In Review: The Director’s Guide to EVERYTHING by Jay Holben

Photo courtesy of The Global Film HUB

Let’s cut right to the chase: I think Jay’s book, The Director’s Guide to EVERYTHING ($119), this absolute compendium of cinematic knowledge, should be required reading and on the shelf of every director and every film program, big or small. The book is also an excellent reminder of just how complex production can be and why one must maintain a holistic and healthy approach to filmmaking.

The section titled “THE DIRECTOR’S TOOLBOX” is nothing short of brilliant. But that, of course, is the nature of the beast. And I wouldn’t stop there. As the subtitle of Mr. Holben’s opus suggests, this magnificent work may be one of the finest and most complete guides to every aspect of moviemaking I’ve ever read. Just as with Jay’s previous exhaustive work, The Cine Lens Manual (co-authored with Christopher Probst, ASC, The Director’s Guide to EVERYTHING spans a whopping 600 pages and covers the business of directing from every angle you could imagine, plus a few you’ve probably forgotten about or would never know if you didn’t read this book. But we have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s move on.

Before we dive deep into content, it’s important to note that while Jay takes filmmaking seriously, he also brings a humorous edge that makes the book a lot of fun (at least for me) to read. Ask anyone in production what the hardest part is and they might say lighting, sound, or framing. Well, they’re wrong, it’s ALL hard! What Jay does so well is break it down in a way that’s simple and approachable for both beginners and experts.

In many ways, Jay is the original “explainer” (long before YouTube tutorials), packing the book with images, descriptions, lists, diagrams, and drawings that clearly illustrate the production process. The result? Readers can actually focus on the content without getting lost in jargon or overly dense explanations.

One of my favorite sections is the in-depth dive into cinematography. As professionals, we all understand how much detail goes into production. Personally, I’ve never had the chance to hire a 2nd Assistant Director (AD), but if I found myself on a shoot that required one, Jay’s book would be the first place I’d turn to better understand what that job entails.

The book is filled with discussions that span both the technical and creative sides of production, exploring the nuances, the good, and the bad that come with the territory. And that’s what makes it so great. Jay takes the reader on a journey, telling the story of directing and filmmaking in such a way that it feels like you’re sitting on set between takes, having a candid conversation about the art and science of film.

Bottom Line? Buy Jay’s book. This is about as real-world as it gets, and it will be one of the best investments you can make to refine and elevate your craft. You can tell Jay truly loves this business, and his passion shines through on every page. Honestly, who doesn’t want to make better pictures? I know I do.