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Either You're in Or You're in the Way
Two Brothers, Twelve Months, and One Filmmaking Hell-Ride to a First Feature
The hilarious, implausible, and touching story of twin brothers accomplishing the impossible—making a feature film (with a cast and crew with 11 Academy Awards and 26 nominations) with no experience, no money and no contacts.
When identical twin brothers Logan and Noah Miller's homeless father died alone in a jail cell, they vowed, come hell or high water, that their film, Touching Home, would be made as a dedication to their love for him. Either You're in or You're in the Way is the amazing story of how—without a dime to their names nor a single meaningful contact in Hollywood—they managed to write, produce, direct, and act in a feature film alongside four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Ed Harris and fellow nominees Brad Dourif and Robert Forster.
Either You're in or You're in the Way tells of the desperate struggle of two sons fighting to keep a vow to their father, and in so doing, creating a better life for themselves. A modern-day Horatio Alger on steroids, this fast-paced thrill ride of heartbreak and redemption will both captivate and inspire.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2009
4 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Logan Miller
35 books5 followersWhen identical twin brothers, Logan and Noah Miller's homeless father died alone in a jail cell, they vowed, come hell or high water that their film, Touching Home, would be made as a dedication to their love for him. Either You're In Or You're In the Way is the amazing story of how--without a dime to their names nor a single meaningful contact in Hollywood--they managed to write, produce, act, and direct a feature film in under a year starring four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Ed Harris and a cast and crew with 11 Academy Awards and 26 nominations.
Logan and Noah Miller, identical twins raised as roofers in northern California, dreamt of being baseball stars. When that dream failed, they found professional success as bingo callers. Always staying together, the brothers were briefly suckered into the world of modeling, somehow avoided the circus, and finally, with 17 credit cards, pursued a career in filmmaking. In 2006, the brothers were awarded the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, and their screenwriting, directorial, and acting debut Touching Home premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April of 2008. They live in northern California and hold no degrees.
Logan and Noah Miller, identical twins raised as roofers in northern California, dreamt of being baseball stars. When that dream failed, they found professional success as bingo callers. Always staying together, the brothers were briefly suckered into the world of modeling, somehow avoided the circus, and finally, with 17 credit cards, pursued a career in filmmaking. In 2006, the brothers were awarded the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, and their screenwriting, directorial, and acting debut Touching Home premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April of 2008. They live in northern California and hold no degrees.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 20, 2020
It was really cool to see what it actually takes to make an independent movie. Apparently making a real independent movie takes a little bit more work than making the short films that I made in high school.
November 18, 2010
My business and creative partner, Michael, gave me this book to read. I’m not exactly sure why, but I think it might have to do with his dream of the two of us continuing to create documentaries together.
I’ve never read a book told in the plural first person perspective, but somehow it works for identical twin creative team Logan and Noah Miller. It reads like a suspense novel, a comedy, and a mystery. And once you start reading it, you can’t put it down. The brothers are inseparable in life—professionally, personally and psychically. Without bragging or boasting, they tell the story of how, against all odds, they wrote, produced, acted in and financed the feature film, “Touching Home,” starring ED HARRIS. (It’s amazing how valuable Ed Harris is to the book and the making of this film.) The making of this film was an impossible feat, and the Millers overcame each twist of misfortune and stab of defeat by applying some pretty simple (and valuable) principles.
1. Always meet face to face. Nothing ever happens over the phone and certainly not over email.
2. Never give up. It sounds simple, but it cannot be understated. If you want something, you can get it. You have to be persistent and believe in yourself.
3. It’s all about who you know. Someone in your life knows someone else that has the answer to your problem. Be yourself and make lot of friends, because someday the combination of these two things is going to get you everything you need.
At times, you can’t believe the story the Millers are telling because they seem to conquer the worst situations and challenges with unearthly luck and uncanny skill. But you know it’s true because they really did finish the adventure by creating “Touching Home.” The secret to their success (aside from the ridiculously cute & charming identical twin trick) is to employ the three simple tactics listed above.
I will not end this review with a “homerun” pun, but I will say something else really cheesy: you really can make your dreams come true...go do it!
I’ve never read a book told in the plural first person perspective, but somehow it works for identical twin creative team Logan and Noah Miller. It reads like a suspense novel, a comedy, and a mystery. And once you start reading it, you can’t put it down. The brothers are inseparable in life—professionally, personally and psychically. Without bragging or boasting, they tell the story of how, against all odds, they wrote, produced, acted in and financed the feature film, “Touching Home,” starring ED HARRIS. (It’s amazing how valuable Ed Harris is to the book and the making of this film.) The making of this film was an impossible feat, and the Millers overcame each twist of misfortune and stab of defeat by applying some pretty simple (and valuable) principles.
1. Always meet face to face. Nothing ever happens over the phone and certainly not over email.
2. Never give up. It sounds simple, but it cannot be understated. If you want something, you can get it. You have to be persistent and believe in yourself.
3. It’s all about who you know. Someone in your life knows someone else that has the answer to your problem. Be yourself and make lot of friends, because someday the combination of these two things is going to get you everything you need.
At times, you can’t believe the story the Millers are telling because they seem to conquer the worst situations and challenges with unearthly luck and uncanny skill. But you know it’s true because they really did finish the adventure by creating “Touching Home.” The secret to their success (aside from the ridiculously cute & charming identical twin trick) is to employ the three simple tactics listed above.
I will not end this review with a “homerun” pun, but I will say something else really cheesy: you really can make your dreams come true...go do it!
December 23, 2014
This vivid story could never have been a novel; no fiction publisher would have accepted it as plausible. Two young film makers from Marin County, with no name recognition in Hollywood and a string of maxed-out credit cards as their capital, are able through persistence and sheer grit to persuade investors, film crews, and actors to follow their quest, a film about their father.
The film released as "Touching Home", a tribute to a father who had lived a life of failure and alcoholism, and died in the Marin County jail. It says something, though, that his sons venerated him by making this monument in film to him. Indeed, the asides about their childhood in the rural parts of Marin County ring true; as someone familiar with Marin, I can say that the West Marin people can be a free-spirited group and their background story is critical to understanding the brothers' drive to make this. And their co-writing is true to it: vivid, sharp-eyed, with just a dash of Hunter Thompson in mood.
This is the story of the making of that film, and the mad leaps from location to location from the Arizona desert to the backcountry in Marin County. That they could buttonhole Ed Harris at a San Francisco theater and somehow talk him into the starring role -- as their father -- is just one of a number of brash and daring risks the brothers took. And, in this story, Ed Harris emerges as an intelligent and decent man, workmanlike in his approach to his craft.
Indeed, this story would make a splendid film in its own right. As they wrote, "To those who no longer believe in the American Dream, read this, and say otherwise." Highly recommend.
The film released as "Touching Home", a tribute to a father who had lived a life of failure and alcoholism, and died in the Marin County jail. It says something, though, that his sons venerated him by making this monument in film to him. Indeed, the asides about their childhood in the rural parts of Marin County ring true; as someone familiar with Marin, I can say that the West Marin people can be a free-spirited group and their background story is critical to understanding the brothers' drive to make this. And their co-writing is true to it: vivid, sharp-eyed, with just a dash of Hunter Thompson in mood.
This is the story of the making of that film, and the mad leaps from location to location from the Arizona desert to the backcountry in Marin County. That they could buttonhole Ed Harris at a San Francisco theater and somehow talk him into the starring role -- as their father -- is just one of a number of brash and daring risks the brothers took. And, in this story, Ed Harris emerges as an intelligent and decent man, workmanlike in his approach to his craft.
Indeed, this story would make a splendid film in its own right. As they wrote, "To those who no longer believe in the American Dream, read this, and say otherwise." Highly recommend.
August 13, 2010
Logan and Noah Miller are two amazing men who beat the odds and did the impossible. Their story is one of inspiration and an unshakable commitment to make a movie about their father's life. Their father was a man who most children would have put down and not have held the love and reverence that these two did for him.
Their story is written in a matter of fact and sometimes harsh manner, but still holds an amazing sense of humor throughout. I am totally in awe of these two. They never took no for an answer and never quit. They always looked for a solution to their problems and when one door closed, they found a way to pry that door open and walk right on through it!
These amazing men have written a story about making a film (starring Ed Harris!!) without any experience, but there is so much more to the book than that. They have written a story about faith, perseverance, and commitment. It is a book that should be read by all older teens and adults. It shows one how the word "no" and "impossible" are just words - words that should never get in the way of dreams.
I loved this book and adored the authors' prose and humor. There's no doubt about it - they (and their story) are amazing!
Their story is written in a matter of fact and sometimes harsh manner, but still holds an amazing sense of humor throughout. I am totally in awe of these two. They never took no for an answer and never quit. They always looked for a solution to their problems and when one door closed, they found a way to pry that door open and walk right on through it!
These amazing men have written a story about making a film (starring Ed Harris!!) without any experience, but there is so much more to the book than that. They have written a story about faith, perseverance, and commitment. It is a book that should be read by all older teens and adults. It shows one how the word "no" and "impossible" are just words - words that should never get in the way of dreams.
I loved this book and adored the authors' prose and humor. There's no doubt about it - they (and their story) are amazing!
August 27, 2011
This book was pretty inspiring. These two guys who hadn't accomplished much vowed to make a movie of their childhood and difficult relationship with their alcoholic father, and then they actually did it.
I watched the movie right after finishing the book, and while the movie is certainly good, it's nothing revolutionary. This book was more of a joy than the movie itself, which is definitely proof that the story behind the movie is sometimes more interesting.
I loved their earnestness and the fact that the two of them were so down to earth throughout the whole process. What I was not crazy about, however, was the ending. It felt as if there was a rush to publish the book and thus none of the post-film stuff came into play.
Shooting was wrapped and then the film was scored and edited. Boom. Done. That's not how it works, and I found myself wanting to know how it was received and what kinds of stuff awaited them in post.
Aside from that, however, it was quite enjoyable and their DIY ethic got me thinking dangerous thoughts. Also, they made Ed Harris seem like the coolest guy in the world - which he just might be.
I watched the movie right after finishing the book, and while the movie is certainly good, it's nothing revolutionary. This book was more of a joy than the movie itself, which is definitely proof that the story behind the movie is sometimes more interesting.
I loved their earnestness and the fact that the two of them were so down to earth throughout the whole process. What I was not crazy about, however, was the ending. It felt as if there was a rush to publish the book and thus none of the post-film stuff came into play.
Shooting was wrapped and then the film was scored and edited. Boom. Done. That's not how it works, and I found myself wanting to know how it was received and what kinds of stuff awaited them in post.
Aside from that, however, it was quite enjoyable and their DIY ethic got me thinking dangerous thoughts. Also, they made Ed Harris seem like the coolest guy in the world - which he just might be.
September 13, 2010
Logan and Noah Miller want to make a movie. They have no money, no contacts, no education, no experience, and no chance. But damned if they didn't kick some serious butt and succeed. The book is called Either You're In or You're In the Way, and the title seems to be a driving motto of these identical twins. They schemed, they worked hard, they back-alley schmoozed, and they managed to make their movie. The book chronicles their experiences in directing, producing, starring in, and pretty much doing everything for the movie Touching Home.
The writing is choppy, fast-paced, blunt, and I thought it was perfect for this particular story. The reader is brought into an edgy world and the language used mirrors the harsh reality. Alternately street-hustlers and poets, the Miller brothers blend everyday language with philosophical genius.
The writing is choppy, fast-paced, blunt, and I thought it was perfect for this particular story. The reader is brought into an edgy world and the language used mirrors the harsh reality. Alternately street-hustlers and poets, the Miller brothers blend everyday language with philosophical genius.
February 13, 2009
it's soooooo sooooo good! i got to read the manuscript. the book is coming out april 28th. if you pre-order it, you automatically get 2 tickets to the biggest party of the year! the twins are hosting bookstock 2009 at Giants Stadium on June 6, showing their film Touching Home, speaking, signing, and rocking out to Mother Truckers and others. http://www.inorintheway.com/index.php It's a good deal & if you don't like it I'll buy it back from you. seriously!
October 22, 2009
I felt like the bros were telling me the whole story over coffee. The prose is as energetic, personable, and thoughtful as Logan and Noah are in person. It's both an amazing personal story and filmmaking adventure. And, somewhere in there I learned a lot about what really goes into making a movie.
To find out what Logan and Noah are working on, and read their advice for aspiring writers, check out this interview: http://wordswithwriters.com/2010/04/1...
To find out what Logan and Noah are working on, and read their advice for aspiring writers, check out this interview: http://wordswithwriters.com/2010/04/1...
March 21, 2010
These guys have spunk! In clipped and often amusing sentences they chronicle a manic year making a movie, fulfilling a promise made to their father as they held his lifeless hand in the mortuary. The urgency they feel to make good on the deal suffuses each page as they surmount all manner of obstacles producing, acting and directing the film making each encounter an illustration of you're in or you're in the way.
April 30, 2010
This starts off pretty amateurish. 10 pages in I thought I might give it up, but I gave it one more go. I think the book is a lot like these brothers are. They don't know what the hell they are doing, but all the way they figure it out. With tons of enthusiasm, not only are they able to pull it off, but they do a darn good job. By the end of the book, they had me rooting for them.
July 13, 2011
This amazing book will make you laugh, cry and even at times, make you very angry. I definitely felt like I was on a roller coaster ride with so many twists and turns that it was hard to put the book down. The Miller Brothers are amazing authors and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the future!
April 1, 2009
An inspiring story by two wonderfully inspiring young men. To hear them speak about their book, and their independent film, "Touching Home," please log on to www.harlotssauce.com on April 9, 2009 to hear their podcast interview with me on Harlot's Sauce Radio.
April 29, 2009
This is an incredible story—an inspiring story—and you’ll hang on the Millers’ every word, eager to see how these two kids will ever manage to get themselves out of the latest mess.
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/arti...
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/arti...
October 22, 2009
Great true story of 2 brothers that made good on their promise to their dying father to make a film of his life. They had no idea how to do it, but figured it out with lots of adventures in doing so, and the movie will be released in April 2010. Don't want to miss it!!!
Read
June 6, 2010An excellent tale of taking the highly-creative road less taken to achieve a dream against all odds (and there were many). Well-written, good-looking guys, features one of my favorite actors, and they're locals too!
Read
May 8, 20112010. I read this for work, as we were doing publicity for the Miller Bros' movie, "Touching Home." And what a great story this is. How they ended up starting from nothing and ending up getting Ed Harris to star in their semi-autobiographical film, is an extremely engrossing tale.
September 9, 2012
Gotta rate this a 5-star because the authors are my wonderful twin cousins! This one was personal and different for me to read because I know the characters so well. This book has become a movie which I didn't see.
April 27, 2009
Really a lot of fun. These guys are determined (and just a little bit lucky). Can't wait to see the film.
June 8, 2009
Inspirational, very funny, and touching enough to bring my hardened, jaded self to tears a couple times! Couldn't put it down and can't wait for the movie's release later this year.
June 1, 2009
Shear ballsiness. Captivating look at how knowing nothing can get you everything.
June 9, 2009
Fun, light read about kids scraping resources together to make a movie. Some wonderfully touching moments when help arrives from left field.
July 7, 2009
This book was fun to read. Who knew making a movie could be suach a daunting and crazy experience.
October 6, 2009
For anyone interested in underdogs,Ed Harris, actors,acting, movies, Marin CA, brothers, alcoholic dads, twins, or just great, fun, funny, touching read - here it is! Can't wait for their movie!
October 17, 2009
An inspiring true life story about fighting hard to make a dream come true.
July 7, 2010
A great book about film making, set right here in the bay area.
March 9, 2011
Incredibly moving. I have to see their film TOUCHING HOME as soon as possible. Amazing luck these two have...it has to be a twins thing!
May 4, 2009
This one was great. I definitely recommend this one.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews