On Directing Film is a non-fiction book by American playwright and filmmaker David Mamet (ISBN 0-670-83033-X) published in 1991.

On Directing Film
AuthorDavid Mamet
LanguageEnglish
SubjectCinema
PublisherPenguin Books
Publication date
1991
Publication placeUnited States
ISBN0-670-83033-X
OCLC22178971
791.43/0233 20
LC ClassPN1995.9.P7 M28 1991

Overview

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The book is made up of six chapters, of which the second and fifth take the form of dialogue between Mamet and unnamed students, reflecting that the book was based on classes in film directing held by Mamet at Columbia University's film school. Mamet takes a strong oppositional view to mainstream American filmmaking, method acting, and general indulgence in art. He cites as his major influence Sergei Eisenstein and his montage theory, and makes numerous references to the work of Russian theatre director and theorist Stanislavsky.