Customer Reviews

Short Films 101: How to Make a Short and Launch Your Filmmaking Career

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

 

 

I can sum up this book in a few short phrases:

1. Go to film school and make lots of contacts.
2. Have lots of contacts because the only way anyone in this book makes a film is because they had inside contacts.
3. Shoot on film, because video is for losers. Except that your story is more important than the quality of your images, so shoot on whatever you want. As long as it's film.
4. Make sure your script is good, because if it's not, your movie will be bad. So have a good script. Like anything that Rob Schneider has been in. Because Rob Schneider films were made in Hollywood so they are good and shining examples of what you should strive for.
5. Have a good script, and lots of contacts.

I read through this whole book, hoping against hope (like a hero in a decent story) that good would triumph and redemption would be found and that somewhere there would be useful information within. Alas, it was not to be. Against my better judgement I slogged on, and coming to the final page I had an epiphany: I had just lost several precious hours of my life, never to be regained. All for naught.

I seriously doubt that anyone who dreams of being a successful filmmaker has their sights set on making the next "The Animal."

If you are on a budget and want to make a film (short or otherwise) you will get more useful information and help from any given paragraph in "Digital Filmmaking 101" by Newton and Gaspard than you will get out of this book. And I am not associated with Newton or Gaspard.

This is an OK book. I still pick it up every now and then and give it a read. The $50K budget is a little optimistic in my opinion but he does know his stuff.
If you can get this at a used bookstore, you will be more satisfied with it. Glean from it what you can but it is geared more toward people with more than $300-$500 to make and distribute a film.
There are some great references in it for equipment and information.

This book is really great...the information given is practical and very usefull. I was supprised at how many Film Directors actually got thier start by just shooting a couple of shorts...If i could i'd give this book 10 Stars...but for now. I'll settle for 5.