American Cinematographer, is it worth it?

[Matthew Rogers]

Hey, I am considering subscribing to American Cinematographer, but I am trying to decide if it's worth the $30 a year?

Matthew

[Yash Keough]

Without a doubt. Highly recommended. It has articles on all the various movies throughout the year worth learning from with great advice and explanations from the dp's involved. That's just a brief overview but it really is worth it if you want to get into cinematography or even just want to learn more about how films are made!

[Kevin Halverson]

Just send in the check, you won't be disappointed.

[Matthew Rogers]

Thanks for your feedback. I went ahead and subscribed. It's good because I've been running out of things to read in the bathroom!:)

Matthew

[Brad Hawkins]

You wont regret it. Its probably the single best way to learn about production techniques without being on set!

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Personally I think they can very easily get into the little superstitions as often as they get into real creative and technical problem solving. Is a 6 page article on getting the grain perfect really necessary? Was 3 months of grain aesthetic experimentation noticeable to more than than 10 people in the world?

I suppose creativity and superstition are practically hand in hand but it does get imo a bit rediculous from time to time.

Overall invaluable magazine though.

[Adam C Lubkin]

Mostly they cover movies that I don't have any great interest in, but when they have details on a movie I love (or love the way it's shot) then it's gold. I wish they covered more foreign films, but then it is "American" Cinematographer. :/ (Yes, there is ICG magazine, which is great but doesn't have the same depth of information on the cinematography)

Whenever I see a movie that I love the look of, the first thing I do is look to see if AC did an article on it.

BTW, they sell a lot of the backissues for $1 plus shipping.

[Jim Hoffman]

what other indusrty mags (playboy excluded...mostly talking techno porn) do you guys rec.?

[Unwounded]

ICG (international cinematographers guild) magazine is pretty darn good.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Just Cinfex, AC and Showreel for me.

[Tom Lowe]

Is it worth it?

Yes.