Shane Hurlbut’s 9-Step Script Breakdown: Fix It In Prep

In the filmmaking industry, time is your most expensive commodity. Every director, cinematographer, and producer knows the feeling of the clock ticking down on set while the budget burns. But what if you could win the battle before the cameras even roll?

We are thrilled to announce that Filmmakers Academy founder and world-renowned cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC (Terminator Salvation, Música, The Perfect Couple), has released his highly anticipated new book: Fix It In Prep: A Cinematographer’s Nine-Step Script Breakdown.

Available now on Amazon, this book is the ultimate tactical field guide for turning a written script into a bulletproof visual blueprint.

Stop Hoping for Magic. Start Building It.

For over 35 years, Shane has been in the trenches of multi-million dollar blockbusters and indie features alike. Through it all, he developed a proprietary system to eliminate on-set confusion and forge a unified visual language. He calls it the Nine-Read Process.

Fix It In Prep deconstructs this exact methodology. It guides you through nine distinct, thematic “passes” of a script—from your very first emotional response to identifying the “Poster Shot” and creating an actionable battle plan for your crew.

“The clock starts ticking the moment a script lands in your hands. You’re positioned at the intersection of a director’s creative vision and the production’s bottom line. I developed this process to ensure that every creative choice is intentional, character-driven, and—crucially—producible on time and on budget.” — Shane Hurlbut, ASC

Not Your Average Technical Manual

If you’re expecting a dry, textbook-style read, think again. Fix It In Prep is designed to be an accessible, easy-to-digest playbook. To translate complex cinematic theory into clear benchmarks, artist Adolfo Martinez Perez complements every lesson with vivid, often humorous illustrations.

Shane built this book for the real world, designing it to live in your gear bag rather than gathering dust on a shelf.

Whether you are a DP trying to find the visual soul of a story, a Director looking to unify your department heads, or a Producer aiming to streamline the schedule, this book gives you the tools to lead the chaos.

As director McG, a frequent collaborator with Shane, puts it:

“Shane’s meticulous planning is never about control for its own sake, but about creating an environment where both the story—and those who are creating it—can shine.”

An Extension of the Filmmakers Academy Mission

Here at Filmmakers Academy, our mission has always been to pass down hard-won, real-world knowledge to the next generation of visual storytellers. Fix It In Prep is the first installment in a new series of books dedicated to doing exactly that. Shane is taking the workflows used on Hollywood’s biggest stages and putting them directly into your hands so you can lead your department with the confidence of a seasoned pro.

Where to Get Your Copy

Don’t wait until you’re losing daylight on set to figure out your visual strategy. Fix It In Prep: A Cinematographer’s Nine-Step Script Breakdown is now available.

• Formats: E-book, Paperback, and Hardcover

• Where to Buy: Available on Amazon Here

Get ready to fix it in prep, so you can crush it on set.