Before You Shoot : A Guide to Low Budget Film and Video Production (3rd edition) [Paperback]

Helen Garvy (Author), Dan Bessie (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1995

Written for producers, production managers, directors, and everyone else involved in low-budget filmmaking and videomaking, Before You Shoot covers the initial planning of a project through its pre-production and post-production: finding money, script breakdown, budgeting, crew and equipment shooting, editing and distribution.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Outstanding book of concise, no nonsense information essential to anyone considering producing a film." -- Todd Flinchbaugh, Film/Television Instructor, DeAnza College

"Practical, down-to-earth common sense primer for independent filmmakers. Producing is a skill and Garvy lets you eavesdrop on her troubleshooting and problem-solving on a range of film/video projects. Highly recommended." -- Pat Ferrero, Professor of Cinema, San Francisco State University

About the Author

Helen Garvy is a film producer, director, writor, and editor. Her independent production company has produced everything from dramatic and documentary features to films and videos for television and schools. This book came out of classes that Helen has given over the years.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 297 pages
• Publisher: Shire Press; 3 edition (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918828171
• ISBN-13: 978-0918828170
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,108,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so great., July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Before You Shoot : A Guide to Low Budget Film and Video Production (3rd edition) (Paperback)

I bought this expecting it to be full of simple, how-to information, but unfortunately such is not the case. Basically the book is a big, long list of "don't forget to..."s. She explains everything you will need to do to make a movie, but doesn't explain how to do any of it.

She explains what the duties of the producer are, what they need to keep in mind, what they need to make sure to do, what they need to be prepared for, but that's it. There really isn't any information on how-to *make* a movie (the actual process), but instead information on what needs to be arranged in the making of a movie. Mostly she says "you're going to have to do this.... to find out how to do that ask around or hire someone". I bought the book because I don't want to (and can't afford to) hire someone and there's really not that many people I can ask for help.

However, I'm not saying the book is worthless, it's just not a book for someone who wants to make their own movie. This is a book for prospective *producers*. A producer that arranges more than creates. If your interest is in writing, directing, or shooting your own film, then look somewhere else. This book is better for someone who isn't creating a movie at all but instead arranging for the creation of a movie (in other words, a producer).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have owned a copy of this book since 1985, one of the best, February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Before You Shoot : A Guide to Low Budget Film and Video Production (3rd edition) (Paperback)

Dan Bessie came to an SFSU Film Student Union, meeting in 1985, with his then fist ed. of this book. I still have my copy. I have been teaching production for the last 10 years (in LA) where everyone wants to direct. I tell them to read this book first. If you do your homework as outlined in this book (on your low or high budget film) you will be able to focus on getting the image on film. Production of a film or video project requiers skills that many people need to work on. This book helps to outline the steps that must first be taken. There is no better outline I have found.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous for those of us staring from scratch., December 14, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Before You Shoot : A Guide to Low Budget Film and Video Production (3rd edition) (Paperback)

My sister gave me this book in November of last year and I have to say as someone with ABSOLUTELY NO film experience I found "Before You Shoot" invaluable. Just learning things that would be considered basic to a seasoned filmmaker (like shooting ratios) made it possible to communicate with potential vendors and crew without sounding like as if I didn't have a clue. If one is starting from nothing this book is fabulous. Presently I am 2 months from the principal photography date for my first feature film.