Starter Film: An Illustrated Handbook for the First Time Filmmaker is a reference guide for the no-budget first-time filmmaker. After many years of teaching film and animation, I created a short, illustrated handbook that covers the basics of digital video production with an emphasis on narrative film. The handbook has three chapters (Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production) that address storytelling, screenwriting, storyboards, staging, directing, cameras, shot composition, lighting, audio, and editing. Techniques found in this handbook can be applied to a variety of platforms forms including single camera filmmaking, television production, animation, video games, and digital/interactive media.