Preface and Chapter 1: Storytelling Summary and Analysis

Preface

In his preface, David Mamet explains in a rather humble manner that he wrote "On Directing Film" in 1987 when he had just completed his second film directing assignment. Looking back, he acknowledges that at that point there was a lot he did not know. However, he presents the book in a genuine, honest fashion and asks the reader to take what he can from it. The book is based on a series of lectures he conducted at the Columbia University film school. His goal during this series was to explain the theory of film directing, one that he arrived at based chiefly on his background as a screenwriter.

Mamet makes some astute and interesting references in conveying what film means to him. One example is a reference to a newspaper review that derided a...