Nov
01
Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices: Second Revised Edition
Filed Under (Tips) by admin on 01-11-2009
Review
Making a movie is an expensive enterprise no matter which way you try to cut costs. Many women filmmakers find themselves trying to stretch miniscule budgets without compromising quality. This book offers practical tips on how to make a movie without wasting money. Rick Schmidt suggests saving money by shooting titles on location, renting film equipment at special weekend rates and building your own editing bench in your home. This is the kind of practical informa…
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Rick Schmidt’s book “Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices” is a very important book for any new filmmaker to read. He explains how to make a movie without spending a fortune.
Mandy Wildman and I formed Wild Heart Films in 1998. We produced our first feature, “In the Open” for only $7,000 using Mr. Schmidt’s techniques. Although it was challenging, it was not impossible! Now we are in pre-production on a film with a higher budget.
If you are considering producing a movie, it would be a good idea to read this book cover to cover and apply the data!
This book is hopelessly outdated (as are my own), so I can’t rate it any higher; but at least this guy is sincere. Some of the other reviewers act as if they expected the keys to the kingdom for under 20 bucks. And L Roc from Chi-town certainly got up on the wrong side of the crab dolly, except, of course, for hyping another book. In an age when you can buy your own production and editing equipment for under $10K, you don’t need the strategies in this book or any other–save your money for tape stock–or to listen to the nay-sayers.
I would recommend this book on the bases that if you want to get into film making then you should see how this guy went about doing it. It is not a bad book but is a bit technically challanged. For instance the writer has a huge section on building your own editing suite for actually cutting the film by hand. This may be good for some film makers but you will certainly get better results if you meet up with an actual editor who will cut your film for you while you sit by his side.
The book basically tells you what you need to get up and started and how to go about shooting your first film on a low budget. This book is pretty much written in a “One-man-band” sort of fashion and although it is possible to make a film this way you would do a lot better by actually meeting up with people who know a little bit about film making too – probably in a film school or weekend course. Anyhow, lots of helpful hints and tips but you will need other books to supplement this one and you will need a bit more help from experienced film makers (even amateur ones) to help you on your way.