The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films: Making It Big in Shorts [Paperback]

Kim Adelman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2004

Brings together the artistic and business sides of filmmaking.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author of "The Girls' Guide to Elvis (Broadway Books, June 2002), KIM ADELMAN is the founder of the web Site GirlsGuidetoCountry.com. She is also a filmmaker whose credits include "Why Liberace and "George Lucas at USC. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941188892
• ISBN-13: 978-0941188890
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,543,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Moderately useful book, August 4, 2005

By 

James M. Riley (Flagstaff,AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films: Making It Big in Shorts (Paperback)

I found this book to be of limited value. There is some good techinical information on dealing with SAG and other industry stuff but I found it wildly lacking in other areas. Kim Adelman is a Producer of short films as far as I know she hasn't actually got behind the camera. So the book wasn't very good with the whole being creative part nor paticularly inspiring. She makes everything seem real expensive and a 26 man crew to make a short! Robert Rodriguez would be turning over in his grave if he were dead. I think aspiring film makers are better off reading a "Rebel without a Crew" first make few films ,learn by doing, then add this book so they can understand how a producer thinks.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Entertaining Guide For Beginning Filmmakers, June 17, 2009

By 

Vasilisa (los angeles, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making it Big in Shorts: The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films - 2nd edition (Paperback)

I've been thinking about making a short film for ages, and was lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of this book. After reading it, I feel inspired to actually make it happen. There's a great mix of encouragement and practical advice here that helped organize my thoughts regarding the steps I need to take to make my short. The anecdotes from veteran short filmmakers, including Kim herself, were especially helpful. I appreciated that no set-in-stone rules were set down, but the worst mistakes to be avoided are still spelled out.
I'd say it's a must-read for anyone who's going to make a short and hasn't had much experience with production. But it could also be helpful to more seasoned filmmakers who want insight into aspects of the process they haven't given much thought to, especially marketing and online distribution.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aspiring Filmmakers Need This Book!, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films: Making It Big in Shorts (Paperback)

The Ultimate Filmmakers Guide to Short Films: Making It Big In Shorts should be read by every aspiring filmmaker. Kim Adelman lays out everything you need to know in an informative, witty, and intelligent way. She tells you about the mistakes that others (including herself!) have made, so that you don't make the same mistakes.

And as someone who has worked at a number of film festivals over the years, I found her insights into dealing with festivals, and planning a promotional, marketing and festival strategy for your film to be spot-on. I'll be recommending this book to every filmmaker (and filmmaker wannabe!) I know.