The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook [Paperback]

GunnarGunnar EricksonErickson (Author), MarkMark HalloranHalloran (Author), HarrisHarris TulchinTulchin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0825673186 | ISBN-13: 978-0825673184 | Publication Date: February 1, 2005 | Edition: 2nd ed.

In this comprehensive guidebook, three experienced entertainment lawyers tell you everything you need to know to produce and market an independent film—from the development process to deal making, financing, setting up the production, hiring directors and actors, securing location rights, acquiring music, calculating profits, digital moving making, distribution, and marketing your movie. This all-new second edition has been completed updated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A marvelous primer that actually delivers what it promises. -- Geoffrey Gillmore, programming director for Sundance Film Festival

By using the authors' techniques and suggestions, the prospects of success are clearly enhanced. -- Robert Dowling, editor of The Hollywood Reporter

If you are in the independent film business, you must read this book. -- Cassian Elwes, William Morris Agency

This book is an invaluable how-to-do-it guide which belongs on your bookshelf if you produce independent films. -- Jonathan Dana, producer's rep

This is a true bible for all aspiring — and active — independent producers. --Jean Picker Firstenberg, director/CEO of American Film Institute --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

Balancing the inevitable tug between art and commerce is your job, but without film commerce, your art will never come into existence, much less reach an audience. The advice here reflects custom and practice in the entertainment industry here [in the Los Angeles area]. The emphasis is on the deals that need to be made. We give you an idea of the nature of various deals, point out the critical issues, and provide parameters that deals typically fall within and how they are documented. We hope this book can raise the level of sophistication of independent producers and result in more and better independent films being financed, produced, and distributed. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books; 2nd ed. edition (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825673186
• ISBN-13: 978-0825673184
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Law > Intellectual Property > Communications
  • #8 in Books > Law > Business > Entertainment
  • #11 in Books > Law > Media & the Law

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than a Great Book--It's a Public Service, June 15, 2004

By 

Thomas R. Belin (Los Angeles, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook (Paperback)

This is more than a great book--it's a public service. The
authors share insights from their decades of legal and
entertainment production experience, in essence offering
thousands of dollars of free legal advice to aspiring
independent producers. Beyond offering a roadmap of business-
planning steps, the book includes templates of numerous legal
forms that an independent producer might need. Meanwhile, in
clear and artful prose, they alternate between You're-Not-God
straight talk and You-Can-Do-It encouragement. Between the
lines, there seems to be a genuine interest in helping
important stories and quality independent work to see the
light of day. I've read other books on the business side of
entertainment that were helpful, but this stands out as the
best of the lot.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bible of independent film producer, August 26, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook (Paperback)

If you are or want to become an independent film producer, this book will give you all of the business/legal knowledge of filmmaking you need. Even though I have not finished the book yet, I've already found this book to be extremely valuable. Because I am planning to produce a new film next year, I even called up Mr. Tulchin directly for legal advice. He was very friendly and took the time to give me great advices and was very knowledgeable in not just U.S. based entertainment law but also international entertainment law as well. Read this book and you will find it worth more than what you paid for!!!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, January 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook (Paperback)

The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide is the most practical and concrete text on the Hollywood deal-making process that I have read to date. Its succinct presentation of the independent film business-legal process is welcome. Many of the real-world examples of independent producers struggling to secure the deal are thought provoking and encouraging. I believe that any independent film producer who reads and applies the information contained in the Survival Guide can only win. Film schools should seriously consider adding this publication to their list of reference texts.