The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Good but a little outdated
  • An excellent overview of the business of filmmaking
  • Excellent A++
  • Everything you wanted to know about making movies with FILM
  • Get up to speed with this book.
The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age
Steven Ascher , and Edward Pincus
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0452279577

Amazon.com

If film has a language, The Filmmaker's Handbook is your translation guide, dictionary, and phrase book. In over 600 pages, 18 chapters, and nine appendices, the authors detail virtually everything you need to know about filmmaking.

There is probably more information here than anyone needs to know, from which lens to choose all the way through final editing and sound mixing. But too much information is not a bad thing. This is the kind of book that a blossoming filmmaker will surely grow into.

Much of the book focuses on gear and hardware, and rightly so since making a film or video is both dependent on and influenced by the gear that is used. This handbook describes the differences between the tools--film stock, lenses, lighting setups--and the impact of each on the look of the finished product.

This new edition has been updated to include information on digital cameras, the digital video format, nonlinear editing systems, and other contemporary tools. It's odd to see a picture of the Canon XL-1--a very popular and state-of-the-art digital video camera--in a book whose first edition came out in 1983.

The Filmmaker's Handbook is an indispensable guide for any filmmaker, or for anyone who wants a better understanding of the language of film. --Mike Caputo

Book Description

For the first time since its publication in 1984, The Filmmaker's Handbook--the classic volume highlighting the techniques and technologies needed for the creation and production of movies--has been completely revised and updated. Written by filmmakers for filmmakers, this essential text now includes the latest information on digital age filmmaking, where the shifting boundaries between film, video, and computer systems have introduced a wide range of methods and equipment every filmmaker must master to be competitive. This comprehensive reference guide addresses the techniques necessary to make feature, documentary, industrial, and experimental films while detailing the possibilities and limitations of various formats. New chapters spotlight video camera and video editing, essential information for modern film students and makers who focus on video production exclusively. The Filmmaker's Handbook is the perfect primer to guide novices and professionals alike into the twenty-first century of motion picture production.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good but a little outdated.......2005-03-13

I am currently taking beggining film & video classes and one of the requirements is this book. It is a book with tremendous insightful help but unfortunetly some information is getting outdated. Most of the stuff of video are rapidly changing and I think students would benefit more with a up to the date video highlights. The film part is fine and it truly does teach the basics of cinema production (the technical aspect)

5 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of the business of filmmaking.......2004-12-24

For those who love films but don't really know what's involved in their getting made, this is an excellent guide. Of course, it's even more indispensible for those who hope one day to make a film but aren't currently involved in the business. I emphasize "business" here because this isn't really a guide to the art of making films; you could imagine a similar book called "The Entrepeneur's Handbook: A comprehensive guide to establishing your own business in the age of the internet" and it would cover the same types of topics. For a guide to the art of filmmaking/directing, my favorite book is "Film Directing Fundamentals" by Nicholas Proferes. But for the practical and day to day and big picture of the business of filmmaking, "The Filmmaker's Handbook" is Indispensible: an excellent and thorough introduction and guide to the processes, the people, the arrangements, the contracts, the details that go into making films, especially independent films.

I required this book as one of the textbooks for my film history course on "American Independent Film" because it seemed to me there was no better way to indicate to students how much is involved in getting films made. It's a very helpful piece of the course and gives students a perspective that they wouldn't get from my own emphasis on film theory and criticism.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent A++.......2004-05-28

The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age is a title that exactly expresses the intentions of this book. If you are inspiring to be a professional in the video industry then this book is for you. This book is a must for any one person who wants to begin their works in the video industry.

5 out of 5 stars Everything you wanted to know about making movies with FILM.......2004-02-04

I was assigned to read this as a textbook for my film class and wow, this book gets down to every little technical detail you could think of when it comes to making movies. This is definitely an invaluabe resource for anyone who's interested in making narrative, documentary, experimental, or corporate movies with a video or film camera(s).

The book explains the differences between the multitude of film systems from super 8 to 35mm, it goes into detail about how the camera works, discusses how to take care of your equipment and why, and goes all the way up to funding and distributing your movie. There are nine appendices which includes charts and calculations on how to adjust certain aspects of the camera/lens/etc. to get the certain look you want. So if you're on a set and need to adjust something on (or inside) the camera but are unsure of the calculations, it's just quick flip of the book to the appendix to find what you need.

The book also deals with the scientific features of filmmaking so anyone can get a better idea of how the various aspects of filmmaking work and which way of doing things is best for the filmmakers particular needs.

A few problems arise however. The technical jargon can be overwhelming sometimes and may require you to reread a paragraph several times in order to get a clear understanding of what the author is talking about. The fact that there's no glossary doesn't help that problem either. My biggest gripe however is the lack of coverage on digital filmmaking. The book is outdated and lacks the information needed for people wishing to make movies with DV cameras. Despite those problems, I still HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone wishing to make films.

4 out of 5 stars Get up to speed with this book........2002-12-29

The Filmmaker's Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the art & science of filmmaking. Though it is currently falling abit behind with it's coverage of digital technology, as this is moving so fast it's hard for any book to stay current.

It has a lot of excellent information though, and goes into detail many other books lack. It's useful as a reference guide, and not so dry that it doesn't make an interesting read. If you are studying film, or want to get into the industry this book is a must have.
The Digital Filmmaking Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This is the book you'll need...
  • From writing to production: everything you'll need...
  • Good Description of How to Get Started
  • Great for begginners--NOT for advanced or anyone who has any brains
  • Great starting guide and more!!
The Digital Filmmaking Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series)
Ben Long , and Sonja Schenk
Manufacturer: Charles River Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1584504382

Amazon.com

The title of The Digital Filmmaking Handbook is something of an oxymoron, because this thorough book covers everything you need to know about filmmaking production, from concept to screening. The only missing element is film itself.

Film and video production are in transition. Film and analog videotape rapidly are approaching the end of their technological lives, being replaced by digital videotape and digital cameras. You can buy computers that connect to DV cameras and edit DV tape almost anywhere, and they cost only slightly more than an entry-level computer. The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, then, is for anyone buying into the DV revolution who wants to do more than shoot home movies of the kids. It's for filmmakers young and old, professional and hobbyist, who want to learn to shoot, edit, and make great movies.

Unlike traditional filmmaking books, in which only the camera and some audio and editing equipment are addressed, part of this book approaches the medium from a computer hardware and software perspective. Numerous hardware issues like choosing the components for an editing workstation (chapter 5), the kind of digital video camera to use (chapter 6), selecting editing and audio software (chapter 7), and various output formats (chapter 18) are discussed. Also, there are chapters on effects, making video look like film (chapter 17), and digital titling (chapter 16).

The book never strays from speaking to moviemakers instead of moviemaking-gear buyers. Everything from preproduction tasks (such as scripting, storyboarding, and budgeting) to production tasks (like set preparation, lighting, filming (sans film), and sound recording) through final editing, color correction, titles, and output is explained. Filmmaking is heavily dependent on technology, and each of these subjects is well covered. Chapters on audio, for example, include selection of microphone types; differences between mic types; how to connect mics to a DV camera or synchronize audio in postproduction; how to control sound levels; and so on.

The chapter on editing reflects the experience of the authors. Films are understood through their own language, and how scenes are edited determines the dialect of that language. Such techniques as matching screen position, matching emotion and tone, matching action, when to use pauses and overlapping edits, and the effect of pauses and pull-ups (shortening a scene) are defined and justified.

If you can't get into NYU's film school--or even if you can--The Digital Filmmaking Handbook is a worthy reference to keep at your fingertips. --Mike Caputo

Book Description

Since the advent of digital video and desktop editing software, scores of independent producers have become equipped to make their own movies. But because filmmaking involves much more than just buying a camera and a computer, there's The Digital Filmmaking Handbook. This one-stop digital filmmaking resource will guide you from your initial idea to getting your finished project "in the can." It will show you how to create shots and effects that are rarely associated with low-budget productions. And it covers everything from writing and pre-production planning to shooting and post-production editing and effects. Now in its third edition, this best-selling book has been completely updated and revised to include detailed information on a number of important new digital video technologies, including both high-end HD video and the new HDV format, and affordable new digital video standard that lets even low-budget producers work in high-definition video. All of the chapters have been revised to cover the latest hardware, software, and production workflows,, and new exercises offer help with everything from writing to special effects. Whether your goal is an industrial project, a short subject for your Web site, or a feature-length movie for a film festival, this book will help you understand the questions you need to ask, so that you will be prepared to solve the myriad problems that will arise.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is the book you'll need..........2007-04-19

If you're like me, just getting started as a hobbyist filmmaker, this is the book. I only received it yesterday and glancing through the contents, it covers most, if not all of the questions I've had about certain aspects of filmmaking. It is well written in everyday english, easy to understand.
Since yesterday when I first opened the cover, I haven't been able to set it down for very long. It's that good. I highly recommend this book to any and all levels of individuals who want to learn about filmmaking from the ground up. It covers it all.

5 out of 5 stars From writing to production: everything you'll need..........2006-03-16

Ben Long and Sonja Schenk's DIGITAL FILMMAKING HANDBOOK THIRD EDITION pairs a fine DVD packed with project files, film clips and tutorials with an updated, revised edition of a best-selling guide to new digital video technologies. Chapters have all been revised to cover the latest hardware and software configurations and new exercises provide help with everything from writing to production. Black and white screen shots and examples throughout make DIGITAL FILMMAKING HANDBOOK a one-step resource.

5 out of 5 stars Good Description of How to Get Started.......2006-03-13

An excellent one stop guide to getting started in digital filmmaking, realizing of course, that there is no film involved.

This book starts with selecting the things like the type of camera you need to make digital video. And for good work, a good camera is necessary, and expensive. IThe book is intended for the person who is just getting started. It explains the terms, the basic equipment you will need, and so on.

The concept of making a film, no, a video starts with a story. From here you need a script. Then you do a story board to plan your shoot. If this sounds a bit professional, it is. This book presumes that you are serious about making a video. This is a rough cut at what the pros do to make a film. ==From this book alone you probably won't get to the Academy Awards show, but reading and putting into practice what the book says might get you into a commercial or a local indistrial film production.

All in all a good summary of getting started in the digital AV business.

3 out of 5 stars Great for begginners--NOT for advanced or anyone who has any brains.......2005-10-31

This book was written for people that have no clue what a computer, a video camera, or a movie is. It is written for the very inexperienced or novice--the people that should not be making movies to begin with.

But it is packed with information a 7 year old or 88 year old can understand, and it is 95% close to being accurate. I guess if one needs to start somewhere, here it is, but after reading it, please do not make your first movie to send to festivals, make as many as you can, practice, practice, practice, then get a real book. Digital Filmmaking 101, Digital Moviemaking, Independent Filmmakers Manual, and so forth before getting into the movie making world--please.

4 out of 5 stars Great starting guide and more!!.......2003-05-20

This book covers all aspects of digital film making and as such doesn't really have the space needed to go into in depth detail on every subject. Regardless, it is a great place to start. It's a very easy read, unlike a lot of film making books that assume you've already got a Masters degree in film. I wont talk much about content descriptions as other reviewers have done a good job of that already - infact, it was on the strength of such user reviews that I bought the book in the first place. I will say this though, if you haven't already bought a camera, buy this book before you do. Lack of funds may make your choices limited anyway, but you wont regret having read this book first.
I have given the book 4 stars instead of five simply because I found the tutorial sections to be a little out of place. The tutorials seem to make the assumption that you have equipment at your desposal - such as expensive lighting kits - and as I imagine that many readers wont, the significance of these tutorials will be slightly lost by the time you do actually have these items in front of you. Unfortunately I couldn't rate the book at 4.5 stars, but that is what I'd like to give it.
In closing, this shouldn't be, and if you're anything like me it wont be, the only book on digital film making that you buy, but it is definately the perfect place to start.
Digital Moviemaking, 2nd Edition: All the Skills, Techniques and Moxie You'll Need to Turn Your Passion into a Carrer (The Filmmaker's Guide to the 21st Century)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Read it, then read it again, then read a different book.
  • A great source on color space, but that's about it
  • Not worth it!
  • A fun, down-to-earth read, held back by some minor errors.
  • Best book on the subject
Digital Moviemaking, 2nd Edition: All the Skills, Techniques and Moxie You'll Need to Turn Your Passion into a Carrer (The Filmmaker's Guide to the 21st Century)
Scott Billups
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0941188809
Release Date: 2004-07-02

Book Description

Geared to professional-minded people who have had some prior experience in production and understand the fundamental difference between a hobby and a career.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Read it, then read it again, then read a different book........2005-10-31

I liked this book. After getting a degree in film school, then going to a post production school you learn what books and what information is real, is for beginners, and is for the business people looking for a quick buck thinking they can run Hollywood over with their copycat movies.

This book has some guts, although not 100% correct on some issues, but well worth the read.

As Charles Henry Blackledge says in his review--some i agree with and others I do not...

Chuck writes---------------------------------------------------------------
If you're looking for a book that will give you practical, nuts and bolts, down to brass tacks advice on how to make a quality, professional looking DV movie on an ultra-low budget then "Digital Moviemaking" by Scott Billups is NOT the book you're looking for. This book was obviously written by a tech-nerd for other tech-nerds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Chuck!! I find that of you are making your own movie, one NEEDS to BE a tech-nerd. Self movie creation and publication is not for the creative types, you have to be all the above. We are not talking that you can be one and hire the rest, this is not what the book is about.

Yes I agree the title should be changed to fit the information, but why make the title ruin what information is in there?

Chuck writes----------------------------------------------------------------
If you are an aspiring filmmaker who has a good movie idea and want to know how to shoot it on an ultra-low budget then don't waste your money buying this book.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

If you ARE an aspiring moviemaker (we are shooting it on video; therefore, we are MOVIEMAKERS not filmmakies) you should NEVER use any home movie camera or home movie media (miniDV, any if them)--as you so call it low budget. People should only use these for practice, never for publication or projection. Seriousness shows what you will do with your time, money, and craft.

Of course one could have a wonderful, exciting, and entertaining story done on VHS, but why would one waste their efforts putting it on it. IT DOES NOT SHOW how serious or their commitment to their craft. Save up, borrow, or beg for the better stuff.

Chuck writes-----------------------------------------------------------------
I recommend instead reading "Digital Filmmaking 101" by Dale Newton and John Gaspard which is a much better book that explains in layman's terms how to shoot a quality, professional looking movie on digital video.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I also have this book and found it informative as well.

With any information, news, gossip, and so forth, why do people read it from one source and call it truth or real? Read more than one paper, watch more than one news program, look at more than one weather station, and read more than one book on moviemaking--the more you do this better informed you will be.

- gerry davenport

3 out of 5 stars A great source on color space, but that's about it.......2005-04-06

Billup's book is creative, fun read. But looking back on it, it's not one of those essential film books. The book's greatest strength is explaining color space and color depth, which are Billup's profession as he works on the technical side of HD production. He explores these rather dry issues in a fun and witty way. And he also explores working in Hollywood in a new, positive way. But beyond that, the book gives a very, very, very broad look at every other field of digital moviemaking, making it seem in the end too darn general to be effective. A better book for breaking into digitial filmmaking: $30 Film School by Michael Dean. It does a much better job of covering all the bases and is just as fun.

2 out of 5 stars Not worth it!.......2004-11-03

If you're looking for a book that will give you practical, nuts and bolts, down to brass tacks advice on how to make a quality, professional looking DV movie on an ultra-low budget then "Digital Moviemaking" by Scott Billups is NOT the book you're looking for. This book was obviously written by a tech-nerd for other tech-nerds.

The majority of this book is technical information and history and should instead be entitled:"Hi-Definition Video Moviemaking" as this is what Billups spends the majority of the book discussing. There is precious little in this book that a low-budget filmmaker will find of use. Billups and co. are apparently of the opinion that it's a waste of time shooting on anything other than HD video or 35mm film and seem to have nothing but contempt for Independent, low-budget filmmakers.

If you are an aspiring filmmaker who has a good movie idea and want to know how to shoot it on an ultra-low budget then don't waste your money buying this book. I recommend instead reading "Digital Filmmaking 101" by Dale Newton and John Gaspard which is a much better book that explains in layman's terms how to shoot a quality, professional looking movie on digital video. It was written by 2 guys who have made good low-budget films and have a lot more respect for and understanding of independent, low-budget filmmakers than Scott Billups.

4 out of 5 stars A fun, down-to-earth read, held back by some minor errors........2004-08-30

I got this book a matter of days ago, and upon finishing the introduction, I hated the author with a passion. He had me furious with his no-nonsense, kick-in-the-crotch attitude that went against everything I believed. Or so I thought. After a good night's sleep, I realized that most of what he had to say was correct, and I found my way around to agreeing with most of his points. I decided to give the rest of it a chance, and I'm glad I did, because although Billups continues telling it like he thinks it is (he's right pretty much all of the time, to his credit), he manages to inject a sense of humor into the proceedings, and keep the book light hearted enough so as not to scare you away. This helps tremendously in making him seem more like a working professional, and not a pompous, self-important windbag.

I haven't got much to say about the GOOD parts of the book; they are numerous indeed, and I learned a good deal from them regardless of the fact that I don't see myself doing this for a living.

No, what struck me most about this book was the liberal sprinkling of spelling, grammatic, conceptual, and structural errors. Never before have I encountered such nonsense in a FIRST edition book, let alone a second. What am I talking about? Well, the spelling errors are usually minor, and easily overlooked, but the grammar is another thing entirely. "Orientated" instead of "oriented", "bandpass" instead of "bandwidth", things like that. "Orientated", I suppose, is technically correct (though it makes one look about as ridiculous as "irregardless" does), and "bandpass" may very well be the proper term in certain situations, but it's like the difference between "GNU/Linux" and "Linux": NO ONE uses the "proper" term, NO ONE is going to be confused, and as such it is completely unnecessary. Insisting on the techie version serves only to make you look like a pretentious tightwad.

When it comes to conceptual errors, I mean the way he, in one situation when discussing 3D modeling/rendering, confuses alpha channels with bump maps. Alpha channels control the transparency of a material, bump maps make the bumps. Again, even if what he said was correct (I'm no expert, maybe bump maps really are alpha channels in a stricter sense), the fact remains that NO ONE speaks this way, no manuals define things this way, nor do special interest technical books or training videos. If you ask someone to put an image with the letter H in the alpha channel of a material, and place that material on a surface, you're going to get a big H-shaped hole in your surface, not an H-shaped bump on top of it.

He also flip-flops between describing image dimensions as width by height and describing them as height by width. Even though the vast majority uses the width by height description, something I agree and feel comfortable with, I would hardly mind him using the other if he were the least bit consistent. He's back and forth throughout the course of the text, and it can be quite disorienting (not "disorientating", you'll note).

Then we have the more basic structural errors. The only way to adequately demonstrate this phenomenon is to provide a fictional example (note that he is NEVER this blatant, and doesn't even touch on this subject):

"The default lens package included with Camera X is absolutely wonderful, but the lens they give you along with Camera X is pretty darn great."

See what I mean? That he repeats himself, saying the SAME thing about the SAME product in the course of one sentence for no reason is disturbing enough; more troubling is his use of "but" when he should be using "and". If you're going to tack a positive comment about an object on to an existing comment about the same object that's already positive, you use "and".

There's also a tendency to use common words and phrases over and over and over again. I do this all the time (my parenthetic comments in this review, for example), but in a professionally published work? You'd think somebody would do a "Count Instances" in their word processor.

Things like that contribute to an overall sense of "wha...?" when reading this book. At first I attributed this stuff to an absolutely abysmal proofreader, but firstly, I own several other books from MWP which sound far better. Secondly, as we reach the end of this book, we start to see more and more quotes--eventually interviews, and entire guest-written chapters--from others in the field, typically people the author has worked with and known for some time. None of their writing exhibits this behavior.


In short, this book is like certain types of music and movies: the content may be great, but the way it's put together makes you a bit nauseous. You don't know exactly why, but sounds with certain frequencies and/or images with certain kinds of movement make you sick, no matter how moving the song/film may very well be.

It IS worth full price, it IS worth reading several times over, and you WILL get something out of it whether you want this hobby to become a career or not. The errors are not world-ending, and the overall idea gets through loud and clear.

They're big enough for someone like me, though, to feel that something, however small, is missing.

5 out of 5 stars Best book on the subject.......2004-04-01

I reviewed this Book for High Definition Magazine in 2003. I was so impressed that I thought this information should be available generally.

Back in the 60's Scott Billups would have been known as a video freak. The subtitle of his book Digital Moviemaking: "All the skill, techniques and moxie you'll need to turn your passion into a career": also betrays his understanding that digital moviemaking is a business as well as a technicians paradise - and I have to say right here right now, what this man don't know about video - ain't worth knowin' !

"Those who know will always have a job, those who know why, will be in charge." From Chapter two.

Digital Moviemaking is a very readable book and there are a plethora of technical details for all but the most seriously anoraked of our readers. Scott's approach to High Definition is to take you on a journey of understanding through the underlying principles of the digital realm.

There are many many technical descriptions that allow the reader easily into a highly complex digital world - He begins with a basic description of the fundamentals of analogue to digital conversion, through the systems of compression, up through DV all the way to High Definition. This is a necessary path because the understanding of High Definition issues lay within the undergrowth of simple digital encoding and compression. I haven't come across a book as clear as this one before.

Scott is the Richard Dawkins of digital technicalities - he can make even the most dense technical information fun:

"While RGB theoretically creates the most robust ITU-R 601 signal, the most common reference to 601 as colour difference, component digital video, sampled at 4:2:2 at 13.5 mhz with 720 luminance samples per active line, digitized at either 8 - or 10 bit.

Whew, it hurt me to write that too".

This fundamentally technical book actually made me understand and laugh out loud ! What's more, it's an energetic enough book to begin with image capture, work its way through the editing process, then out and onto film - and beyond. At the end there's a reference section in which you'll find an extremely concise guide for the newly fledged HD Cinematographer.

But this book is also a rant against Hollywood which is fun in itself and Scott is on a mission to re-educate and re-inform his audience who he sees as enthusiastic but slightly wayward idealists who want to invade Hollywood's hallowed avenues without the right information.

"Just imagine if the snakes that slither through the gutters of Hollywood actually had a say in matters. They'd glut the market, take their booty, and retire in a heartbeat. You know it, I know it, and they know it."

Scott has worked with many great filmmakers, including David Lynch, and he was even assistant to the great James Wong Howe, so you know that what he's got to say has real authority, though I get the feeling he'd poo poo that suggestion himself. He's also at the very cutting edge of invention - he'll think nothing of capturing bits of a movie he's shooting on 35mm, on his laptop from a small digital camera for later compositing at the edit with the 35mm footage.

Digital Moviemaking is a great way into digital video and High Definition in so many areas, and Scott insists you understand why you're making the choices you're making, and why you should let craft and technique lead you in the end.

As Jerry Rubin, and possibly Scott too might advocate - read it, even if you have to "steal this book!"
Digital Cinematography & Directing
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Digital Cinematography & Directing
Dan Ablan
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0735712581

Book Description

[digital] Cinematography and Directing is unlike any other cinematography or directing book you've seen. This book was written entirely for 3D animators. Based on real-world photographic and cinematic principles, it teaches you essential skills and concepts that you can apply to any industry 3D application, such as LightWave 3D, Softimage XSI, 3ds max, CINEMA 4D, Maya, and other leading programs. This book does not focus on using software but rather teaches you how to understand and use the camera within your 3D application.