The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film |  | Author: Reed Martin
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
Buy New: $15.36
as of 9/7/2010 07:55 CDT details
You Save: $9.64 (39%)
New (18) Used (14) from $3.87
Seller: thermite-media
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 133,461
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.6
ISBN: 0571211038
Dewey Decimal Number: 338
EAN: 9780571211036
ASIN: 0571211038
Publication Date: April 28, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780571211036 | | • | Condition: New | | • | Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed |
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Did you know that most of the biggest indie filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers working today each made the same avoidable mistakes early on in their careers? The Reel Truth details the pitfalls, snares, and roadblocks that aspiring filmmakers encounter. Reed Martin interviewed more than one hundred luminaries from the independent film world to discuss the near misses that almost derailed their first and second films and identify the close shaves that could have cut their careers short. Other books may tell you the best way to make your independent film or online short, but no other book describes so candidly how to spot and avoid such issues and obstacles as equipment problems, shooting-day snafus, postproduction myths, theatrical distribution deal breakers, and dozens of other commonly made missteps, including the top fifty mistakes every filmmaker makes. From personal experience and his years as a freelance reporter covering independent film for USA Today and Filmmaker magazine, Martin uncovers the truth about the risks and potential rewards that go with chasing celluloid glory. Whether you’re writing a screenplay, looking for financing, about to start shooting, or thinking about investing time and money (or someone else’s money) in an independent film, The Reel Truth is a must-read.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
Great manual for first-time filmmakers May 17, 2009
Justin Q. Jefferies
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The book is packed with war stories and informative on topics for budding filmmakers like avoiding screenplay theft, getting song clearance, and low cost/high impact marketing to get films seen.
The author, Reed Martin, researched the book well, and it is extremely up-to-date...so much that it reads like a newspaper in places. Martin is a film journalist, film school professor, former industry executive, scriptwriter, and filmmaker. His perspective qualifies him to write the book. He's like the Jared Diamond of the film world.
Buy this book NOW! July 26, 2009
D. J. Barr (Asheville, NC)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I told myself that I was never going to read another book about independent filmmaking. I found it was a distraction from actually doing the work necessary to make a film happen.
However, I was recently made aware of The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film.
If are hoping to succeed in the film business, you must get this book. Reed Martin has done a great service for the independent film industry and for those of us who want to be a part of it. He is a unique combination of academic credentials, journalist and practical experience and his book benefits.
He interviewed over one hundred notables in the industry and has gleaned their insights on everything from screenplay to distribution. The content is current, enlightening and encouraging and should be required reading for all film courses and by anyone who dreams of one day completing their own masterpiece.
Incredibly good guide to independent filmmaking June 10, 2009
Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If I had had this book a zillion years ago when I aspired to making films, I might have actually succeeded at it or, like Terry Malloy, I might have had a shot.
Reed Martin has authored a fantastic how-to guide for the independent filmmaker. The amount of information he provide is staggering, from avoiding screenplay theft (a bigger problem than I ever imagined) to camera selection, putting together a crew, getting music, distribution, getting your film seen - literally everything you might imagine, which will be a lot less than what is contained between the covers of this book. Oh yes, there's a section on the very important subject of getting money to produce your film.
The possibilities for independent filmmaking have never been broader. Reading Reed Martin's book will give you more than a film school's worth of education on the reality of getting out there and doing it. I sure wish something like this was available way back when.
Jerry
The compendium I waited for. August 3, 2009
Jean-pierre Busche (Tampa,FL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Thanks to the fast progress of human mankind, technology is not only accessible cheaper, but also easier. Same applies for movies,it has never been as easy, as it is in these days, to shoot a movie. But once one drills into the nuts and bolt of the industry, it becomes blatantly obvious that recording on a Mini dv and have the supposedly best-story-ever is nothing special.
Although there have been books about independent films around, I missed a compendium.
After doing some research, I decided to give the bookstore of my choice 25 bucks and The Reel truth a try.
536 pages for only $ 25? I was surprised, but after starting to read I was just delighted, due to the plethora of information this piece of literature contains. Did you ever read a book that contained plenty of information, but was just so boring that you never got into it? This book is everything but bone-dry, even more important it is just honest with the reader.
It commences with the intense struggle of many aspiring filmmakers in the past, following with the business and legal side, which might sound as interesting as seeing frogs jumping from one leaf to another, but Martin manages to visualize his examples in a manner that made me continue reading more and more. Although highly interesting, I read only a couple pages a day, due to the number of information it contains and to ensure proper digestion through taking notes.
Moreover, the book covers not only pre-, actual production and post, but also distribution , marketing and alternative sources of income ( such as this site or Netflix). After that is all taken care of for 509 pages, the author attached two appendixes, one breaking down budget and the other one visualizing an Agent/ Screenwriter Representation contract.
All in all, this book is the most informative, yet frank book on moviemaking I have read in a while, which leads me to recommending it to anyone who is only remotely interested in filmmaking.
The best book available on making an indiependent film August 5, 2009
Tom Provost (Glendale, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am currently at the end of post-production on an indie feature and I can say emphatically this is the best book out there for anyone thinking of making an independent film. What Reed Martin has done goes far beyond any of the other books out there... and believe me, I read them all before I went into production. He covers everything, and I mean everything: any challenge a production can encounter, save perhaps issues specific to a particular production, are succinctly, intelligently and honestly laid out in the book... honestly perhaps being the key, as the book is very upfront about the difficulties that are in store. If you are considering making a movie, read this book: while no film is trouble free, there are definitely issues we would have avoided had I read this first. And, if nothing else, it would have helped me mentally prepare even better.
While this is a terrific book for people thinking of or about to make an independent film, I also recommend the book for people who have been through the process. It has been edifying to read that heroes of mine experienced the same things we went through on our movie. And so much information is contained in the book that even people well versed in the business will learn some things. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can't imagine anyone in the film business not benefiting from it and enjoying it.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
|
|
|
