Amazon.com: Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution: Gregory Goodell: Books

Review
"This book is a must. It is a straightforward, insightful, and articulate account of what it takes to make a successful feature film."--Ridley Scott, director of Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma & Louise

"Saves one from having to learn the hard way."--David Lynch, director of Lost Highway and Blue Velvet

"Superb in both its conception and execution."--David Puttnam, producer of Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, The Killing Fields, and Memphis Belle

"The first and most thoroughly researched compilation of information dealing with all aspects of feature films, from financing to production to post-production to distribution and marketing."--Michael Apted, director of Gorillas in the Mist, and Nell

"A clear, direct guide. I wish I had had this book when I started."--John Carpenter, director of Halloween, Escape from New York, and Vampires

"Absolutely crucial for filmmakers!"--Films in Review

"Anyone involved in the making of motion pictures, from television commercials to studio pictures, should read this book before beginning their next production."--Fay Kanin, screenwriter and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

"First rate . . . belongs in the classroom and should be read by many of those now teaching film history and criticism."--Los Angeles Times
-- Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"This book is a must. It is a straightforward, insightful, and articulate account of what it takes to make a successful feature film."--Ridley Scott, director of Alien, Blade Runner, and Thelma & Louise

"Saves one from having to learn the hard way."--David Lynch, director of Lost Highway and Blue Velvet

"Superb in both its conception and execution."--David Puttnam, producer of Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, The Killing Fields, and Memphis Belle

"The first and most thoroughly researched compilation of information dealing with all aspects of feature films, from financing to production to post-production to distribution and marketing."--Michael Apted, director of Gorillas in the Mist, and Nell

"A clear, direct guide. I wish I had had this book when I started."--John Carpenter, director of Halloween, Escape from New York, and Vampires

"Absolutely crucial for filmmakers!"--Films in Review

"Anyone involved in the making of motion pictures, from television commercials to studio pictures, should read this book before beginning their next production."--Fay Kanin, screenwriter and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

"First rate . . . belongs in the classroom and should be read by many of those now teaching film history and criticism."--Los Angeles Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (December 31, 1982)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312304625
ISBN-13: 978-0312304621
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #514,451 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence:
If the budget and time allow, it is common to make "temp" (temporary) mixes during postproduction in order to evaluate the picture more fully during screenings. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
film work print, analog optical track, partner nonrecourse deductions, digital editing machine, sound effects mixer, edited sound tracks, sound track negative, composite answer print, negative cut list, dialogue mixer, shipping reels, editing reels, first trial print, negative pickup deal, investment memorandum, distributable cash, film commissioner, edited tracks, key makeup artist, tech scout, foreign presales, production sound effects, beginning principal photography, completion guarantor, final dub

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, United States, Los Angeles, Breakdown Services, Film Finders, Writers Guild, Jurassic Park, Laws of Gravity, New Line, The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros, Independence Day, John Pierson, Screen Actors Guild, Leaving Las Vegas, Nick Gomez, Robert Redford, Sidney Lumet, The Lost World, William Goldman, Academy Players Directory, Castle Rock, Richard Portman, Sundance Film Festival, American Film Market

New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 17 books:

Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema by John Pierson on page 25, and Back Matter
Leaving Las Vegas by John O'Brien in Front Matter
Get the Money and Shoot: Dri Guide to Funding Documentary Films by Bruce Jackson in Back Matter
Film & Video on the Internet: The Top 500 Sites by Bert Deivert in Back Matter
Techniques of Special Effects of Cinematography (Library of Communication Techniques, Film) by Raymond Fielding in Back Matter

See all 17 books this book cites

20 books cite this book:

From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film by Dov S-S Simens on page 14, and page 46
The Way Hollywood Tells It: Story and Style in Modern Movies by David Bordwell in Back Matter
Technical Film and TV for Nontechnical People by Drew Campbell in Back Matter
The Independent Film and Videomaker's Guide, Second Edition (Michael Wiese Productions) by Michael Wiese in Back Matter
The Complete Independent Movie Marketing Handbook by Mark Steven Bosko in Back Matter

See all 20 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Complete Film Production Handbook, Third Edition by Eve Light Honthaner

Discusses:

Dealmaking in the Film and Television Industry From Negotiations Through Final Contracts by Mark Litwak

Discusses:

From Reel to Deal by Dov S-S Simens

Discusses:

The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide by GunnarGunnar EricksonErickson

Discusses:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	59% buy the item featured on this page: Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution 4.2 out of 5 stars (19) $20.99
	15% buy The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook 4.9 out of 5 stars (19) $16.47
	11% buy The Complete Film Production Handbook, Third Edition (Book & CD-ROM) 4.9 out of 5 stars (17) $38.40
	10% buy From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film 4.8 out of 5 stars (46) $12.21

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

film making(2)

independent films(2)

indie(2)

producer(2)

video production(2)

movie(1)

production(1)

See all 13 tags...

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Applicable from the streets of LA to the beaches of Sydney, October 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution (Paperback)

As an Australian filmmaker, it would seem a waste of time and money to get hold of a film production book written for primarily the US market. But in this case, it was time and money very well spent. I bought this book nearly four years ago, and it has proven to be an invaluable resource in all my work.

From a smaller independent Australian film to the latest international theatrical release, the tips, insights, strategies and suggestions contained in this book have helped clarify, focus and guide decisions and choices that have paid off enormously.

Yes, this book is heavy on detail, but this is a subject that can appear to be deceptively simple, and in reality is far from. Gregory Goodell has gone through every stage of making your film, any film, and has done so admirably well, emphasising the pitfalls that often land filmmakers in trouble, and how to avoid them yourself.

Any filmmaker who wishes to comprehend and orienteer the complex world of filmmaking, anywhere in the world, and make a film properly from start to finish, would be well advised to add this book to their collection.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply The Best!, December 31, 2000

By	Darin Scott (Sherman Oaks, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution (Paperback)

This book is simply the clearest, most comprehensive book on feature filmmaking available! It's an invalauable resource for anyone undertaking the task of making their first feature film and a great way for the more experienced types to brush-up on the nuts and bolts of the process. I read the First Edition of this book fifteen years ago and proceeded to Write and Produce my first feature film with no previous experience, film school, or consultation of other resources. I just recently finished the TENTH FILM that I have Written/Produced/ or Directed, all of them theatrical releases, and for me it all started with this book. I can't possibly praise it too highly. I recently read the revised edition and found that it's even better than before!

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars how to discourage a dreamer, August 28, 2000

By	Chris P. Housh (El Cerrito/Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution (Paperback)

This book does do a wonderful job at making sure that a person does not blindly go about trying to make the next "El Mariachi" or "Blair Witch Project". The constant statements of risks involved, rules and regulations about unions and permits will start to make most people who are fantasizing about making a film outside the studio system will begin to worry about the realistic risks and chances one has to take on this journey. The thing is that there is a very pesimistic point of view throughout the majority of the writing that seems out of place in a text that proclaims itself as a way of guiding a person forward into the world of making movies. I feel that this book is best read in combination with some of the more upbeat how-to books out there, that way you can be uplifted for a while, brought back down to earth, and then enlightened and inspired again by switching back and forth between the two. Reading just this book by itself can possibility break the desire to make art, which most people of our mentality deal with enough as it is.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 19 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars out of date
This book is comprehensive and quite good for its' day - 1998. But it's 2009 and many aspects of producing have changed and need to be addressed.

Published 1 month ago by a romdomsky

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for any indie producer
First, I have to say that I've ordered this book twice, expecting a 2003 print only to find it was from the 80s. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Michael Yates

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Confusing Purchase
An invaluable book on the process of film production, which I learned also happens to be required reading for the aspiring producers program at the LA Film School... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Joey V

4.0 out of 5 stars All the info you need, but perhaps a bit outdated
Full of just about every bit of info you need to make an indie film, but it was written 25 years ago, so it inevitably doesn't directly apply to newer forms of filmmaking and the... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Nicholas B. Jandl

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty darn good
I'm still reading this book. It is a slow read and you must take your time to really let the info. seep in. From what I read so far, I like it. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Nik

3.0 out of 5 stars Be sure to check copyright and other reviews
I have the 1998 version, and this is a very informative book. But be sure to verify the copyright of the book you are ordering. There are 3 editions: 1982, 1998, and 2003. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Sara J. Pedri

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete and then some
This book goes into fairly extensive detail on almost all aspects of film production. Production is a grey area to most and this book illuminates it quite well. Read more

Published on May 31, 2006 by Jake Miles

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable resource, a must-buy for all aspiring and experienced independent producers
I'm a writer-producer currently prepping my first independent film where I'm in the driver's seat. This book has been an invaluable resource for me along the way in terms of... Read more

Published on February 16, 2006 by K. Miller

3.0 out of 5 stars Dov's book is better
If "From Reel to Deal, by Dov Simens, is Hollywood's top rated film how-to book then this book surely will take a close second.

Published on February 6, 2006 by Jake the DP

4.0 out of 5 stars Every indie filmmaker needs this book.
I couldn't have produced and written three feature-length independent movies without this book. Check out my latest, The Indie Pendant, to see what I mean. Read more

Published on January 1, 2006 by Edward Dentzel

› See all 19 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; }

Customer Discussions

Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)

	Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
	No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

[Cancel]

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

	Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
	indie Favorite Indie / Indie Rock Tracks you're listening to now...	13	3 days ago
	indie New List: Ever Evolving Rankings of Top Albums of 2009	0	14 days ago