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Anonymous
Posted August 16, 2005
The Bookli$t at Film Studio Faux Greenlights the Book but Redlights the content!
In the category of general independent filmmaking this book is a genuine bargain for the cost. The inclusion of the CD with Free filmmaker's software, forms, and samples short film reels, elevates this text to one of the top books in that category for the money! It's concise, well written, and contains a variety of viewpoints. For example, various industry professionals interviewed have different opinions on digital filmmaking. Coming from a background of building a short film studio from literally nothing, my biggest criticism is that this is not a book about 'no' budget filmmaking as titled. Elliot Grove grew up Amish, a patriarchal and closed society, where he was not exposed to film. In the book he appears to hold that up as a disadvantage. The film industry is also a patriarchal and closed industry where woman do not share power equally with men. As a matter of pure fact women are barely represented in some of the more powerful aspects of the industry: cinematography and high budget/action directing. The better books for people interested in no budget filmmaking have samples of 'how to' build equipment yourself and 'how to' create special effects on the set. Book publishing has been invaded by writers preying on the dreams of those interested in the film business. Mr. Grove is NOT one of those, he offers contemporary, for 2005, information on how to put a production together. Although, it should be read with other books more specific to each category.
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Anonymous
Posted June 29, 2005
A film production book by a man with experience
Raindance Producer's Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking offers one thing which many film production books lack, and that is first hand experience. The writer Elliot Grove has been involved in multiple feature films and over 70 (!!) short films. The info in this book is coming from someone who knows what they¿re talking about. And this is reflected in the informal (though often somewhat unavoidably technical) language and manner used ¿ as if he¿s passing on the secrets of the trade. It may appear a somewhat small book (physically) but this is 400 pages PACKED with every pretty much every aspect of the film industry relevant to the lo-budget filmmaker. It contains 25 chapters, ranging from technical explanations of film formats to location scouting to budgeting and producing to film festivals and everything in between. This book touches on practically every aspect you¿ll ever need to know, though due to space restrictions, some sections may well not be dealt thoroughly enough ¿ but if you want a specialist book, this is not for you in the first place. The title is somewhat misleading - Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking. This is not a guerrilla filmmaker¿s guide. There are tons of hints, tricks, and explanations and the book is aimed at lo budget filmmakers, but it is not just one of those guerrilla guides. This is really almost like an encyclopaedia / reference book / tips and tricks guide about lo budget film (and film in general). The book comes with a CD, containing some very useful documents and useful paperwork (eg: directors agreements, office checklists, etc) script format guide, as well as other less useful items like show reels and trailers, though they are still interesting. I think this is probably one of the best books I have read on film production. Because not only does this manage to somehow cover all of the practical and technical components, it also covers all the managerial and economic side of production. It¿s definitely one which you will come back to time and time again as if it were a reference book, though it is certainly not as bland and one-dimensional!
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Anonymous
Posted October 6, 2004
Confidence boost for hobbyists
'Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking' cites lack of confidence as the primary reason that you will never make that film you are always talking about making. And so it's refreshing to be able to take time out from wasting your breath failing to convince naysayers whose opinion you don't respect anyway, and read a book that believes in you. In it's attempts to be comprehensive, the book comes across as more aimed at would-be-proffesionals than true amateurs (more Lo budget than No budgt), and hobbyists probably need not bother with sections of the last third, that principally concern themselves with 'The Industry'. Yet the bulk of the book - the sections on how to actually get the movie made - ring true whatever your situation.
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