Customer Reviews

The Power Filmmaking Kit

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow. The Power Filmmaking Kit is like no other indie movie making book I've read. Unlike most other books which give you either trivial information (like asking your friends to help on your movie) or too much information, this book resonates with the experience of the author who is, himself, an indie filmmaker turned Emmy-winning Hollywood director. Tomaric gives you thousands of from-the-field techniques and it is one of the most organized, easy-to read books I've seen in a long time.

If you're looking to produce an indie movie, take it from the author who made a $2,000 movie, got distribution and made a profit. This is definitely the book for you.

I am very impressed with this book. It goes into so much detail, yet
it's still really easy to understand and is very well organized. It's
the best book I've ever read on how to make your own movie. Also, the
materials on the DVD are worth the cost of the book by themselves.
Tutorials that cover directing, cinematography pre-production, editing
all tie in the chapters. The forms are well designed and perfect for
any filmmaker. I said it once and I'll say it again, if you're going
to make a movie, you should definitely have The Power Filmmaking Kit.

For the independent filmmaker, this book is essential to you library. Jason has done an excellent job of breaking down the process of movie-making in a logical, and easy to follow format. This book would be beneficial for both the novice and for the more experienced filmmaker. For the beginner, it is a fantastic overview of the whole process, from development to distribution, and shows you how you can make a film without breaking the bank. For the more experienced, you will want to read this book and keep it close by as a reference tool. With the sections thoroughly and easily laid out you can review key information as you are planning your next project.

Jason has done a nice job of blending the technical information with the creative. If you are looking to make films, you need to have a understanding of the entire process, even those areas that are outside your area of expertise. This book will give you that.

Regardless of your level or interest, I recommend this book. It will be beneficial for anyone looking to make films or for those who are just looking to understand how films are made.

To give this less than 5 stars would be to do this very detailed book an injustice. At this point in time if you could buy just one book on filmmaking this is the one to buy. However, this is a critique rather than a review--and I do want to point out what irks me about this book. But lets start with what is really good about it.

1) The book is fascinating--and even someone who has read many other books will find it engaging and enlightening.

2) The included movie that the author made for $2,000 is superb. (This is a little depressing as it is so good why isn't it better known, and what does that imply about the films we will make.)

3) The book is superbly detailed in every area. For example I've purchased books on directing actors that were not as enlightening as the directing actors section of this book.

4) There is genius in the depth it goes to. For example a veritable checklist about parking, etc, when your actors invade the neighborhood of the shoot.

What I didn't like was the fact that although the author made his film for so little, he does not share as much detail about that accomplishment as I would have liked. It is not like How to Make a Low-Budget Digital Movie which focuses solely on a low-budget film, and although that is not entirely a negative it does get us to where my critique of the book lies. Who the heck is this book for? It is written as if the reader might be a no budge movie maker with a dream, but is slightly more likely to have a spare fortune about to finance their film? And at the same time isn't quite focused on the big budget filmmaker such as From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film. What I would say is that it is a better and more American version of The Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint.

But don't get me wrong. This is still a brilliant book. The author, for example, does not fall into the trap so many others have, of recommending cameras, equipment, etc. Instead he talks about the equipment in general and so doesn't not date his material as badly as others have. Even my Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom has a new model Canon XH-A1S 3CCD HDV High Definition Professional Camcorder with 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III (and I recommend 2008 Learn the (Canon XH A1, XH-A1) XHA1 TUTORIAL TEACHING PROGRAMMED-INSTRUCTION DVD for both. Though before too long solid state cameras, i.e. no tapes needed at pure 1920 x 1080 resolution will be the only show to consider.)

In conclusion, my problem is who the author addressed as his reader. I do not as a reader have a problem with the wealth of information here. And until another book comes along this may well be the best book out there.

Most books are so technical when it comes to filmmaking that for the average person it's hard to follow along. Jason's book is one that explains it like it is, but in a way that makes sense. This book starts you at the very beginning of filmmaking (The idea for a story) and takes you through the complete journey of making your film to the very end of obtaining distribution. With plenty of examples, graphs and pictures, this is by far the best book about making movies that there is. A must for every Filmmaker!!

I am currently a successful stunt woman in the entertainment business and have worked on many big budget films. I bought Jason's book because it laid out step by step everything I needed to do to start and finish my own film. I have found all the behind the camera details very helpful and they have saved me a lot of time in pre-production. His specific layout of what needs to happen when has been a life saver. Being a stunt performer and always in front of the camera has taught me some, but this book has filled in ALL of the blanks.

I was so frustrated with the lack of practical filmmaking instruction that I took two years out of my life to write and illustrate "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide", so I speak from the heart when I say that Jason Tomaric's "Power Filmmaking Kit" is a rare wonder of practicality, conciseness, and valuable filmmaking wisdom.

There are two ways you learn the things in a solid practical film book like this:

1) the hard way- by doing it and learning from your mistakes (fine if you've got the time and the money) or

2) by being smart enough to study and learn from a book like this how to stretch your time and money and get better results.

After fifteen years in this business, I still found plenty of valuable tidbits, forms, and practical wisdom in Jason's book and the jam-packed DVD lessons to make it more than worth the cover price. I only wish I had access to a book like this back in my film school days.

Yet another big shot in the DV Revolution. Well done, Jason.

Awesome book! I whole-heartedly recommend The Power Filmmaking Kit
for anyone interested in making a movie. Jason has a very easy-to-
understand approach and his years of filmmaking experience shine
though. You can tell that Jason worked his way through low budget
movies because of the detailed, step-by-step advice he gives. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO MAKE A MOVIE WITHOUT THIS BOOK! If you have any doubt that
this system works, check out the movie he made for $2,000 (it comes with the book). The movie got distribution and looks amazing! Thanks Jason for sharing your knowledge with us!

The Power Filmmaking Kit is the best "industry" book I have picked up in years. It encompasses every aspect of the business and is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned vets. An inspirational must-read for all who have even the slightest desire to create moving pictures. The Kit takes a daunting, often inaccessible business, and makes it comprehensible and possible.

To me, the most impressive thing about this book is the fact author Tomaric backs up what he says in the book by including a DVD of a feature length film he made for a mere $2000. While the film, "Time and Again," is not going to win any Oscars and may never appear on The Movie Channel, it's a pretty decent effort. Its production values are amazing when you consider the micro budget and they'd be impressive even if Tomaric had never told us how little he spent. The movie has a nice Twilight-Zoney feel to it, the performances are competent and earnest, and there's evidence in every shot that the director and his crew were not going to let the limited budget stifle their efforts to achieve quality.

The DVD also comes with segments demonstrating many of the book's principles and how they were applied in the making of Time and Again. A lot of valuable insight is provided into the planning and human relations aspects of helming a film project. These issues are of critical importance in holding a team of talented people enthusiastic about your project even when they're not getting much, if any, financial compensation for being a part of it.

The book itself is straightforward and chuck full of practical information. Some of it is technical, but none of it is hard to understand. Parts of the more technical stuff are getting a little creaky, because the book was published in 2008. For example, the author seems to lean toward film over digital in some respects, but digital has made such strides even in the last couple of years, in terms of both quality and public acceptance, that the issue of whether digital or film is "better" seems, in my opinion, to be a little archaic. Digital is now where it's at. But, anyway, the book gives a pretty good discussion of digital equipment and techniques and I'd say that discussion is still 95% relevant in 2010. I highly recommend this book.