Customer Reviews

All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger

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I'm an avid reader of HOW TO MAKE FILM books as well as BEHIND THE SCENES OF FAMOUS MOVIES books. I wouldn't be exaggerating to say I've read over a hundred in these genres.

Without a doubt, ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FILMMAKING I LEARNED FROM THE TOXIC AVENGER was the funniest, most insightful and informative book in this area I have ever read.

Lloyd Kaufman manages to be the jester and the sage from moment to moment (often at the same time), as he hysterically and with sensitivity, recounts his early filmmaking mistakes, hardships and triumphs on the road to creating the TOXIC AVENGER, TROMEO & JULIET and the TROMA world.

His scathing, sometimes shocking anecdotes of his work on ROCKY and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER have forever changed how I will view these films and the people connected with them.

From the wild, over the top cover art, I thought the book would be complete fluff, but was surprised to find a depth and honesty most "tell all books" could only dream of achieving. To say it was a page turner would be putting it lightly. One simply cannot stop reading this comic masterpiece until completion.

I was moved at the handling of his personal life and simultaneously found myself laughing out loud. I read a portion of this book on a long plane trip and people kept looking over at me as if I were crazy as I repeatedly burst into laughter.

This is a book I will keep, re-read and wish to share with others.

This is a strange book. It begins with Lloyd Kaufman cracking jokes about everything from midgets on fire to belching green goo on secretaries. I laughed but I had no idea what this guy was talking about. Then he gets into making B movies with Troma, the company he started with Michael Herz after years working on Hollywood movies. He recounts his early failures and his first success.

That stuff is interesting, but then he goes right back to making bad jokes. I like his brand of humor --- he's the kind of guy who likes bodily functions, squashed baby heads, and tall tales about Thai hookers --- but the humor is really forced. He seems so eager to please when all he has to do is tell the story of making cheesy, entertaining low-budget films. The Troma stories are really good. Lloyd Kaufman has a lot to say about how the film industry works, directing non-union films, setting up stunts, coming up with good exploitation movie ideas, and even merchandising. (The stuff about working in Japan and making a TV cartoon are particularly enlightening.)

But the bad jokes get in the way. Kaufman is a gifted storyteller and his subject matter is important and fun, so I can easily recommend this book. If you want to know about making movies that have no stars in them, this is the book for you. But you might be disappointed --- Kaufman could have described his work in greater detail, but he chose to amuse his readers instead.

Catching a screening of Troma's new film "Terror Firmer" at the Chicago Film Festival, I had the great experience of meeting Mr. Lloyd Kaufman, one of the nicest people I'm ever likely to come into contact with. He told me I should go on Amazon.com and review his fabulous book, "All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger." Coming from most famous people (yeah, he's famous), telling a fan to boast them up might sound kind of arrogant, but not from Mr. Kaufman. He has got to be one of the last true caring people in the film world and it shows in his excellent book. The book is packed with anecdotes, insights, how-to techniques and plenty of other elements to keep even non-Troma fans interested and amused. I've never found myself laughing out loud so much at a book before. It's hilarious. I suggest reading this book and John Waters' "Shock Value" back-to-back to truly discover what kind of minds make films of the most fantastic and questionable "art" of our times.

Lloyd asked that I write a review of this book because Troma is in dire straits. It seems we've taken them for granted for far too long. The media giants are trying to crush the independent studios and Troma is falling on hard times. You want to know what it's like to make a REAL movie? Read this book, skip reading Entertainment Weekly or Premiere. They're entertaining magazines, but not the real, low-budget truth. Lloyd and James Gunn tell it like it is in this book. It's also one of the funniest books I've ever read. Even funnier than Howard Stern's "Private Parts", which is no easy feat. Troma was the launching ground for James Gunn, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Tiffany Shepis, and countless others. While they've gone on to bigger things, Lloyd has always been there - for us. Making great entertaining movies and supporting the low-budget filmmaker. No Troma/No Fun, Know Troma/Know Fun. Read the book, watch the movies, and most importantly, support Troma.

I've never seen a Troma film, although I know who the Toxic Avenger is, and have an impression of what the film is like from friends. I got this book and a copy of the movie at the same time, and read the book first.

It's supposed to be a 'how-to' guide for independent filmmakers, and I suppose it is, but that part of the experience sits at the center of several layers of narrative. Overall is the "Here's My Book, Hope I Get it Finished in Time" layer of breakfast meetings with the publisher. Beneath that is the "Here's My View of the World", then "Here's what a Putz I Can Be" (with accompanying protestations from friends, family and associates (and an occasional dissenting agreement)). Then there's "Hollywood Stinks", enveloping the "History of Troma" layer, and finally the "Here's How I (We) Did It" layer.

This last piece comes with an abundance of justification, anecdotes and examples of how it doesn't always work, or at least how it shouldn't have worked, but did! THIS makes the difference, and fulfills the book's stated objective.

I probably spent equal amounts of time reading this book with the following reactions:

1. Amusement/Outrage/Laughter (several times OUT LOUD!)

2. The feeling you get slowly driving by a serious car crash

3. "What an arrogant S.O.B.!"

4. "Holy Smokes, I can't believe he said that!"

5. "Yeah! You tell 'em, Lloyd!"

6. "Kaufman, why aren't you dead?"

7. "Enough with the [CENSORED] jokes!!"

8. "I'd never see one of these movies!/I have to see that film!"

9. "You go, girl!" (He's not that picky.)

10. "Serves you right!/You were gypped!"

11. "KAUFMAN, GROW UP!"

12. "Where do I sign up!?"

Kaufman's writing style is similar to how he makes movies: Here we are at the beginning, I know where the end is, and everything from here to there is up for grabs. Regardless of the chapter titles, you never know whether a chapter is going to deal with the industry, "Toxie", Kaufman's partner Michael, hints and tips for casting directors, the recipe for Bromo-Seltzer vomit or which Troma film holds the record for the most squibs used in any movie, ever! (Squibs are the little explosive blood-packets used to simulate a gunshot wound in progress - Oh, No, gotta read the book to find out!)

Anyway, during the first chapters, I occasionally got the impression that Kaufman and Troma must be parenthetical little bumps in the world of film, but if you finish this book still thinking that way, then you missed something. Surprise, surprise, they're both necessary. Film (I mean "FILM") needs its extremists as does everything else, to keep the mainstream, mainstream. Now, these people are not the most extreme in the industry, but without them, well, read the book; you figure out how to end that sentence.

If you happened to go to college in the 70's or 80's then your know what TROMA is all about. Lloyd Kaufman has written the best book of all time. It has all the stories of troma (and probably stuff you didn't know). He writes in a way that's it's so hard to put down. Definetley for any perosn who's a fan or ever been a fan of the Troma Enterprise. The book has some of the best information on some of the best troma films such as The Toxic Avenger, class of nuke em high, bloodsucking freaks, surf nazis must die etc..... This book has made a mark in troma history. Lloyd Kaufman has to be one of the best authors out there. Roger Corman does an introduction at the beginning and is co-writed by James Gunn. I've read it 3 times and every time I found something new and interesting. Though troma has not many well known films, they are liked by the people who know about them. The troma gospel has been going on for 25 years and each day a new tromafan is born.

After getting word right from Troma's slobbering mouth, I search for and purchased this book without hesitation. It's one of the best reads I've ever had. Having seen most of the films in the Troma library, I knew what I was getting into. At least I thought I did. The book is laced with cleaver quips from the equally twisted minds of both Kaufman and Gunn. Exchanges like: "What if it's a kid's movie? Like about dancing raccoons or something?" Lloyd responds: "Throw in a gun. If raccoons can dance they can g******n well pack heat." Now, how did someone who started working on productions like "Rocky" and "Saturday Night Fever" co-unleash Troma unto us? Lloyd Kaufman acutally has a human side to him. The side that believes in making a movie as best as it can be(within in the budget, of course); not sacrificing a project to commerciality; and standing behind what he believes in no matter how much flack it gets. Even if you don't like Troma, have never heard of Troma or don't eat meat, there's enough insight and humor to keep most anyone interested. The book presents a view from both sides of filmmaking: Hollywood and independent. It's admittedly not a "how to" guide on how to succeed or make independent films, but the ride through each chapter will leave you begging for more. And besides, it's fun to see Lloyd give Hollywood "the finger."

It makes me sad that there is not more support for the films that Troma puts out. This book gives wonderful insight into all the hard work they go through in order to make films for us. If you want to get a good look at film making process through the eyes of people who are there- then take the time to read this book. Sure the films are low budget but that does not mean they are any less of a film. In my opinion, low budget is the true "Hollywood"- most of the blockbuster films have gotten away from what it really means to make movies. Read this book- support Troma, support the lost art of film making!!

If you're a fan of Lloyd Kaufman, Troma's films, or just interested in independent cinema....you need this book! The details on the early days of Troma are fascinating, and Kaufman never lets things get even slightly boring. Although this is a humorous, often outrageous book...there really is a wealth of information on how to make a movie on a budget. Troma has always cultivated a sense of community with their fans, and this book is the icing on the cake.

I recently met Lloyd at the Tromadance Film Festival and found him to be a perfectly charming man with an appalling taste for puns. I later read this book and learned that Lloyd is not only charming but a real artist, a savvy businessman and a total freak! I mean, this guy could give Freud's Rat Man a run for his money! What's interesting is that Lloyd presents his predilection for scatological mayhem with such innocence and good will, as if he thinks this is the sort of thing that everybody likes: "Offensive? Really? But I thought you wanted her belly to be ripped open and have rats and maggots come pouring out. Sorry." Needless to say this book is a complete delight and I highly recommend it. Also, Mr. Kaufman's protestations to the contrary, this is in fact a very good and accurate guide to making an actual independent movie.