Making Movies on Your Own: Practical Talk from Independent Filmmakers

by Kevin J. Lindenmuth

Book Overview

You see them on the video shelves, with titles such as Domestic Strangers, The Bride of Frank, The Blood Between Us, Strawberry Estates and Sandman. Skeptically, perhaps, you rent one and slip it into the VCR. Hey, you think, this isn't so bad--sometimes actually quite good. Suddenly, you discover that there is a whole range of movies from filmmakers operating outside the studio system that have their own attractions that the big...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786405171
• ISBN13: 9780786405176
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: McFarland & Company
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.1" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A realistic and inspirational look into the film industry.

Lindenmuth's book is a comprehensive and straightforward insight into the independent film circuit.This book is the perfect guide for anyone getting into the film industry and needs the proper assistance of making your film. His book was the perfect tool on how to get started from the basic script to distribution. Lindenmuth discusses tape formats, camera rental, casting calls, working with actors and how the video box art can help to sell your final film. The book is very explanatory and the format makes it easier to read due to the organization. Not only do we receive insight from the director himself, but he interviews a handful of other independent filmmakers. The questions are the type of questions the beginning filmmaker, as myself, ponders when it comes to the stages of filmmaking. I have read many books on the making of films and one of my favorites was Robert Rodriguez, until now. Lindenmuth makes my goals of becoming a sucessful filmmaker realistic and attainable. He not once lets us feel we need millions of dollars to make some big Hollywood film. If you were to read one book on this subject, then read Lindenmuth's book.

This book could be very useful!

NYC filmmaker Kevin J. Lindenmuth asked 25 other low budget indy regional directors a series of questions and assembled the candid responses into ten chapters (on scripts, film schools, budgets, publicity, distribution...). Unlike some similar more self serving books by lone directors, I think this could be very useful if you think you're brave, foolish or talented enough to make your own feature.

AN EXCELLENT BOOK FOR ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FILM

I REALLY HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE AUTHOR FOR WRITING THIS VERY THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON ALL THE ASPECTS OF PRODUCING A WORTHY FILM. I HAVE READ INNUMERABLE BOOKS ON THIS SUBJECT BUT NONE AS CONCISE AND TO THE POINT AS THIS BOOK. THE BOOK IS ALSO VERY EASY READING AND ENTERTAINING AS YOU PERUSE FROM ONE CHAPTER TO THE NEXT. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME PUTTING THE BOOK DOWN BECAUSE OF ALL THE INFORMATION THE AUTHOR HAS GLEANED NOT ONLY FROM HIS EXPERIENCE, BUT THAT OF MANY OTHER FILM MAKERS. THIS BOOK HELPS THE NOVICE FILM MAKER AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES AND ALSO CONFIDENCE TO PRODUCE YOUR FIRST FILM. TIME, MONEY, AND FILM ARE PRECIOUS AND THE INFORMATION I HAVE LEARNED FROM READING THIS BOOK HAS BEEN INVALUABLE. PURCHASING THIS BOOK WAS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I HAVE MADE IN ORDER TO CREATE FILMS MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ENJOY. I HOPE ANY ASPIRING FILM MAKER AT LEAST LOOKS AT THIS AMAZING BOOK.

The book is full of advice on how to save expenses.

This book is worth a look, since it's full of advice on how to shave your expenses, and actually get your movie seen. Best of all, instead of simply rambling on at length, like most ego-fed directors would do, Lindenmuth recruits a couple dozen other indie filmmakers, and generously lets them add their two cents on the subject matter. The fan-circuit names include Scooter McCrae, Tim Ritter, Eric Stanze, Blair Murphy and many others--ranging from the best of the indies to the absolute dregs. Hence, the book has a round robin feel, starting with a topic, followed by Lindenmuth's response, and then the contributors' viewpoints. We get a look into their influences; the advantages/disadvantages of film school; even how to get your film to the masses. Some of their advice is pretty obvious to anyone with half a brainstem but when it hits the Equipment and Format section there's hands-on info for any newcomer on the scene. Not to mention, helpful tips on location shooting, permits, insurance, storyboarding, et cetera. This book allows you to learn from their mistakes, and hopefully avoid them on your own production. Personally, I also got a kick out of the book's insights into these filmmakers; especially the ones who seem totally full of themselves, even though their "classics" are only being watched by a handful of knuckle-dragging horror dweebs. This book is akin to sitting around with a bunch of directors, who have perservered against all odds, and getting the rare opportunity to pick their brains.

Excellent Insight for Professionals and Beginners Alike!

This book is practical! Practical! Practical! I have never come across a filmmaking or Hollywood "how-to" book more down-to-earth and reality-based than this one. Whether you're just starting out in perhaps the fiercest industry competition-wise in the world, or are an already established professional, this book has something for everyone. The book goes into excruciating detail on the backgrounds and success stories of 24 of Hollywood's greatest independent filmmakers. What makes it even more interesting is the fact these guys succeeded outside the Hollywood "Studio" system. Their films are seen on television, video stores, here in the United States and also abroad in foreign countries. I found I could easily check all information, as there is an appendix with resource data such as where to contact these filmmakers, and where to find their films. As a student filmmaker here at USC, I think this book will save me countless years of hard-knock! experience, and will teach me what to avoid, and what to reach for in an effort to make a career for myself in the future. I think most professionals will identify with this book, too, as it is anecdote-filled, with behind-the-scenes photos, and it seemed a lot of the filmmakers in this book had a lot of similar stories to tell -- the sign of reality and what to expect? I've already recommended this book to my university film studies and cinema/television department. One last thing, the appendix also contains valuable, valuable resource listings for students and professionals alike -- from contact information on producers to distributors to packaging to duplication services and genre magazines! There's a lot of stuff in this fine book! Five stars all the way!