How to Make Great Short Feature Films: The Making of Ghosthunter: The Making of 'ghosthunter'

by Ian Lewis

Book Overview

Making a short film is one of the first vital steps to becoming a filmmaker. This book and DVD is a 'short filmmakers kit' for aspiring producers. It combines advice and inspiration with essential practical information as well as a real-world case study of the making of the short film, 'Ghosthunter', providing a rare inside view of the process. Alison Reddihough and Simon Corris set up Amulet Films with ambitions to establish themselves within the feature film industry. They decided to learn as much as possible by seeking advice from the best in the business. "Ghosthunter" is an educational project that teamed up respected industry professionals with an ambitious and talented crew. This is the book that Simon & Alison felt they needed, but couldn"t find, when they were starting out and looking for advice and guidance on the process of producing a quality short feature film. A free DVD contains ?20 minute long film 'Ghosthunter' ?A 25 minute documentary on the making of 'Ghosthunter' ?Special Effect show and tell with The Computer Film Company ?Sound on film with Robin O"Donoghue ?Sample contracts and production forms ?Budgeting and Screenwriting Software Based around a real production and written from a real-world stance this book and DVD tells the novice producer how it really is. ?A rare inside view on the process ?Contains essential first-hand advice and guidance ?A complete filmmakers kit - practical tips on reducing costs, techniques and tricks of the trade ?Learn from first-hand experience through interviews with cast and crew ?Ghosthunter was made with the invaluable advice and help of the following top industry talent: Freddie Francis, double-Oscar-winning Cinematographer; Rodrigo Gutierrez and Trevor Coop, two of the most highly respected Camera Operators in the United Kingdom; Peter Lamont Oscar-winning Production Designer for 'Titanic', 'Terminator II', and the James Bond films; Barrington Pheloung, Composer for 'Truly, Madly, Deeply', 'Inspector Morse'; Robin O'Donoghue, Sound re-recording mixer for 'Madness of King George' and 'Shakespeare in Love'; Mark Auguste, leading Sound Editor, for 'Tea with Mussolini', 'Elizabeth'; Frank Finlay, BAFTA award winner for 'The Death of Adolf Hitler', credits include "The Sins", "Bouquet of Barbed Wire", and Laurence Olivier"s film of "Othello" for which he was Oscar nominated. ...readers will also benefit from their advice in this book. Ian Lewis is a freelance producer/director/writer who has worked on many low budget projects for both the BBC and independent companies. He has also made around 250 promotional, corporate and training productions. He runs The Farnham Film Company (www.farnfilm.com) where he has made over 300 films and programmes. Alison Reddihough started producing in the theatre, and is an actress with 12 years experience in film, television and theatre. Simon Corris trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School as an actor and has 10 years experience in film, television, and theatre.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240516249
• ISBN13: 9780240516240
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Focal Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Covers all aspects of creating a short feature film

Utilizing the feature film "Ghosthunter" as his example, Ian Lewis' How To Make Great Short Feature Films covers all aspects of creating a short feature film from the its inception, the script, to putting the production package together, financing and budgeting, pre-production planning, the shoot, editing the film, and the final touches for distribution. How To Make Great Short Feature Films is enhanced for the film student with a number of informative appendices including: the shooting script; shot list notes; Designer's sketches; special effects list; the budget; contracts for cast and crew; production forms; biographies of consultants and key crew; cast and crew list; Alison's "Ghosthunter" diary; useful addresses and websites; Amulet Films' e-mailing list; and who does what on a film set. The informative, superbly presented and highly recommended text is impressively augmented by an accompanying DVD that contains the 20-minute "Ghosthunter" film; a 25-minute documentary; budgeting and screen writing software.