Putting the Pieces Together: The Graffiti Model for Indie Filmmaking [Paperback]

Benjamin Morgan (Author), Quality of Life Crew (Author), Jim Prigoff (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2006

Want to see what do-it-yourself filmmaking is all about? Benjamin Morgan did, so he made the low-budget, scraped together film Quality of Life. Shot on location in San Francisco's Mission District, the movie sheds light on a clandestine graffiti subculture, telling an authentic and gripping story of two young graffiti writers whose friendship and lives unravel after they get arrested. Morgan's book delves into how he and his crew were able to build their movie out of nothing, get it screened to sold-out audiences at film festivals nationwide, and even take home a couple awards. Both a compelling story and an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at underground film, Putting the Pieces Together explores a burgeoning field in the evolving world of cinema.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Extraordinary." - Berlin International Film Festival Jury "A powerful and emotionally satisfying film." - San Francisco Chronicle "Energetic....Authentic-looking glimpse into an exotic world." - Variety "Supreme acting and great music." - Stockholm International Film Festival Jr. Jury "Streetwise honesty...powerful." - Seattle Post Intelligencer"

About the Author

Benjamin Morgan has spent over a decade as a government social worker, working within the juvenile justice system with at-risk youth. A former at-risk kid himself, Morgan's connection to the underground youth of today provides the film with its gritty realism and "drama verite" style.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press (November 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933368462
• ISBN-13: 978-1933368467
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,939 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Decent view of the making of an underground film, January 4, 2009

By 

Michael A. Duvernois (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Putting the Pieces Together: The Graffiti Model for Indie Filmmaking (Paperback)

This is an on-the-scenes tale of making an underground film of the graffiti subculture. It could be quite useful to anyone contemplating a low (or near zero) budget film, documentary or drama. It isn't especially well written, or comprehensive in "how-to-make-your-movie," but that isn't what the intent is either. Expect a story of the making of this particular film and obtain your own insights from it, and it's a worthwhile book.