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What They Don't Teach You at Film School: 161 Strategies For Making Your Own Movies No Matter What
Two filmmakers who've beaten the system give the real dope on what it takes to get your movie made.
Do you have to go to film school to get your movies made? No, say two young entrepreneurs who survived the grind. Here they offer 140 strategies for making movies no matter what. Amateurs as well as seasoned veterans can pick up this entertaining and incredibly useful guide in any place--at any point of crisis--and find tactics that work. Whether it's raising money or cutting your budget; dealing with angry landlords or angry cops; or jump-starting the production or stalling it while you finish the script, these strategies are delivered with funny, illustrative anecdotes from the authors' experiences and from veteran filmmakers eager to share their stories. Irreverent, invaluable, and a lot cheaper than a year's tuition, this friendly guide is the smartest investment any future filmmaker could make.
Strategies from the book Love your friends for criticizing your work--especially at the script stage; Shyness won't get you the donuts; Duct tape miracles; Don't fall in love with cast or crew (but if you do...).
Do you have to go to film school to get your movies made? No, say two young entrepreneurs who survived the grind. Here they offer 140 strategies for making movies no matter what. Amateurs as well as seasoned veterans can pick up this entertaining and incredibly useful guide in any place--at any point of crisis--and find tactics that work. Whether it's raising money or cutting your budget; dealing with angry landlords or angry cops; or jump-starting the production or stalling it while you finish the script, these strategies are delivered with funny, illustrative anecdotes from the authors' experiences and from veteran filmmakers eager to share their stories. Irreverent, invaluable, and a lot cheaper than a year's tuition, this friendly guide is the smartest investment any future filmmaker could make.
Strategies from the book Love your friends for criticizing your work--especially at the script stage; Shyness won't get you the donuts; Duct tape miracles; Don't fall in love with cast or crew (but if you do...).
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2000
29 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 26, 2019
I have never gone to film school nor would I want to spend that much money when I can learn the craft by simply trying it out myself. I loved this book! Its written with a light touch and gives great advice on how to best make a movie. One example is :"if you don't understand your budget, someone will misunderstand it for you".
In reading it I was also inspired to go further than I have with my own movie and be even more creative. A great book is one which leaves you with the impression that everything is possible and that therefore the possibilities are endless. One example of this is how to get people talking about your movie which the authors provided countless examples of. I especially liked Spike Jonzes way of sending a friend to an interview to impersonate him. (Making a mental note of that one)
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in making movies.
In reading it I was also inspired to go further than I have with my own movie and be even more creative. A great book is one which leaves you with the impression that everything is possible and that therefore the possibilities are endless. One example of this is how to get people talking about your movie which the authors provided countless examples of. I especially liked Spike Jonzes way of sending a friend to an interview to impersonate him. (Making a mental note of that one)
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in making movies.
July 17, 2012
I love film and read about making films to feed my dream.
I've read text book style books, handbooks, and how-to's.
This book actually defies those brandings and makes itself into something all together new - an ENCOURAGING, HUMORFUL and HELPFUL book about what you have to do to make a film.
What a revelation I've found when by chance I purchased this book here at Amazon.
For those wondering, this is NOT a how-to guide.
What it is - well, it's a great book which does something (repeatedly) that very few other books about the art and craft of filmmaking do - it ENCOURAGES YOU TO MAKE FILMS: small films or grand epics, or videos of your dog - it doesn't matter - all they suggest is that you tell your story.
It encourages you to make a film - no matter what - if that's what you want to do - this book ENCOURAGES you to do so.
There's a whole lot of sensible information here, along with some gentle guidelines for deciding if filmmaking is really something for you.
With chapters titled "Fix the script, the rest will follow", "Sultans, dentists and Uncle Al" and my favorite "Donuts, red vines and keeping the crew together: the care and feeding of the set" you get a feel for the humor that's also used throughout.
Ultimately though, you have to ask the question, for a future filmmaker, is this book useful?
I'd have to answer a resounding yes!
It reinforces the notion that if you make a movie, no matter if it sells or doesn't, makes a million or never screens for anyone but your best friends - you are a filmmaker. That's a great gift to the reader.
Buy this book before you invest too much else in text and handbooks, and how-to guides. You won't be disappointed and you'll be getting a very good read.
Good luck making your film.
I've read text book style books, handbooks, and how-to's.
This book actually defies those brandings and makes itself into something all together new - an ENCOURAGING, HUMORFUL and HELPFUL book about what you have to do to make a film.
What a revelation I've found when by chance I purchased this book here at Amazon.
For those wondering, this is NOT a how-to guide.
What it is - well, it's a great book which does something (repeatedly) that very few other books about the art and craft of filmmaking do - it ENCOURAGES YOU TO MAKE FILMS: small films or grand epics, or videos of your dog - it doesn't matter - all they suggest is that you tell your story.
It encourages you to make a film - no matter what - if that's what you want to do - this book ENCOURAGES you to do so.
There's a whole lot of sensible information here, along with some gentle guidelines for deciding if filmmaking is really something for you.
With chapters titled "Fix the script, the rest will follow", "Sultans, dentists and Uncle Al" and my favorite "Donuts, red vines and keeping the crew together: the care and feeding of the set" you get a feel for the humor that's also used throughout.
Ultimately though, you have to ask the question, for a future filmmaker, is this book useful?
I'd have to answer a resounding yes!
It reinforces the notion that if you make a movie, no matter if it sells or doesn't, makes a million or never screens for anyone but your best friends - you are a filmmaker. That's a great gift to the reader.
Buy this book before you invest too much else in text and handbooks, and how-to guides. You won't be disappointed and you'll be getting a very good read.
Good luck making your film.
February 27, 2025
book had some insightful and interesting perspectives, however it is very much a creation of its time (2000's) and went between being an interesting view into someone else's experiences in Film/shooting a film to a showing why the film industry is as problematic as it is. Or at least was at the time if not still today.
May 23, 2020
Advice in this book is good for any project -- not just film school. It reminds you not to ask permission, it challenges you to get started right away, and it reminds you always to ask yourself WHY you are doing something, whether it's making a movie, renovating a house, planting a garden, whatever.
January 22, 2009
Practical, useful information. Nothing groundbreaking here, but lots of overlooked common sense tips.
February 7, 2018
Siempre he pensado que la práctica enseña más que la teoría y este libro es una guía básica sobre lo que dos chicas han aprendido de producir sus propios cortometrajes. Quizá no sean conocidas, y quizá sus cortometrajes no sean una maravilla, pero sus experiencias como realizadoras son tan importantes como las de cualquier cineasta famoso.
Lo recomiendo para aquellos que no se han animado a filmar esa idea que traen en la cabeza.
Lo recomiendo para aquellos que no se han animado a filmar esa idea que traen en la cabeza.
September 11, 2018
Rating clarification: 3.5 stars
Fairly enjoyable, interesting tips - some of them quite practical, such as: food on set is very important!; how to maintain a good credit history; where to go in NY/LA to write your script. Felt a little disorganised at times with the information broken into such bite-sized chunks but it also helped with picking it up and putting it down easily.
Fairly enjoyable, interesting tips - some of them quite practical, such as: food on set is very important!; how to maintain a good credit history; where to go in NY/LA to write your script. Felt a little disorganised at times with the information broken into such bite-sized chunks but it also helped with picking it up and putting it down easily.
September 26, 2018
Interesting insight about creating a film. Not necessarily a book for beginners as there is some information and lingo that's not explained, but an interesting resource to have.
August 6, 2022
Helpful enough for anyone that needs motivation
November 24, 2025
Now I wanna make some movies
January 20, 2012
All I could think, reading this book, was "Oh my god, I am so glad I never went to film school! Especially not in the 90s." I found the authors' tone alternately annoying and amusing. They sound very young, and of course a lot of their information is horribly dated, since this book was published a decade ago.
Still, the book gave me some of what I was looking for, a more thorough picture of how films are made, and how independent films can be made on what I consider a low budget (10,000 would be pushing the upper limits). I'm sure there's a better book for this purpose, but I am still looking for it.
Still, the book gave me some of what I was looking for, a more thorough picture of how films are made, and how independent films can be made on what I consider a low budget (10,000 would be pushing the upper limits). I'm sure there's a better book for this purpose, but I am still looking for it.
December 10, 2008
It had some interesting points, but I couldn't help but think that the writer had a bit of a chip on her shoulder about something - she was very negative about film schools in general, and I expected this book to be advice gained from experience, not one person dissing film schools in favour of their own methods. I couldn't help but think that I've heard of film directors who have graduated from film schools and made good movies, but I'd never heard of the author of this book til now. Don't think she has any reason to get so high and mighty with her opinions.
July 17, 2007
This book is great! I got it from my (ex) friend The Library and I could tell it was a great resource right off the bat. Library made me give it back like the selfish friend it is. I could have just checked it out again but I went out and bought it (and not just to spite Library). I want to start over again with a highlighter and a notebook.
These authors sound like pretty healthy, confident, intelligent ladies. They are looking to pass those skills on and I dig that.
These authors sound like pretty healthy, confident, intelligent ladies. They are looking to pass those skills on and I dig that.
August 18, 2007
jeez, even if you aren't really interested in pursuing a job at producing or directing in video/film, any career that deals with production of any kind or even a simple interest in the world of film in general; this book is the inside to the independent/student film maker.
I only hope this new found wisdom and insight will help out this fall, we'll see.
I only hope this new found wisdom and insight will help out this fall, we'll see.
January 30, 2013
I am not entirely don't with this book yet but so far this book speaks to me. It gives you a straight-forward insight of the to-do and not-to-do in multiple areas of film. It relies on common sense and good communication for filmmakers. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to start a film project or someone who is stumped on a current one.
September 30, 2007
Of the 161 strategies they don't teach you in film school; I probably picked up on 150 in film school. It's mostly commen sense stuff. I wouldn't recomend it to anyone who has already made films of remote significance.
December 22, 2008
I know, I know...I suggest this book to everyone, even if you aren't a film-maker. It has a great philosophy. In fact, it's just another great book. But, if you are a film-maker, it is MUST-reading.
July 23, 2007
When will i have this book!!! its just ambition and passion... someday i will...
jazzbazz/o7-07
jazzbazz/o7-07
December 30, 2007
Awesome! Crazy Awesome! Opened my eyes to reality in the film business.
June 19, 2008
seru aja, buku ngak terlalu tebal tapi asyik (apalagi buat g yg lagi ngelancarin bahas indonesia)
May 12, 2012
I found this to be indispensable in getting that first film in the can and a roadmap for everyday living.
July 18, 2013
Highly entertaining and informative!
July 13, 2013
really solid book. It's strength is about how to put lots of little things together to make something and then be able to repeat it.
July 31, 2015
Outdated; some deep psychological advice, some weird.
August 5, 2016
Un bon booster de motivation, mais au 2/3 cela devient très brouillon. dommage.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews