Rating: 
Summary: Does exactly what it says
Review: "An illustrated quick-read overview of all the basic shots and camera movements that will help any director design a visually exciting movie." --RMS
Rating: 
Summary: Movie Shots
Review: "An illustrated quick-read overview of all the basic shots and camera movements that will help any director design a visually exciting movie." --RMS
Rating:
Summary: When you're trying to explain what you want for a shot...
Review: ...open this book and point to the page.A previous reviewer complained that all this book does is show the shot. Presumably that person wanted a to-do list of which knobs to turn, what equipment to set up, how much the rentals should be, etc etc etc. When I write a shooting script, I use the camera terms here as *verbs*. "Dolly past [character] and Spin Around" Anybody in the crew who does not understand is handed the book. Quickly I get "Oh, THAT's what you mean." In fact I bought more books for that purpose alone. Gee, what a shame it's not in color photographs. Gosh it might even be better in 3D. How about virtual camera moves holographiclly jumping off the page? Get real. This is an idea book. Look. Get the idea. Get to work. Got it?
Rating:
Summary: When you're trying to explain what you want for a shot...
Review: ...open this book and point to the page. A previous reviewer complained that all this book does is show the shot. Presumably that person wanted a to-do list of which knobs to turn, what equipment to set up, how much the rentals should be, etc etc etc. When I write a shooting script, I use the camera terms here as *verbs*. "Dolly past [character] and Spin Around" Anybody in the crew who does not understand is handed the book. Quickly I get "Oh, THAT's what you mean." In fact I bought more books for that purpose alone. Gee, what a shame it's not in color photographs. Gosh it might even be better in 3D. How about virtual camera moves holographiclly jumping off the page? Get real. This is an idea book. Look. Get the idea. Get to work. Got it?
Rating:
Summary: An excellent, basic primer on visual storytelling techniques
Review: Filmmakers receive a basic introduction to visual storytelling techniques which show how to use film to tell a story or display information. Here examples from both classic and new films from around the world serve as teaching tools for new film students, with chapters packing in exercises and insights.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Waste Your Money - This is B grade rubbish
Review: I don't normally write reviews, but I am so insulted by this book (and I've never been insulted by a book before), that I feel compelled to write this review. If I can save one person from spending money on this piece of literature, then I will at least have got some satisfaction out of buying what is the worst book I have ever owned.
The review above by Robert Zraick is spot on, it's insulting, badly written, badly illustrated. I'm mystified as to how anyone could give this crap a rating of five, let alone even publish such utter rubbish. I just wish I had listened to Robert. Anyone that disagrees with Roberts review must either have an agenda (i.e. they have a relationship with the talent-less author), or they are actually quite intellectually challenged.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a professor, and I'm only an amateur photographer, but this book is just terrible, so if I can work that out most of you will too.
This book is written by Jeremy Vineyard, who is apparently "a writer and avid student of film" (his description).......This should read, who has never completed any elements of formal study, has no industry experience, has never worked professionally as a DOP and is a world expert in setting up a shot...
In short, this guy sat in front of his video player watched a ton of movies, wrote down as many different types shots as he could identify, had his mate draw up some equally amateur pictures (by Jose Cruz, who is unfortunately talent-less as well. I'm not kidding, an 8 year old can do better illustrations) and then made up some really neaty names for each one (just to help you remember the shots)..... my god, how did this is ever get published, it's a total tragedy.
Just to help us further, he's included some tuition in the form of some really brilliant exercises to help with your development. These follow after each chapter, which is to help hone your skills. Here's a word for word example of an 'exercise' from `Exercises' page 22. "Read a few good books on composition" (no recommendations given). That's Jeremy's very special piece of advice, just for us. Thanks Jeremy, you're a star. I'm running out the door right now to find that good book. Your wisdom, direction and skilful tuition techniques has truly changed my life. Another personal favourite is "Visit an art gallery or read a photography book" (also a verbatim copy of an `exercise').
On every page you get "This Jeremy's made up name for the shot", followed by the title "What does it look like" then a couple of paragraphs and then the title "Where can I see it" which is where he points you to a specific film (not the scene as that would require additional writing skills)....this is on every page, it drives you crazy.
Unless your IQ is the same size as your shoe size, don't buy this crap. Go and get a copy of "The Five C's of Cinematography" and don't waste you time on this amateur (it's not even amateur, its actually worse than that) attempt to be creative. The 5 C's is written with the same intent as this book, but delivers what this doesn't, and it's written by an experienced professional.
This book is B grade rubbish, do yourself a favour, don't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not that helpful
Review: I got this book expecting to learn something about cinematography, when to use certain shots and why. This book was ony usefull as basically a dictionary of different shots and lingo. I was expecting to learn the grammer of film to be able to create effective "sentences" (or sequences) of shots. For the most part, this book only gives you the "words" (or shots) without telling you how to use them and when or why.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not essential for novice filmmakers & film buffs
Review: I purchased Setting up your shots basically because it tells and gives you a storyboard shot of differnt camera techniques, Crane shots and editing techniques. For these things I found this bok to be a blessing because it explained a lot of different shots that i didn't know. It also explains them in a very straightforward manner and sites several movie as examples. So why three stars? Mainly for two reasons. One problem with this bookm is that it doesn't tell you how to get some shots. ex. various crane shots. What kind of crane? Another problem is the fact that the author suggests you go out buy book on certain subjects say, composition but he doesn't mention any by name. Overall I did like the very straightforward explanation of different shots. This is a decent book( not essential) that film buffs may appreciate more than fimmakers.
Rating:
Summary: Only useful to a high school beginner, maybe.
Review: I was very disappointed in this book. "Setting Up Your Shots" tries to fill a needed gap for a book that explains the basic visual vocabulary of video composition. This book ends up being nothing more than an extended glossery with thubnail descriptions and B&W line drawings to illistrate the shot. But it goes into very little detail about when these shots are used. It does mention a film or two that uses each shot. There is not even a brief discussion of ideas like open vs closed form or any other guiding principle of choosing which shot to use. There is often little or no instruction on how to acheive a shot. For instance, it tells you what rack focus is, but not how to exicute one. There is a brief discussion of axis of action, also known in video as the vector line, but it is so brief as to be useless. Mostly, the book seems written to a ninth or tenth grade level. This book might be of some use to a beginner who just bought their first camcorder and wants a quick apply-it-right-now manual, or to a juinor high student. But there are better books available that discuss shots, like "Picture Composition" by Ward, or chapters 2 and 3 of "Understanding Movies" by Louis Giannetti, although these are more expensive and take more work to read and understand. Also, the author recommends reading other books on subjects like compositon, but there are no specific books recommended. Spend a little more money and time and find a more complete and useful resource. This might work as a glossery to a larger book, but it doesn't stand alone very well.
Rating:
Summary: A very basic book
Review: If you aldready know the basiscs like what pan, tilt, dolly, crane and tracking shots are you know as much as this book will tell you.
I am a film student and currently working on a tv show. I bought this book to augment my school studies in film but found it to be way too basic for me. It can be an excellent starter book for someone interesting in learning what the different camera angles are called. If you are someone you has never even though or analyzed the various angles before this book MIGHT be helpful. But a warning it does not always use the common terms as in the case of the dutch tilt, it barely mention that this angle is sometimes called that when it reality is most commonly refered to as such.
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