Customer Reviews

The Complete DVD Book: Designing, Producing, and Marketing Your Independent Film on DVD

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This book gives detailed instruction using Studio Pro, but, duh, that is software for a Mac, not a PC. It does give other info, but only about 10%. The other 90% of the book is detailed step by step instructions for using Studio Pro for Macs. If you own a Mac, go for it. If not, find another book.

Have you ever been to a party or watched a show on PBS where a very knowledgeable person expounds on some subject and you find yourself drawn in because they are a great speaker, or the subject matter is fascinating but you come away telling your partner: "Wow, that was really interesting. I have no idea what they were talking about."

That's how I felt after reading the first half of this book.

I know very little about all the technical aspects of DVD creation, authoring, processing and packaging. Frankly, I know just enough about my computer to completely fry my hard-drive (which I've done). I have used editing programs and DVD authoring programs in the past (and still use) but these are very much "over the counter" programs usually bundled with my DVD burner and extremely simple to use: Add titles, add content, stick in a DVD-R disc and push a button. Two hours later, you hope it works.

Paul J. Salamoff does an excellent job going through the step-by-step process of creating the DVD. He has thought of everything from the title colors to the hidden eggs. Using programs such as "Final Cut Pro" and "DVD Studio Pro 3" and "Adobe Photoshop," Paul goes through the meticulous step-by-step process of telling the reader how to create their DVD. Assumptions are already made. Assumption 1: You already have your film in the "can" and on your computer and assumption 2: You have a computer that can handle everything you have got.

Paul is extremely thorough and detailed from the Preparation of the Video and Audio to the layout of menus, overlays, subtitles, slide-shows and bios. It is all very fascinating - even if I do not thoroughly understand it. Though they do include dozens of screenshots and graphics.

Here, try this from the section regarding "Control Commands:" COLOR COMMANDS Use these commands to select a value between 0 and 15. These colors can be preset in DVD Studio Pro (Preferences > Color Palette). $ColorIndex1: Text Color ($ColorIndex1 = 1)

Now, if you understand that (and many others like that) - then this book is for you. If you are like me and that makes about as much sense as cotton candy on the moon - then maybe you should skip to the second section.

The second section is all about marketing your film. Dealing from everything from duplicators to distributors to foreign markets. Chris Gore goes into great detail about the hills and valleys of this process of getting your film out there in the marketplace. This section enlightened me to things that I was not familiar with when I go to my local "Best Buy" and buy "Crappy Movie 4 - SPECIAL EDITION." There is a detailed process and one you should follow if you have your film in hand and want to get it out to the marketplace.

Together Chris and Paul have done a great job of explaining pretty much everything you need to know about this process (including an EXCELLENT resource section in the back of the book). Here are a few other items I would have liked to see:

1. A section on what type of computer you are going to need including processor speed, monitor size, video card, hard-drive space, etc. If I have my film in hand, I am going to want to know what my initial investment is going to be.

2. An honest to goodness recommendation of software to use. Paul uses DVD Studio Pro 3 for authoring but says: "This is not an endorsement of DVD Studio Pro 3..." Well, gosh, why not!? I would have rather seen, straight up: Buy this type of computer and buy this type of software. There are other types of software and they do this and this and that and that - but here is why I am using and recommending this!

3. Resources by location. In the back of the book there are some resources listing out DVD Production Services and DVD Packaging Services. They're listed out alphabetically. If you are looking for one by location, you have to scan each one. It would have been excellent to include the same list via location.

If you have a film that you are ready to put on to DVD - this book is an excellent resource for you. Especially if you can understand all the technical talk. If you do not understand the technical talk, I would still suggest getting the book and the recommended programs and try to put it all together. It seems, relatively, simple. At least from what I understand.

Oh, and in all fairness to Chris and Paul, I am going to give the book to a friend of mine who has more knowledge on the technical aspects of this process (he would understand the $ColorIndex1 sentence above) and have asked him to review the book. I figure that with two authors, the book could have two reviewers. Look for his review soon.

There's a host of tips on burning DVDs that Hollywood doesn't wish you to know: even if you're not making an independent video, these tips alone make THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK: DESIGNING, PRODUCING, AND MARKETING YOUR INDEPENDENT FILM ON VIDEO worth the price tag. And for those who are involved in independent filmmaking, THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK is a virtual goldmine of detail on how to produce high-quality DVDs similar to major studio products - but without the big-ticket budget. There are DVD templates, listings of designers, suppliers, distributors, tips on publicity and more: everything you need to produce a professional-quality dvd. Very highly recommended: the basic, essential reference all independent filmmakers should have close at hand.

When these guys say "The Complete DVD Book" they truly mean COMPLETE. I cannot imagine anything this book does not contain that would be relevant to someone wanting to produce their own DVD and bring it to the marketplace.

This book covers how to make a high quality DVD, industry techniques including package design, negotiating a distribution deal, launching a marketing campaign, generating publicity, and using every possible way there is to get by on even the smallest of budgets.

It's all here, folks...the title of the book says it all. If you've ever thought about producing your own DVD, this could be the most important book you will ever read. And if you're already somewhat experienced, this book will definitely give you a few new ideas...and that right there will be worth more than the cost of the book.

Did you know that DVD sales are higher than box offices sales? And that this trend began in 2001? This is why you want to purchase Gore and Salamoff's info-packed guide, The Complete DVD Book. The authors encourage filmmakers to "get off [your] rears and take charge of your destiny." They then proceed to provide thorough instructions on how to get your dream project to DVD.

This handbook helps you research and find a good distributor, create a good trailer, and think up appealing extras for your DVD including commentary, Film Festival interviews, and Easter eggs. The book also details the technicalities behind making menus and organizing your DVD assets to author a top selling DVD. Buy this book and go for it!
Gael Chandler, author, Cut by Cut: Editing Your Film or Video and Film Editing: Great Cuts Every Filmmaker and Movie Lover Must Know.

With the doors opening to a new world of independent moviemaking...and the resulting search for distribution, this is a must-read primer on what you need to do to prepare for possible self-distribution. Sometimes that can be more profitable than a half-baked distribution deal. Most moviemakers don't have a clue what to do after their movie is made. This book answers a bunch of those questions.

While the subject matter in the Complete DVD Book is fairly complicated and technical, it is made much easier to understand because of the writing style, explanations, and step-by-step diagrams. The book has a tremendous amount of information, and while it gets technical in some places, it is never boring or ponderous. The Complete DVD Book is the perfect resource for those who are adept with the necessary programs and are planning on doing this more than just once or twice. Not recommended for purchase for those with very basic understanding of DVD burning software, it is a valuable tool for those who have a mid-range understanding of this software.

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