All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business, 5th Edition [Paperback]

Scott Trost (Author), Gail Resnik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 1996

From getting the necessary training and understanding the intricate responsibilities of everyone behind or in front of the camera to getting your first break and avoiding career-specific pitfalls, All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business leads you topic by topic through

* A breakdown of job descriptions, from casting directors and key grips to stunt coordinators and film editors

* What kinds of deals actors, directors, writers, and producers make when they start out and when they hit the top

* How to protect and sell your creative work

* How movie deals are put together at studios and by independents

* The nuts and bolts of a boilerplate contract

* The notorious and mysterious world of profit participations, with a detailed explanation of why there's never any profit "net profit" deals

The entertainment industry can be an exciting, challenging landscape to negotiate. Having some valuable insight into how to make the most of your career in the movie or TV business can put you on the surest path to success.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Lights, cameras..." and if you get this book, very likely "Action!" This is a great resource book for anyone who wants to get into any aspect of the movie and TV business--especially in Los Angeles. Written by two prominent entertainment attorneys, it spells out the nature of jobs in the business, legal matters (such as protecting your creative work), and the Byzantine machinations behind movie and TV deals.

Review

Debbie Pearl Writer-Producer, Designing Women The Grey's Anatomy of the TV and film business.

Dirk W. van de Bunt Sr. Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs, The Carsey-Werner Company A...breezy and intelligent guide to the ins-and-outs of the dealmaking process. I wish I had had this book when I started my career.

Shelley, Levinson Academy Award-winning Writer-Director When two prominent entertainment attorneys spell out clearly much of the "business" of show business, "Who could ask for anything more?"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (February 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684800640
• ISBN-13: 978-0684800646
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Everything You Need To Know, November 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business, 5th Edition (Paperback)

This is a phenomenal guide to the different positions in the film industry. From the small to the big screen, to the credits that roll by unnoticed and unregarded, this book covers every position with a description of each. There is a chapter on contracts. Another on directing. Another on acting. Another on producing. Virtually a plethora of information, and a must-must-read for anyone going into, or interested in television or movies.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative...sheds some light on how the system works, December 26, 2005

By 

C. Hunt-Walker (Queens, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business, 5th Edition (Paperback)

I would say that overall this book is an excellent reference for anyone thinking of getting into the Film and TV business. This book breaks down and provides samples of contracts, terms, negotiating points, how to break into the industry, and plenty of other information in regards to Hollywood. I'd say the "meat and potatoes" of the book lie in the last few chapters about negotiating and where the money goes, but it's great.

The only issues I have with this book is that 1) It's mostly directed towards actors. I am an up and coming producer/director, and even though much of the content was still relevant to my interests, the authors are primarily writing to inform actors. 2) The book is for the most part LA-centric. The authors make sure you know this from the book's foreward. I am a New Yorker!

I would definitely recommend this for anyone interested in an above the line position on a movie production.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Summay of the Entire Industry!!, August 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All You Need to Know About the Movie and TV Business, 5th Edition (Paperback)

This book was the greatest. As an aspiring screenwriter and director, it helps to get a large grasp on the industry. This book helped me enormously. It tells everything you could possibly need to know from employment in Movies & TV to minimum wage to contractual issues to what to stay away from. Just an all around great book.