Customer Reviews

How to Make Money Making Movies: The Secrets of Becoming a Profitable Filmmaker

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I've been in the film business for 10 years and wish this book had been written back when I started! It's practical real-deal advice, not unusable film school crap. Making independent films that make money is nearly impossible in this day-and-age, so I reccommed this book to anyone that plans to invest their time and money to do it. Otherwise you will most likely fail and become bitter and jaded like the reviewer below!

I was hoping for it to be better. I was let down by it all being FLUFF with no real substance.. but then maybe thats what this biz is all about anyway. Heck- she got me to buy it right?

This book contains some great information about making movies (especially low budget ones)geared for those who not only want to make good movies, but make a profit doing it. I have read books on low budget independent filmmaking and producing, and most are centered on making your "masterpiece" film without much, or any, concern for the market place. This book offers a much more sound business plan, and also addresses making horror films, sci-fi, thrillers etc., not just art films aimed at winning Sundance. There is also advice from other producers like Pierre David, who is intelligent, a real student of the game, and successful example of the making low budget movies that make money.
I have produced a couple of small films which made some money, and I assure you, there is lots of very good advice in this book for those of us making movies, and those who would like to.

The book turned out to be better than I had thought.
I was anticipating a big print, few pages to each chapter, few chapters, and a simplistic vanity piece. It turned out more a slice of how a low lever distributor looks at independent movie product and how it can be sold. First of all, Tanya York is not a filmmaker...She's a businesswoman. She becomes brutally honest about what it takes to make any money at the low end of the movie making business. That's where few people, if anyone at all, makes any money. York Entertainment has found a particular niche in the marketplace and Tanya claims she can make you money if you follow her formula. She has many case studies to back that up...but you might not want to always be making horror - action movies. If not, she says you don't have much of a chance in the low budget game. I did appreciate her brutal honesty, realizing much of what she says is rather self serving in how she can help the aspiring filmmaker. Forgiving her that, there was still much valuable information and worth the price.

I am surprised at the review from "Low Budget Peter". This book is actually quite good.
Most movies books focus on either the technique or productions, How To Make Money Making Movies is about the business end of the movie making. The only other "similar" book close to How To Make Money Making Movies is From Reel to Deal, but it covers business part of movie making in 4 chapters, while How To Make Money Making Movies goes into details and explain it in 20 chapters.

There are lots of interviews in this book, especially the interview with James Cameron; you can learn a lot from these gurus. The way the book is written is very inspiring; it encourages film makers to plan their dreams, at the same it points out all the possible financial and legal traps down the road.

Since I never went to films schools, I couldn't verify the book's claim "it teaches what films school don't teach you". But I guess it's close. It's a very practical book for future film makers.

Before I tell you about the book, there are some things you should know about the author: Do yourself a favor and google "Tanya York," (the author's name), "York Entertainment," "bankruptcy," and "ripoff." You'll find her company declared insolvency in 2004, and all her company's 220 films were deemed to have "no value to third parties." In other words, her entire film library was worth nothing. Her company owed $4.9 million to creditors (including many filmmakers) and her company assets were only $117,353.

She had formed a SEPARATE company that then purchased her original company's assets for $90,000. No one else bid on it.

In other words, she made it go defunct and bought up its assets for only $90k, thereby saving herself $4.8 million dollars! Pretty neat trick. Obviously, this is a savvy businesswoman. But whether your ethics are on the same level as hers is only something you can decide.

A web search will reveal many unhappy filmmakers who never saw a dime from her company after signing a distribution deal.

So, if you read her book (which I did), keep all that in mind. It's a book that tells filmmakers how to make the kind of movie that she will take from you and make money on and then go bankrupt. It's very practical advice on how to make those super low budget five- and six-figure movies. There are some definite nuggets of information in there, especially if you know nothing about the movie business. It's written in a breezy style, but with far too many personal anecdotes that just aren't that interesting.

But if you're hungry for any and all information on indie moviemaking, her business model works. Just don't invest your own (or your friends' or family's) money in a movie and then ask her to distribute it. She's not a filmmaker herself, she's one of those distributors who generate all those horror stories that filmmakers tell.

If you have even the most basic knowledge of the film business, you will find nothing new or interesting in this book. Tanya shares nothing that hasen't been said 50 times before, in fact, she does not even mention the fact that her company went bankrupt--OK, not officially, in California they have a State thing called Assignment to Creditors, but it's the same thing. The bankruptcy story would have been interesting. There are so many good books out there, unless you have a bird cage at home, you don't really need this one.

Length:: 1:52 Mins

It is easy to underestimate this book, simply because of the cover. Tanya York has a ton of movie experience, because she started very young. Tanya York has produced over 30 movies and distributed well over 100 movies. Randall Frakes co-directed Xenogenesis with James Cameron, and participated in both Terminator movies.

Here are three reasons why I like this book. First, this book is unique, because filmmaking books are written mostly by directors, not distributors. There are thousands of books on how to make a movie, and very few that tell you how to sell one.

Second, Tanya York is a distributor in the direct-to-dvd and low budget independent film market, which is the most likely entry point for a beginning filmmaker.

Third, this book is very well written, the the assistance of veteran screenwriter Randy Frakes. It balances autobiography with experience, and a little inspiration.

The author's great passion and brutal honesty regarding the film industry elevated this book above the mere cliché filmmaking industry monograph. This book is not just an inspiration, but a nuts-and-bolts guide that refuses to hide the ball.

Tanya frankly outlines what terms you should expect in your first development deal, and spells out exactly how to approach a distributor, and what content that distributor is likely to buy.

For example, after a basic description of film genres, the author gives a no-holds barred, cogent list of genres to avoid, the kind of tough-love that only a distributor can serve up to a filmmaker. Better know it now than later...

How to Make Money Making Movies is worth reading.

I have known Tanya for years, and the book sounds exactly like she speaks and acts regarding the Movie Business.

Her track record ,therefore, speaks for itself regarding whether or not her concept of Making Money in the Movei Business is valid or not.

Tanya is a winner, and knows what she speaketh about!!

I recommend that anybody thinking about getting in the business, (or anybody that got in and failed), read this book. It is filled with very worthwhile thought patterns and decision making information.

Good work, baby!!

"Very informative. A truly unique guide to success. Perfect for the adventurous."