Short Films 101: How to Make a Short and Launch Your Filmmaking Career (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A short time ago, in a galaxy not too far away (Los Angeles, to be exact), an aspiring filmmaker named Joe Nussbaum was contemplating his..." (more)
Key Phrases: short filmmakers, film school, student films, George Lucas, Trevor Sands, Eric Kripke (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Where does a young filmmaker begin? With the right short-film concept and this book!

The right short can be a filmmaker's "business card" in Hollywood. Here's the authoritative handbook by one of Hollywood's most connected insiders that offers a step-by-step guide through the entire creative process of shooting a short film, as well as expert advice from established filmmakers, and a final game plan for promoting and selling the film once it's in the can. Topics covered include:

€ Concept
€ Budget
€ Finding equipment
€ Assembling a crew
€ Casting
€ Arranging for location
€ Locating festivals and ancillary markets
€ Working with the unions
€ Film vs. digital video

Plus: € A list of film schools
€ Oscar-winning shorts and nominees
€ A selection of short-film festivals
€ Actual short-film budgets
€ Sample scripts and shooting schedules
€ A helpful short-film glossary

About the Author

Frederick Levy is the founder of Management 101, where he guides the careers of actors, writers, and directors. An active filmmaker, he was the associate producer of the film Frailty starring Matthew McConaughey, and he has worked on many other films including Reindeer Games and Mr. Wrong. Levy has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, MTV, CNN and Fox News. In addition, Mr. Levy teaches film classes at USC and UCLA Extension based on his bestselling book, Hollywood 101.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399529497
• ISBN-13: 978-0399529498
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,288 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Complete, utter and total waste of time., November 4, 2006

By	Dis Gruntled - See all my reviews

I can sum up this book in a few short phrases:

1. Go to film school and make lots of contacts.
2. Have lots of contacts because the only way anyone in this book makes a film is because they had inside contacts.
3. Shoot on film, because video is for losers. Except that your story is more important than the quality of your images, so shoot on whatever you want. As long as it's film.
4. Make sure your script is good, because if it's not, your movie will be bad. So have a good script. Like anything that Rob Schneider has been in. Because Rob Schneider films were made in Hollywood so they are good and shining examples of what you should strive for.
5. Have a good script, and lots of contacts.

I read through this whole book, hoping against hope (like a hero in a decent story) that good would triumph and redemption would be found and that somewhere there would be useful information within. Alas, it was not to be. Against my better judgement I slogged on, and coming to the final page I had an epiphany: I had just lost several precious hours of my life, never to be regained. All for naught.

I seriously doubt that anyone who dreams of being a successful filmmaker has their sights set on making the next "The Animal."

If you are on a budget and want to make a film (short or otherwise) you will get more useful information and help from any given paragraph in "Digital Filmmaking 101" by Newton and Gaspard than you will get out of this book. And I am not associated with Newton or Gaspard.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read, March 27, 2007

By	Kenneth Hess (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews

This is an OK book. I still pick it up every now and then and give it a read. The $50K budget is a little optimistic in my opinion but he does know his stuff.
If you can get this at a used bookstore, you will be more satisfied with it. Glean from it what you can but it is geared more toward people with more than $300-$500 to make and distribute a film.
There are some great references in it for equipment and information.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book!, January 9, 2007

By	Garrison K. Hayes "Triple M" (Atlanta, Ga United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is really great...the information given is practical and very usefull. I was supprised at how many Film Directors actually got thier start by just shooting a couple of shorts...If i could i'd give this book 10 Stars...but for now. I'll settle for 5.