Throwback to this wonderful book I read in October that helped me with both my Practice and Screenwriting modules at the time.
In How Not to Make a Short Film: Secrets from a Sundance Programmer, Canadian filmmaker Roberta Marie Munroe shares insights on the common mistakes to avoid when creating a short film. She covers every stage of production — idea development, scriptwriting, location choices, filming, editing, and even distribution.
What’s particularly notable about this book is its easy, conversational tone, filled with plenty of jokes — it feels like chatting with a friend. Because of that, I think it would be an accessible read even for those who struggle with books.
Personally, I found it incredibly useful, as I tend to learn better by understanding what not to do rather than memorising rules and trying to apply them. I’d even argue that this approach is especially valuable in the film industry, where avoiding mistakes can sometimes be more freeing than strictly adhering to subjective rules.
That said, writers should approach this book with caution — Munroe gives harsh “no’s” to quite a few film ideas, which could feel limiting. I believe that writing, after all, should be a creative flow rather than something constrained by fear of making mistakes.