The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Film marketer and business professor Martin has created a step-by-step guide on how to make an indie film and includes stories from and about such industry insiders as producer Christine Vachon and directors Doug Liman and Kimberly Peirce. Martin covers everything from raising money to distribution, while including invaluable details such as the average cost of a soundtrack song (about $15,000, but $500,000 if it's the Rolling Stones) or the price of renting a New York City theater for a one-week run ($10,000–$50,000). Using current examples like the trial and tribulations of Sideways director Alexander Payne or the financing behind Swingers, Martin dispenses practical advice culled from real-life indie hits and misses that is both inspiring and cautionary. For certain technical information (sample budget breakdowns and representation contracts), Martin includes a solid appendix in what is ultimately an informative and very entertaining account of the indie film for would-be independent filmmakers and producers. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“A brilliant how-to manual for tackling and mastering the industry.” —Anthony Bregman, producer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

“This book is indispensable.” —Tom Bernard, Copresident, Sony Pictures Classics

“The path to the premiere and beyond of any feature film is a minefield. With The Reel Truth, Reed Martin has given new filmmakers the battalion of bomb detectors necessary for survival.” —Ted Hope, producer of The Ice Storm

“Reed Martin has created a smart, engaging read that is also one of the most comprehensive and cutting-edge looks at the changing face of independent-film production and distribution today. This is the one book I would call essential for anyone who really wants to make a career out of filmmaking.” —Drew McWeeny, aka Moriarty, Ain’t It Cool News

"Packed with practical advice and anecdotes from successful indie icons, Reed has written a guidebook essential for any aspiring filmmaker." —Tom Ortenberg, President of Theatrical Films, The Weinstein Company

“The most up-to-date guide readers could want…No one who embarks on a feature of his or her own after reading The Reel Truth can say he or she has not been warned—and, more important, not been prepared.” —Jim Hemphill, American Cinematographer Magazine

“A must-have manual of knowledge and entertainment for beginning and experienced filmmakers...To not have this information is like scuba diving by yourself, skydiving without packing your own parachute...why risk it?” —Chris Eyre, director of Smoke Signals

 

“What's great about The Reel Truth isn't simply its usefulness, but its thoroughness...Martin's invaluable book will help you navigate the treacherous terrain of the modern independent film scene.” —Chris Bolton Powells.com

 

“An invaluable resource for those striking out on their own…From production, post-production, marketing and distribution, the book also covers such areas as dealing with music licensing, investors, script theft and securing legal help. However, it is Martin's personal interviews with leading directors, writers, producers and studio executives that offers “The Reel Truth” an extra layer of validity and insight to make it a true “insider's guide.” —Jorge Carreon, Examiner.com (Los Angeles)

 

“Making a movie, be it a five-minute short or a two-hour feature, takes more than vision. In his witty and addictively readable book The Reel Truth, author Reed Martin provides 500 pages of how-to advice for would-be De Palmas—everything from financing to casting, scoring to marketing—and backs it up with cautionary anecdotes and tips from famous directors.” —Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

 

“Reed Martin interviews some of the brightest minds in independent cinema, including Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and Christopher Nolan (“Memento”), for riveting first-person accounts of their own success stories as well as the moments when their careers could have ended right then and there if they opted to give up …More importantly, Martin offers practical lessons for those still dedicated enough to want to make a film.” ––Christian Toto, Examiner.com (Denver)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber; 1st edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571211038
• ISBN-13: 978-0571211036
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,875 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great manual for first-time filmmakers, May 17, 2009

By	Justin Q. Jefferies - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is packed with war stories and informative on topics for budding filmmakers like avoiding screenplay theft, getting song clearance, and low cost/high impact marketing to get films seen.

The author, Reed Martin, researched the book well, and it is extremely up-to-date...so much that it reads like a newspaper in places. Martin is a film journalist, film school professor, former industry executive, scriptwriter, and filmmaker. His perspective qualifies him to write the book. He's like the Jared Diamond of the film world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable reference for anyone making an independent film, October 6, 2009

By	Michael Aarons (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

[N.B.: I'm posting this review although it was actually written by my spouse. I'm making this disclaimer only so no one can ever accuse me of having claimed to be an actor. In regard to Martin's book I am in complete agreement with her praise for it. -- MA]


As an actor I've spent many hours in front of the lights, cameras, and booms. I've worked on all

types of sets: from just two guys functioning as director, grip, and everything in between, to major motion pictures complete with crane lighting, second units, and hundreds of cast and crew.

However, none of this experience provided the kind of information and insight into all of the other aspects of

filmmaking projects that Reed Martin's book did. I was fascinated to read about the numerous processes involved in

conceptualizing, developing, fundraising, producing, shooting, editing, and marketing films. To be successful, everything has to come together with just the right timing and elements, like a complex recipe.

Martin's book provides a fantastic amount of detailed, behind-the-scenes knowledge. This book is an invaluable reference to anyone embarking on an independent filmmaking project. I also recommend it to actors, hopeful screenwriters, and anyone else who has ever wondered what nuts and bolts are required to really put together a movie.

After you read this book, you'll be amazed that any film ever makes it in front of viewing public, given the amount of planning, diligence, organization, and homework required.

OVerall, this book is a great eye-opener, an energetic read full of tips and hints, and a wonderful window on the world of independent filmmaking. Don't miss reading this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book: "everything you didn't know you need to know about making an independent film", October 6, 2009

By	RichardMichaelsStefanik - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

THE REEL TRUTH by Reed Martin is the best book about the reality of Independent Movie Production available today. Reading this book is a "cold-shower reality check" for wannabe filmmakers who have fantasies of getting discovered by Hollywood and getting offers to make their next movie by a major studio. It just doesn't happen that way!

Reed presents case studies of now-famous directors such as Chris Nolan (FOLLOWING, MEMENTO, BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT), Jim Sheridan (MY LEFT FOOT, ATONEMENT OF THE FATHER, IN AMERICA) and Darren Aronofsky (PI, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, THE FOUNTAIN, THE WRESTLER) to reveal what the real path to Hollywood success is like. The lesson being, don't drop friends and family on the belief that Hollywood Fame is just one phone call away. It just doesn't happen that way!

The value of this book is that Reed is grounded in the day-to-day business of independent filmmaking, especially the experiences of first time director-producers. He has chapters on the nuts-and-bolts of developing a business plan, plus ways of getting money and seeking good legal advice. He discusses production problems to avoid, the importance of casting name actors for foreign market sales, the pitfalls of using music on your soundtrack and how to avoid clearance rights problems that will kill any possible distribution deal.

New filmmakers have to realize that marketing and distribution is just as important (if not more so) than the production of the movie. Independent producers who try to pitch their projects to major Hollywood Studios quickly learn that they can no longer bring an unproduced package to the executives that include a great script, director, A-list actors, complete production financing, plus print and advertising cost (P&A), but now also a guaranteed audience before the studio will give them a distribution slot and access to the theater screens.

The competition for theatrical distribution slots is so intense that only projects with a pre-established market that guarantees a solid first weekend opening will be considered for multiple screen theatrical release. The chapters on the role of a producers' rep for getting an indie movie into film festivals, smart marketing and what theatrical marketing costs in real dollars, should be required reading for any first-or-second time director.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel with the arrival of the new digital age for movie making. The cost of production has collapsed with the arrival of low cost high quality digital production and editing system by Sony, Apple, Avid and Adobe. An equipment cost of less than $2,500 would allow many directors to produce their first feature length HD movie.

One consequence of this is that there is now a glut on indie HD movies on the market, which has caused the acquisition price to drop and the number of acquisitions at festivals to collapse to 1-to-3 indie films out of 3,500 getting deals at Sundance or other festivals in 2009.

The collapse of the DVD sales market has also destroyed studio interest in picking up indie product. Blockbusters reported to be closing about 950 stores in 2010 because the stores cannot compete with REDBOX $1 film rentals in supermarkets. The studios can no longer count on their profits coming from DVD sales.

But there is another brighter light at the end of the tunnel for indie producers, and that is digital distribution. The Holy Grail is the projected 50 million HDTV 50+" LED/LCD screens in the homes throughout the USA within the next few years, connected to the internet. Today you can go to a Best Buy store and see these new HDTVs and Blu-Ray HD Players which allow video streaming from the internet digital distribution networks of videos from NetFlix, YouTube, and other Indie Distribution Networks.

A better indie producer's marketing/distribution business plan for the future would focus on spending advertising dollars to get the people in their homes to watch the movies on the HDTV than getting them into the theaters to see the movies. Some indie distributors are already talking about the 50 million HDTV opening night release at $40 per family bringing in a revenue of $2 billion in one night. The Holy Grail? I think so. Believe it. It will happen in our lifetime!

So if you want a good read about "everything you didn't know you need to know about making an independent film", get THE REEL TRUTH by Reed Martin!

K.C. Craig
Richard Michaels Stefanik
KCRS Productions Company