What They Don't Teach You at Film School: 161 Strategies For Making Your Own Movies No Matter What

Do you have to go to film school to get your movies made? No, say two young entrepreneurs who survived the grind. Here they offer 140 strategies for making movies no matter what. Amateurs as well as seasoned veterans can pick up this entertaining and incredibly useful guide in any place--at any point of crisis--and find tactics that work. Whether it's raising money or cutting your budget; dealing with angry landlords or angry cops; or jump-starting the production or stalling it while you finish the script, these strategies are delivered with funny, illustrative anecdotes from the authors' experiences and from veteran filmmakers eager to share their stories. Irreverent, invaluable, and a lot cheaper than a year's tuition, this friendly guide is the smartest investment any future filmmaker could make.

Strategies from the book include: Love your friends for criticizing your work--especially at the script stage Shyness won't get you the donuts Duct tape miracles Don't fall in love with cast or crew (but if you do...)

I love film and read about making films to feed my dream.

I've read text book style books, handbooks, and how-to's.

This book actually defies those brandings and makes itself into something all together new - an ENCOURAGING, HUMORFUL and HELPFUL book about what you have to do to make a film.

What a revelation I've found when by chance I purchased this book here at Amazon.

For those wondering, this is NOT a how-to guide.

What it is - well, it's a great book which does something (repeatedly) that very few other books about the art and craft of filmmaking do - it ENCOURAGES YOU TO MAKE FILMS: small films or grand epics, or videos of your dog - it doesn't matter - all they suggest is that you tell your story.

It encourages you to make a film - no matter what - if that's what you want to do - this book ENCOURAGES you to do so.

There's a whole lot of sensible information here, along with some gentle guidelines for deciding if filmmaking is really something for you.

With chapters titled "Fix the script, the rest will follow", "Sultans, dentists and Uncle Al" and my favorite "Donuts, red vines and keeping the crew together: the care and feeding of the set" you get a feel for the humor that's also used throughout.

Ultimately though, you have to ask the question, for a future filmmaker, is this book useful?

I'd have to answer a resounding yes!

It reinforces the notion that if you make a movie, no matter if it sells or doesn't, makes a million or never screens for anyone but your best friends - you are a filmmaker. That's a great gift to the reader.

Buy this book before you invest too much else in text and handbooks, and how-to guides. You won't be disappointed and you'll be getting a very good read.

Good luck making your film.

Best Regards,
turtlex


Encouraging, insightful, conversational, and intelligent   February 17, 2001
yarden (portland, or)
30 out of 35 found this review helpful

Sometimes I randomly buy books like this that SOUND like they have a really great premise, but they turn out to be amateur and doltish. Not so with this book -- it more than delivered on the promise made by the title and description. What a book!

I was struck in the first few pages at the encouraging tone of the book, and then again by the heft of the authors' intellects -- wow, these women have brains! But brains aren't all they have. They've got plenty of common sense about filmmaking with which they have been more than generous in their book. I learned more about filmmaking than I have from reading any other book, and at the same time I was energized and ready to pick up a camera, instead of discouraged and ready to run far away from any dreams of filmmaking.

It may be too late to go to film school, but it's never too late to read this book and get the down-low on everything you could want to know about making a film, conceptually, practically, and realistically. I'll have to read this book a few more times, and keep it close at hand for reference.

Well done, Camille and Tiare.


A MUST Have if Your a Filmmaker   November 1, 2001
C. Chapman (Milford, MA USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

I read lots of filmmaking books. I didn’t go to film school, so by reading these books it gives me an insight into the theories and aspects of filmmaking that I never thought about before.

It still amazes me that I can actually learn new things about a visual medium from a book, but I always have. Every time I’m at the local bookstore I swing by the film section to see if there is anything new worth reading. (Plus it’s a great location to meet new people to get involved in my future projects.) A couple of weeks ago I picked up “What They Don’t Teach You at Film School: 161 Strategies For Making Your Own Movie No Matter What” by Camille Landau and Tiare White.

At first I was skeptical about this book. Any filmmaking book that promises to show me the yellow brick road to Hollywood and filmmaking success just makes me laugh since we all know that no book can show each of us this path since it’s different for everyone. But, as I flipped through the book there in the aisle I found myself laughing and learning new things so I had to bring it home with me.

The book is organized into chapters named catchy phrases as “It’s the budget, stupid…”, “Sex, lies, and 16mm….” , and “Friends, enemies, lovers, and thieves.” Within each of these chapters is an ongoing bulleted list that make up the 161 strategies mentioned in the title of the book.

What I liked so much about this book is the mix of blunt honesty, real world insight and sharp humor. The authors are both graduates of USC film school and together have made over 30 short films. After completing the book I could tell that they’ve “seen battle” and are not just looking for a quick buck from writing a book. (Although, I hope they make a few because they deserve it.)

I think the reason why I really liked this book so much was that it covered every aspect of movie making. What I mean is that not only will it give you tips on fixing your script (pg 54), pitching your story (pg 132) and how to finance your project (pg 201). But, they even share a recipe for cookies to help you bribe your editor if need be. (pg 26) They realize that there is much more to filmmaking then actors, producers and cameramen. They take the time to talk about life, family and the heartaches you may run into along the way to making your blockbuster.

My copy is already earmark, highlighted and beat up from flipping back and forth for a confidence boost when I needed it during a rough spot on recent Foo Projects. Trust me when I say this will be the best (money) you spend for your next project.

I’m not the type of guy to spoil the ending, but the last point made in the book is the most important one to remember:

“#161 DO IT AGAIN: If you want to make films, make films.”
I couldn’t have said it better! Happy reading!


Comments from an Architect (and Sometime Indy Actor)   August 10, 2000
John P Trautmann (Santa Monica, California United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This book has a very generous spirit and is liberating to read; it describes the possible.

Specifically, it is full of precise, down-to-earth wisdom on how to realize the lofty dream of making a film. The good, bad and ugly of the process are laid out with technical and emotional depth, with no baloney and with nothing held back. The book's lessons extend to how to pull off any ambitious, excruciatingly difficult, creative entrpise where other peoples' participation is essential (as in making buildings, for example).

Congratulations to the authors!


rock on   October 10, 2000
T. Troyer (los angeles)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

this is a great book! it's not just about movies, it's about life and figuring out how to make the most of it.

i recommend this book for anyone who ever dreamed of being a filmmaker, novelist, rock star, poet, etc., etc.