Customer Reviews

Independent Feature Film Production

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As an Australian filmmaker, it would seem a waste of time and money to get hold of a film production book written for primarily the US market. But in this case, it was time and money very well spent. I bought this book nearly four years ago, and it has proven to be an invaluable resource in all my work.

From a smaller independent Australian film to the latest international theatrical release, the tips, insights, strategies and suggestions contained in this book have helped clarify, focus and guide decisions and choices that have paid off enormously.

Yes, this book is heavy on detail, but this is a subject that can appear to be deceptively simple, and in reality is far from. Gregory Goodell has gone through every stage of making your film, any film, and has done so admirably well, emphasising the pitfalls that often land filmmakers in trouble, and how to avoid them yourself.

Any filmmaker who wishes to comprehend and orienteer the complex world of filmmaking, anywhere in the world, and make a film properly from start to finish, would be well advised to add this book to their collection.

This book is simply the clearest, most comprehensive book on feature filmmaking available! It's an invalauable resource for anyone undertaking the task of making their first feature film and a great way for the more experienced types to brush-up on the nuts and bolts of the process. I read the First Edition of this book fifteen years ago and proceeded to Write and Produce my first feature film with no previous experience, film school, or consultation of other resources. I just recently finished the TENTH FILM that I have Written/Produced/ or Directed, all of them theatrical releases, and for me it all started with this book. I can't possibly praise it too highly. I recently read the revised edition and found that it's even better than before!

This book does do a wonderful job at making sure that a person does not blindly go about trying to make the next "El Mariachi" or "Blair Witch Project". The constant statements of risks involved, rules and regulations about unions and permits will start to make most people who are fantasizing about making a film outside the studio system will begin to worry about the realistic risks and chances one has to take on this journey. The thing is that there is a very pesimistic point of view throughout the majority of the writing that seems out of place in a text that proclaims itself as a way of guiding a person forward into the world of making movies. I feel that this book is best read in combination with some of the more upbeat how-to books out there, that way you can be uplifted for a while, brought back down to earth, and then enlightened and inspired again by switching back and forth between the two. Reading just this book by itself can possibility break the desire to make art, which most people of our mentality deal with enough as it is.

This is a terrific book. I have used it in classes that I have taught on film and television financing. I think the new edition of the book covers new financing issues and new technology about as well as anything you can find

When the revised version of this book came out in 1998, I'm sure the information in it was really comprehensive and vital to your average filmmaker. But now, 13 years later, it's so outdated that it's not very relevant anymore.

First of all, this book is definitely aimed at higher-budget indies ($500k+). If you're looking for traditional investors, then the information here might work well for you. It goes very in-depth into the legal and business end of things, but not very much into anything else. There's over 70 pages on legal structure and financing right at the beginning (though the financing is strictly related to the finding and luring-in of traditional investors). The next 150 pages are dedicated to pre-production, but again, very much from the business point of view. In other words, tons of info on things like insurance and how to hire people. I was disappointed with the part on budgeting though, as I'd thought this book would excel in that area. It didn't, and only provided a very broad overview of what's included in a typical budget.

If you're planning on making a film the way Hollywood does (without the studio backing), then this might work for you. But if you're trying to make a more typical low-budget indie film, you're not going to find much of use in this book. I would return it, but it's not worth the $7 shipping/handling fee to do so...

This book goes into fairly extensive detail on almost all aspects of film production. Production is a grey area to most and this book illuminates it quite well. It is a bit dry and long winded but is more than made up for by its excellent index and organization. It doesn't have to be a page turner if you can find the page you need. Buy it and use it as you need it (and you will need it)

In theory, this should be a fascinating reading experience.

The three essentials of film production-concept, the actual production and distribution, have done more to advance the cause of Indie filmmakers being driven to distraction, not to mention the poorhouse!

The area of budgeting is murky with contradictions in Goodell's tome.

On the one hand, he tells us that the "Above the Line" (producer, director, story rights, screenwriter and principal cast) and "Below the Line" (all other actual production expenses) ratio is often 1:3 but is quite often reversed.

Thanks for the clarity! The book is little more than an extended Wikipedia entry. It contains all the facts but lacks any real sense of the richness and complexity of film production.

It relies too much on pre-Internet publications and information previously provided elsewhere and has a disturbing habit of leaving potential filmmakers with a bald fact without offering a glimpse into the strange world behind the facts.

Victor Carson,
Head of Production,
Film Buff Productions,
Sydney, Australia

I have the 1998 version, and this is a very informative book. But be sure to verify the copyright of the book you are ordering. There are 3 editions: 1982, 1998, and 2003. Per an unconfirmed review at google, the 2003 is not completely updated but merely the 1982 version with a new cover. In this ever-changing industry of independent film, I hope that Mr. Goodell will soon release an even more current version that is as up-to-date as possible. Still highly recommend the 1998 version.

I'm a writer-producer currently prepping my first independent film where I'm in the driver's seat. This book has been an invaluable resource for me along the way in terms of educating me on the industry and laying out all of the steps I need to take in order to pull off this project. I've read a number of other books on producing lately, and so far nothing else comes even close to this one. Completely comprehensive, from development to distribution.

If you are planning to shoot your own movie or start your own independent production company then you've got to read this book. This is the most comprehensive guide I've come across and believe me I've searched!