Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker [Paperback]

Dan Rahmel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2004

Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking, an ideal book for the rapidly growing number of low-budget filmmakers, provides how-to information on the day-to-day techniques of actual low-budget production. Containing construction details describing how to replicate expensive tools for under $30 a piece, this book provides quick and inexpensive remedies to both the most common and most difficult production challenges. Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking is an invaluable resource to anyone looking to make a film without a big budget.

* Achieve professional results with inexpensive materials from your local hardware store
*A must-have reference for all low-budget and independent filmmakers
* Time-saving tips and techniques with easy-to-follow photos

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking takes up where all the other guerilla filmmaking books leave off. If you want high screen value on a restricted budget, this book will stretch your money to the max.'
- James MacGregor, Penultimate Productions

'Indie filmmakers: Ignore this comprehensive production guide at your own peril. Everything you need to give your low-budget films that 'big budget' look is right here!'
- Michael Victor, Writer/Producer/Editor, FX Networks

"Rahmel provides the filmmaker with useful tips and detailed instructions for constructing low-cost alternatives to expensive professional gear. He also offers solutions to many common problems and encourages a thoughtful and safe approach to filmmaking."
-David White

"Nuts and Bolts is great for us renegade filmmakers! Rahmel does everything but write the script!"
John Wesley, Teamstunt Productions, Teamstunt San Diego

Book Description

Learn the techniques to create a professional- looking film with a low-budget!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (April 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240805461
• ISBN-13: 978-0240805467
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't start your own low -budget film without it..., July 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker (Paperback)

The author shows make-yourself tools, tips and tricks on moviemaking. The book goes through many interesting ideas and projects and is very dense with great info, both technical and real world. The pictures and descriptions are clear. The post-production chapters, although brief, have some clever and helpful techniques. I've begun working on making the reflector and his instructions make it easy and step by step.

This is a book you use as a reference, it's not a riveting read! But if you've been wanting to make you're own low-budget films, this book will save you countless hours of head-scratching. He figures out most of the problems you will run into and offers clear and intelligent solutions. The content is excellent. I've found other books on this topic to maybe be more inspirational but this book has helped me more than others with "The Nuts and Bolts" of making my own films. It's aptly titled... It's not one of those books that you won't be able to put down, but the author is a good teacher, if a bit dry. This is a book you should definitely buy and read before you start making your own films. This guy has figured out most of the problems so you won't have to...

If you are already making films, but are looking for new ideas and solutions to all the little problems that indie filmakers run into...then you should read this book too.

I think this book is a must own for anyone that wants to make their own films, wants them to look professional, but doesn't have a lot of money to spend.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars thumbs up from a camera guy, August 11, 2004

By 

lucky tiger "tiger" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker (Paperback)

Having worked on a number of professional films, this book is the real deal.
Clearly the author has met a lot of challenges we all face on-set. While my
experience is primary limited to the Camera Department, the author seems to
have consulted others and included information from nearly every department.
Unfortunately, there isn't much information on cinematography that I didn't
already know. Thanks to Mr. Rahmel for writing this fine book. Hopefully the
next version will include more DP stuff.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!, August 6, 2004

By 

Tito Velasquez - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking: Practical Techniques for the Guerilla Filmmaker (Paperback)

A friend gave me a copy of this book as a gift and it has turned out to be one of the best gifts I have gotten in a long time. I used something from it the very same day I reveived it(it has an actor release form that I needed for a voice-over actor).

It's very comprehensive for such a small book. I don't need some of the stuff (like the art direction section), but I'll probably end up building all of the camera equipment. I never even thought of doing underwater shots until I saw the device in the underwater-cam chapter.

There is a Tips section at the end of each chapter that has some great stuff. Like the audio section has this tip about recording room tone. If I had read this tip a year ago, it would have saved me a lot of time and frustration.

The pictures are really good at showing all of the construction steps (although a few in the grip knots section are a little hard to see). I wish the title included the word "video" since I think videographer's like me will use this stuff even more than film makers.