Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema [Paperback]

John Pierson (Author), Kevin Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

An insider's account of what goes on behind the scenes in independent film covers John Pierson's pivotal role in the launching of such films as Stranger than Paradise, Clerks, She's Gotta Have It, and Roger and Me.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Pierson's name may not be a household one, but the filmmakers he's been associated with?Spike Lee, Michael Moore, Jim Jarmusch?are well known to fans of independent films. Pierson has been friend, investor, and, most importantly, business agent to these and lesser talents and has been a fixture on the festival scene for over a decade. His account of that scene is both honest and maddeningly incomplete. He offers immense detail on some of his deals (even reprinting the Roger and Me contract highlights) but is sketchy on others. He's frank in appraising the work and personality of filmmakers but vague about himself, especially his background. Still, within his milieu Pierson is a heavyweight, and his book is a good choice for collections with large film sections.?Thomas Wiener, editor, "Satellite DIRECT"
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The deals, enlivened by the author's bio, never lose their human complexion.... Mr. Pierson, who has lived, breathed and hunted film for most of his adult life, covers his territory with urgency and conviction, and his single-mindedness is ravishing. -- : The New York Times Book Review, Liesl Schillinger --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 371 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786861894
• ISBN-13: 978-0786861897
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,225,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If You're Going to Sundance ..., April 16, 2004

By 

KC "Metroxing" (Northern Cal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema (Paperback)

The "A Guided Tour Across a Decade ..." portion of the title is a little misleading to some.

While he talks to and about Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Michael Moore, Jim Jaramusch, Spike Lee and others, and while it's a first account of the American independent film movement circa 1990s - this is NOT a book about their films (either as analysis or critique) or them (as directors and their techniques or merely celeb gossip).

This is a book about the trials and tribulations of being a producer's rep.

There are two types of people who should read this book and would find it useful.

If you plan on directing or producing a movie - consider this book a MUST READ - film distribution 101 reading.

He talks in relevant detail about representing some of the most important American independent films of the 1990s including SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT, CLERKS, ROGER & ME and others. While he gives an almost day-by-day blow of some of these films as they travel from film festival circuit to deal making to publicity tours - the real value is are the details about the process that one can expect as an independent film maker.

Now, a decade later, many things have changed (especially the financing numbers and studio/distribution situation today versus the 1990s) - what hasn't changed is the overall process of what you might encounter and expect. Here's a great opportunity to read what they encountered and what lessons you might learn from them.

The detailed summary on a deal-memo and points that they negotiated regarding the distribution contract and revenues from distribution and home video - are worth the price of a USC Film School class (not the whole education - the books not that great - just a excellent class :-)

If you are a film fanatic and want to learn a portion of the nuts and bolts of the process of film festivals and independent distribution - you should find this book of interest.

Why only three stars? Deduct one star for ... this book would've been more interesting if we got more of a first hand account from the directors and their feelings during the process along with John Pierson's.

Deduct another star because the industry and the financial numbers and the players have changed so the details of the situations are not very useful.

But the foundation of Sundance and other buzz-worthy festivals reached the public eye during this period so if you're going (or thinking of going) to Sundance, Toronto, et al - get up to speed on all that's transpired so far.

Again, this is a MUST READ for aspiring directors and producers. For others, it all depends on how interested you are in the history of the business process of indepedent film-making ...

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too much horn-tooting, July 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema (Paperback)

What could've been a good guide to modern indie film is bogged down by Pierson's relentless and self-serving tooting of his own horn. Who cares?!? What we really want is the inside story of all these independent films and filmmakers. Pierson seemed to lose track of who the stars of his book should be. I also found the author's writing and his overall knowledge of movies to be lacking. A much better book on the same broad topic is "Celluloid Mavericks" by Greg Merritt, which covers the entire history of American independent film from a much more literate and balanced perspective.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good history lesson, also good if a Kevin Smith fan..., April 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema (Paperback)

this is a long history of indie films. One thing the reader must know before reading this: if you are not interested in the aspects of filmmaking or an indie film buff, DO NOT READ THIS! From an objective, weekend big-budget moviegoer point of view, this is VERY boring!!! the aspect i enjoyed best however were the discussions that the author and Kevin Smith (director of "Clerks", "Mallrats", and "Chasing Amy") had. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of near-worthless drivel about movie festivals and how this guy financially backs many diverse films.