Customer Reviews

Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices: Second Revised Edition

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Rick Schmidt's book "Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices" is a very important book for any new filmmaker to read. He explains how to make a movie without spending a fortune.

Mandy Wildman and I formed Wild Heart Films in 1998. We produced our first feature, "In the Open" for only $7,000 using Mr. Schmidt's techniques. Although it was challenging, it was not impossible! Now we are in pre-production on a film with a higher budget.

If you are considering producing a movie, it would be a good idea to read this book cover to cover and apply the data!

This book is hopelessly outdated (as are my own), so I can't rate it any higher; but at least this guy is sincere. Some of the other reviewers act as if they expected the keys to the kingdom for under 20 bucks. And L Roc from Chi-town certainly got up on the wrong side of the crab dolly, except, of course, for hyping another book. In an age when you can buy your own production and editing equipment for under $10K, you don't need the strategies in this book or any other--save your money for tape stock--or to listen to the nay-sayers.

I would recommend this book on the bases that if you want to get into film making then you should see how this guy went about doing it. It is not a bad book but is a bit technically challanged. For instance the writer has a huge section on building your own editing suite for actually cutting the film by hand. This may be good for some film makers but you will certainly get better results if you meet up with an actual editor who will cut your film for you while you sit by his side.

The book basically tells you what you need to get up and started and how to go about shooting your first film on a low budget. This book is pretty much written in a "One-man-band" sort of fashion and although it is possible to make a film this way you would do a lot better by actually meeting up with people who know a little bit about film making too - probably in a film school or weekend course. Anyhow, lots of helpful hints and tips but you will need other books to supplement this one and you will need a bit more help from experienced film makers (even amateur ones) to help you on your way.

I purchased this book and I enjoy it. I am a film student right now and about to graduate and I am currently working on my own first film I have done numerous of short films for class but the book did help me out alot...I enjoyed it and it can get wordy but it helps you out a lot....Look out for One Mic Film Production Company, enjoy the book....mikeyc33@sbcglobal.net

Ok, if you want to make features on film stock - the book is OK. You can sit around with film students and spew out fancy terms about film stock speed and reels....If you're looking to do DV, don't buy into the books claim that this edition was 'Completely Updated' for DV. It's 95% Film stock based, once in awhile they'd add a brief comment in-between [ ], but they were generally worthless. At the end they added a chapter on DV, mostly marketing stuff straight from vendors (wow thanks!), and a blurb on building a NLE (non linear editing) workstation. This stuff was worthless, the real meat and potatoes - how to make inexpensive Feature films with DV is nowhere to be found in this book. I learned all about how to rent film equipment and lighting (all for film stock), what lens to use (all for film stock).... Had my local bookstore had a copy in stock I could have know better and skipped this book. Spend your money wisely on something else - this book was not worth purchasing! After hearing good things about it I was very, very, very disappointed!

This was one of the most pretentious books I've ever read. Seriously. What I expected to be a guide to DV film making was really just an excuse for the author to push his own personal aesthetic, and I learned virtually nothing about the nuts and bolts of film making at all. If I wanted to know how to shoot Dogme 95 like a pretentious art-house irritant, I would buy a book on THAT rather than having to skip over an entire chapter of useless information. Plus for some reason he seems to assume that nobody already owns a computer, and includes an entire chapter on buying one. That was pretty weird too.

I found this book greatly helpful. I'm in collage and I really want to be a filmmaker. This books is full of tips and pointers on how to do it. If anything it provides that boost of self confidence that yes I can do this, even if i am the only person that belives in my self. Read this book and you'll know that you too can make movies.

Congratulations Rick !

I commend you on all your efforts, perseverance and your success, as I recently purchased your book. I am inspired by your strong will and determination to show people that Hopes & Dreams do come true! Reading the Preface gave me a great deal of insight into pursuing my 23 year dream of producing my own feature film.

I researched several books (online & at the bookstores) before purchasing yours, I am very happy with my choice.
You have written this book as if you are with the person and coaching them along, a very nice personal touch,
Once again Rick, Congratulations on your success!

Cheers: Steve in BC.

This book answered almost all my questions about movie making even though my personal interest is digital video. It is to date the best (quality content and inspirationally good writing ) how-to book I've read on the subject of making movies. Now that I've recommended it I want to point out two short parts you should skip. #1. Buy the book but skip the foreword. (Maybe read it a bit at a time but I had that "meanfull" [stuff] in grad school.)
#2 Also skip the treatments he has in there as story samples for films. The story ideas as presented are awful. It is amazing that someone who can write such a terrific non-fiction self-help book would think they were good.
As for the rest of the book--if you want to make movies this is the book to read.

Rick Schmidt has written a great book. Having owned the earlier version of this book, which was amazing, I can safely call this new version the best book on filmmaking. He advises based on personal experience. He talks in depth of the benefits of shooting in DV. Simply put, spectacular.