Shoot Me: Independent Filmmaking from Creative Concept to Rousing Release

by Roy Frumkes, Rocco Simonelli

For any film student or indie buff seeking an insider's perspective of the art and business of independent film-making, it doesn't get any closer than this. When the script says "shoot me" and Hollywood says no, your only alternative is to raise the money and do it yourself. Here's how screenwriters Roy Frumkes and Rocco Simonelli used digital video to do just that. Witty, original, and ruthlessly on the mark, this unvarnished look at independent film-making chronicles both the creative intricacies of collaboration and the tricks of staying in budget and out of court. The authors compare notes as they describe the entire film-making process, with coverage

* Targeting the audience for the script and tailoring the script for the audience

* Raising your friends, your family, and the millionaire next door

* names, no-names, and personality nightmares

* finding them, securing them, and sometimes even stealing them

* creating a budget, scheduling the shoot, and dealing with unions

* working with actors and protecting your vision

* or dropping that scene you thought was a gem

* Celebrating, publicizing, and distributing the finished product

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lewis Frumkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve known Roy Frumkes for many years. I remember when he wrote a novel at the age of nine. It wasn’t the best novel I’ve ever read, but it was right up there with “Gravity’s Rainbow,” and “La Recherche Du Temps Perdu.” In those days to pass time Roy and I would hurl cherry bombs at each other in demonstrations of friendly sibling rivalry. Today he writes movies and I write books. We both teach, and we both seem to be on the same humor wave-length. That could be due to genetics, after all he is my brother, but it could also be due to the cherry bomb wars. In any event Roy is the creator of “The Substitute” films which I watch on HBO along with everyone else, and of “Document Of The Dead,” and “Street Trash. ”He has also written a book about independent filmmaking called “Shoot Me.” If you want to know why I consider Roy my favorite brother, you should listen to this interview where I lie through my teeth.



listen to the interview