps of a Virgin’s Journey to realize her dream. Audiences need to see more than brave, self-sacrificing Heroes. They need to see Virgins who bring their talents and self-fulfilling joys to life. The Virgin’s Promise describes this journey with beats that feel incredibly familiar but have not been illustrated in any other screenwriting book. It explores the yin and yang of the Virgin and Hero journeys to take up their power as individuals, and includes a practical guide to putting this new theory into action.
Kim Hudson teaches The Female Gaze at Raindance.
Raindance Writers’ Lab: Write + Sell the Hot Screenplay by Elliot Grove
Written by our very own Elliot Grove, this book uses a hands-on approach to screenwriting based on his many years of experience teaching the subject for Raindance training. He uses step-by-step processes illustrated with diagrams and charts to lend a visual structure to the teaching. Techniques are related to real-life examples throughout, from low-budget to blockbuster films.
Write & Sell the Hot Script is also a course Elliot Grove teaches at Raindance.
Save the Cat!: The Only Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder
Save The Cat has become an industry-standard book, and for good reason, as it covers everything from the four elements of every winning logline, the seven immutable laws of screenplay physics, the 10 genres that every movie ever made can be categorized by and why they are important to your script. This ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a showbiz veteran who proved that you can sell your script if you can save the cat.
Blake Snyder used to teach screenwriting at Raindance.
Directing
Secrets of Screen Directing: The Tricks of the Trade by Patrick Tucker
Patrick Tucker has over 40 years of directing experience, both on screen and on stage. He used this knowledge to write a practical guide that bridges the gap between classroom learning and the realities of being on a set. The book covers the craft of effectively telling stories, exploring the reality of a directing career with practical day-to-day solutions and problem-solving methods for working directors.
Patrick Tucker teaches as part of the Saturday Film School at Raindance.
Producing
Raindance Producers’ Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking by Elliot Grove
The second book on the list by Elliot Grove and it’s a clear-cut, no-nonsense approach to micro-budget filmmaking and producing. Elliot’s wealth of teaching and filmmaking experience combined with winning formulas for marketing and promotion make this book a must-have one-stop shop for filmmakers!
Lo-to-No Budget Filmmaking is also a course taught by Elliot Grove at Raindance.
The Filmmakers’ Legal Guide – Second Edition by Tony Morris
When making a film it’s important to understand the law so you don’t get into legal trouble. Tony Morris’s book will help you by answering questions such as: is permission required to use material from a book? Does a contract have to be in writing? May classical music be used in the background of a scene? The Filmmakers’ Legal Guide addresses the practical legal requirements of those making movies, documentaries, shorts, television programs and other audio-visual content.
Tony Morris teaches on the Producer’s Foundation at Raindance.
Success in Film: A Guide to Funding, Filming and Finishing Independent Films by Julia Verdin & Matt Dean
Success in Film is the ultimate guide to funding, filming and finishing any independent film. Written by veteran filmmakers Julia Verdin and Matt Dean, Success in Film has been specially designed to help aspiring producers, directors, writers, actors, editors – anyone who wants to know how to take control of their own destiny in the world of film by making their own movies. Success in Film begins by helping the filmmaker define success for their film and in doing so find the best path to achieve that success.
Julia Verdin runs the Raindance LA hub and teaches on a variety of courses there.
Harvey is an award-winning director and writer, known for writing many bios including this one and the one on his Instagram account. In 2022 he shot his latest short film Are We Doing This? which is currently in crowdfunding on Indiegogo. He has directed several other shorts including The Many Faces of Beth Jones, Yes, Virginia, and the award-winning Life’s a Show.
If he’s not busy making films or feeling uncomfortable writing a biography in the third person, you’ll find him at Raindance as the Filmmaker in Residence.
