Customer Reviews

Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices: Revised Edition

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Why do so many of the previous 5 star reviews include a plug for a future edition of this book or a direct reference to the author as a friend? Could it be they're less than truthful, or at least biased? In fact, this book is already outdated, and it's advice for making a feature film for less than $10,000 is ludicrous. If the author had added a "0" to the sensational title and dealt with REAL WORLD facts and tips about making such a film this could've been a good book. As it is, it's nearly useless because it has no connection to how to REALLY make a micro-budget movie (ie. video or gray market stock, credit cards, deferrals, etc.).

Don't be fooled that after you follow this book, and make your "used car" budget film that you'll soon see it on the big screens everywhere. You'll end up with a first project on a journey of a long learning process. Is it better to spend the ten grand for school? Maybe. A lot can be said for taking that plunge into cold water and getting your feet wet. Although, some people want the prestige of a piece of paper from an institution. Most of the methods are sound, but the book is pretty much outdated for today's high tech world. Beginning filmmakers rarely shoot on film, but instead go for cheaper video. It's a less painful process. Especially for your pocketbook. It's a good book for student or hobby filmmakers. But please don't shoot a feature using this book as an example. Read it as inspiration.

This is pretty much the first book that I've read on the subject of filmmaking that was actually interesting. I even read the forward and the preface, which I usually skip in books. I bought the revised version (the 2000 version, at a bookstore, even though it says it's not published until June...?) and I found the websites and dv section to be very helpful. This is an extremely informative, as well as entertaining read, perfect for a newbie (like me).

I filmed my very first no budget movie in 1972 and won a National cable television award.Who'd heard of cable in 1972? Ricks book has it's own 'insider' sense of humor. I' really identifed with it. I wish I'd had this book to go by when I shot the western feature"John Wesley Hardin" in 1975, I made every mistake Rick says you can make and it cost me a bundle. Now that I know better, I'm not making those same mistakes I'm making different ones, Ricks book deserves a 10 on the scale of 1-10, I gave it a nine because it cries out for updating. Your mistakes will be fewer and learning curve will be shortened with this book, what he's told you inside...FilmMaking at Used Car Prices WILL save you money and time. If you haven't been without the ingredients to tell the story how will you know what to do with the money when you get it. Ricks book can get you into the arena. Telling a story is what movies are all about. I charged my credit cards, spent my money(and I was an LA DJ)and begged borrowed and grovelled, Ricks book can help you through this period with shortcuts and without having to sacrifice creativity. if a man on the screen is what the Independent Film Channel wants, put it there and dress it like the book tells you to, Sundance and IFC are now a main buyer of low budget Independent features and you too can get there, and... At Used Car Prices. Frank Jolle

This book is great. I've read alot of feature film financing books out there, but nothing like this. To all my filmmaker friends: "Get this book." It gave me some confidence that filmmakers should get before shooting a ultra-low budget film. It also gave me alot of ideas to save tons of money from my budget.

Boy, some reviewers get so uptight about things. BOTTOM LINE, this book should not be missed by anyone on the path to movie stardom! Yes, a few aspects may be farfetched, but isn't the whole premise of the book a lesson to those that want to break hollywood's stereotypical rules? After reading this book, the reader will at least come away with a well written, inspirational work that teaches many good tips on no-budget filmmaking. To try and fit no-budget filmmaking into any set of conventional rules is maddening and that was probably the problem of the others that trash-reviewed this book. Schmidt never claims that your Used-car movie will blow out the box-office. Although "Clerks".....

Honest artists looking for new ways to beat the system would do well to start here. I would gladly plunk down another 16 bucks and would recommend to anyone considering an independant route to filmmaking do the same. If you could only afford two books on filmmaking, 'Rebel without a crew' and Schmidt's book would be my choices. For 16 bucks, it taught me a lot, just take it with a grain of salt.

For someone who's never made a film before, this book will be very useful in laying out the steps that need to be taken at every stage of pre-production, production and post-production. It covers everything from writing the script to funding and payment contracts to editing your final cut. However, due to the changing nature of the film business, after reading this book, you might want to move on to something more recent for more timely information.

The datedness of the book shows in the financial guidelines (when it offers price quotes on services at a lab, for example), which are five years old at this point. It also shows in the section on editing. The author promotes editing on a work print of film rather than on a digital video system, such as AVID. It may have been more cost-effective to do so in 1995, but today non-linear editing is much preferred. The book has detailed instructions on how to edit film, but none on how to use one of these computer systems, which in many larger communities, are readily accessible.

For a more realistic financial picture of making a film, try the more recent IFP/West Independent Filmmaker's Guide, which uses the budgets from the movie "Swingers" as examples.

I bought this book about 10 years ago, from Amazon, but I still haven't read it.
I switched career paths from film making to advertising. I suggest you do the same.
If you are undeterred, then get this book and try it out. I'm curious if it's possible.

I don't pretend to know what I'm talking about but this was an all right book. I don't really care if Cagney was spelled incorrectly and I don't think that this book is the bible of filmmaking. It does however make some intersting points. For someone with little to limited expirience in filmaking and wanted to give it a shot this book is great but if you are among one of the privilaged few to have produced a film and make films than this book is probably not for you. If you know so much about "how to make a movie the right way" then why did you buy the book in the first place?

I have read some of the reviews by some so called experts here. They absolutly amaze me. This book tells an amature film maker how to accomplish every step of the process, from pre-production to marketing. It is well written and complete, even unexpectedly getting into the technical details of editing. It is realistic about what one should expect from the frustrating process of making a film on a budget, and does not make it out to be a champagne drinking celeb fest some reviewers may believe.