Customer Reviews

The Movie Business: The Definitive Guide to the Legal and Financial Secrets of Getting Your Movie Made

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is arguably one of the best contemporary books on the market that addresses the legal and financial aspects of producing a feature film. While the book does go quite heavily into the legalese producers must consider, it's still accessible enough for the novice producer or filmmaking enthusiast to walk away with a weighty respect for the intricate behind-the-camera activity that occurs in regard to film development, production, and distribution.

p.s. this is not a publisher's ghost plug for the book, but a straight-forward review from an independently-minded reader.

Reads like an outsider's guide written by an insider. Facts, anecdotes and information is all helpful for the independent filmmaker and I imagine there's a thing or two for the veterans. Easy-to-read and very actionable information.

If you ever have to negotiate with distributors, this book is a great starting point. In fact, it may be the only book you end up using. Crabb details exactly where and how distributors like to stick it to filmmakers, and how to protect yourself the best you can. It needs to be updated with regards to VOD rights for cable, satellite, the Internet, etc., but concerning other distribution matters, the book is still top notch. In addition to handling distribution contracts, transactional matters relating to development and production are also covered. This book is a must for every filmmaker's shelf!

Jeremy Juuso
Author
GETTING THE MONEY: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Business Plans for Film

This book goes into great depth explaining not only the contracts to use but what the language means. Buy it!

If you are not going to read this book back to front - it is at least worth many times the price as a reference manual. I found this book to be valuable for the following reasons;

1) Uses typical entertainment based business transaction scenarios, and highlights
the potential for things that can and most definitely will go wrong.
(Transactions you'll want to accomplish and the associated pitfalls you'll face on your way)

2) Explains the associated contract terms, how they have "evolved" over 100 years or more in some cases, why
they are important to you as an entertainment professional, and actual excerpts of how it may read/look
in a typical contract.

3) It is not "stiff" to read and has some nice little background stories to help
paint a picture of the various opportunities for conflict that exist.
(see how many times you say to yourself "...gee, I never would have thought of that")

One could almost make an operations manual, or "don't get screwed checklist" from this book.

Simply put, if you take part in any transactions whatsoever, that later will involve negotiations and formalization via contract, use this book as a tool to educate yourself. Hope this helps you

I ended up not needing the book, but even as a pass time this book gets the grade. Its entertaining, and far from the usual boring text book format.

This book will definitely help anyone with a script or movie from getting taken to the cleaners by a producer or distribution company. In addition, A man I highly admire, Jerry Molen, wrote the foreword for this book. This book assisted me in getting my last movie, The Indie Pendant, made. And, you should look for me to be talking about it on my new radio show, The Indie Film Hour, coming in 2006 on World Talk Radio.com. www.vdefilms.com