Customer Reviews

How Not to Make a Short Film: Secrets from a Sundance Programmer

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
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This title is at its best when it lives up to its name and talks about how NOT to make a short film. I especially liked the chapters on short film plots we've seen a million times and the list of 50 short film cliches (who knew that opening with a Japanese tea ceremony was a cliche?). The material on what festival programmers are looking for (and not looking for) is also valuable as is the list of festivals at the end.

However, most of the book is actually devoted to "how TO" make a short film citing the author's experience making two short films. Don't expect anything out of the ordinary here. There's some good information spliced into sections on directing, producing, budgeting and marketing. But Munroe's approach to filmmaking is strictly top-down, old-school, hire the best crew you can stuff with an emphasis on production value. The theme here is professionalism, not innovation. This book is a worthwhile read if you can accept it for what it is--a couple of great chapters and a catchy title padded with vanilla material on how to follow the traditional filmmaking process.

Turns out, the little that I thought I knew, was thrown out the window! I know nothing. But now I can use this book as a guide to making a quality product with as little stress as possible.
It gives you common sense answers to questions everyone has when making a film - regardless if it's short form or not. To anyone who's thinking about making a short film, or even tried shooting a short and failed miserably... this book is for you. And, a plus... a really big plus is it's not a boring text book. It's funny, and gives you real situations and interviews from people who've been where you are and now enjoying what you want - SUCCESS! Thank you Roberta for writing this book. I'm glad that I bought it. Glad that I read it. Now, I just have to apply it!

The information in this book is stuff you need to know as a filmmaker. Reading this will help you make better films and feel more secure about the process that goes into making that possible. Your creativity and artistry is something you will have to bring to the table, but if you follow Roberta Munroe's advice you will be a few steps further on the path to success. You will get more value than the cost of this book and you would be a fool not to read it!

Its a very rare thing for a book to hold my interest from cover to cover. The information in this book was amazingly helpful to the release of my first short film into the festival circuit. After reading this book, my editing team quickly made applicable--unintrusive changes suggested by the author. Great source for first time filmmakers. I've already recommended it to several colleagues.

Before I shot my final project for school, I made sure to read the entire book and it was very helpful and easy to get through. Because of HOW NOT TO MAKE A SHORT FILM, I brought on board an experienced AD, hired a casting director, among other things, which made the shoot much more efficient and smooth. I highly recommend that film students check out this book before they start making films!

I have to give respect when its due! I attended Roberta Monroe's workshop on "How Not To Make A Short Film" in NYC several months ago & Roberta Demands excellence, research & extensive study of the craft as an artist. Here importance of having a very professional Producer is Key. I would like to say if you have not read her book or attended her workshop or taken her advice your doing yourself a disservice to your passion as an artist & the moving image. Thank you once again Roberta for caring so much about the craft. ;o)

As cinematic artists, how do we know when an idea really hits a mark? Sure, we're going from our gut, it feels intense, it feels captivating. We're ready to invest thousands of dollars and turn it into a short film. What we don't know is that thousands of other filmmakers have gone from the same emotional gut and have recycled the same ideas over and over ad nauseam and make the same consistent mistakes. How does the inexperienced filmmaker get out of these common pitfalls and start making good decisions? Roberta Munroe's book provides solid, practical information that gets us back on the right path.

Roberta Munroe's book, "How Not to Make a Short Film," provides hundreds of helpful tips from well-known filmmakers, producers, festival programmers, and distributors in the industry. Munroe's book is a page turner that I could not put down. It is encouraging , full of great wit, humor, and resources.

This is a "must read" for any aspiring filmmaker. The information and tips provided are invaluable and sure to take any aspiring filmmaker's career to the next level. Don't miss out on this book!!! It is one to cherish, keep, and hold, as you seek to manifest your dreams in the film industry.

From page one of this book I learned things that will help me make better shorts even if I never enter one into a film festival.

Where the hell was How Not to Make a Short Film two years ago when I took on the challenge of directing my first short (I'm primarily a script writer)? Every chapter is like a detailed class/workshop for first-time filmmakers. I really loved how you broke down the issue of crewing up. I have the crew glossary that is loaded on imdb.com, but your descriptions put it in concrete terms how you are to work with these folks and how important they are to your production. During my production I was absolutely guilty of doubling up on positions and pulling in friends and lovers as crew...lol

The book lives up to the promise of not burying you in verbiage and getting right to the point. Some filmmaker books, that I have read in the past, is like reading an Ikea bookcase assembly sheet - frickin' overwhelming and confusing:) I've written on several pages and post-its are on every other page.

My first short was absolutely a learning experience, but definitely wish I had had this along for the ride. The lessons would have been less painful. Now I feel like I have a better sense of what I need to PREPARE for as I start to think about my next project. After reading How Not to... I know I have more business to take care of before I even think about turning on the damn camera.

Roberta, excellent job! You have a fan in this budding filmmaker.

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com