Table of Contents
- General Knowledge and Film Studies
- Production
- Film Music and Sound
- Plot
- Technical Publications (image)
- Dixit Collection
- Specialized and Professional Journals
General Knowledge and Film Studies
Before picking up a camera, one must have seen, read about, and understood the cinema that came before us. These reference works trace the history of cinematic forms, movements, and major filmmakers, and lay the cultural foundations essential to any filmmaking practice. It is this foundation that we impart starting in the first year of theESRA Cinema program, where film analysis and history go hand in hand with technical training.
Pierre Berthomieu
Rouge Profond Publishing
Yves Alion and Gérard Camy
New World Publishing
- Author: ESRA
Directing
Directing means making choices with every shot: where to place the camera, how to frame a scene, and when to cut. The books collected here—many of which were written by the school’s professors—break down the grammar of film direction and the language of cinema. They naturally complement the curriculum of the ESRA Cinema and DHEC Screenwriting and Directingprograms, where theory supports practical filmmaking.
Film Music and Sound
Sound makes up half of a film—and is often the most underappreciated part. Sound recording, editing, mixing, and music: these books explore an essential dimension of storytelling—one that engages the ear just as much as the eye. They provide in-depth reading material for students in the ESRA Soundprogram, which focuses on sound careers in film, music, video games, and event production.
Screenwriting
Every film begins with a blank page. Dramatic structure, character development, narrative mechanics: these references—from McKee to Lavandier—are the tools of every screenwriter’s trade. They are at the heart of the training DHEC Screenwriting and Directingprogram, which offers a two-year curriculum in writing and directing for film and television.
Technical Publications (image)
Mastering the image requires an understanding of the techniques used to create it—from lighting to the sensor, from framing to editing. These books bridge the gap between theoretical analysis and practical work on set and in post-production. They complement the technical instruction provided in the ESRA Cinema and ESRA Animationprograms.
Jean-Charles Fouché
Dixit Publishing
- Author: ESRA
Dixit Collection
A publisher specializing in the film and audiovisual industries, Dixit publishes several books written by ESRA professors. This series covers the practical aspects of the profession, from production management to sound recording, and serves as a direct extension of the school’s curriculum.
Hervé Baudier
Dixit
- Author: ESRA
Specialized and professional journals
Staying up to date on industry news is part of the job. These French and international magazines cover creative processes, the industry, and technical developments in film and the audiovisual sector. Reading them regularly means adopting—right now—the mindset of the professionals our students are about to join.
Bibliography from the ESRA brochure. The Dixit collection is available at www.dixit.fr