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All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger: The Shocking True Story of Troma Studios

All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger: The Shocking True Story of Troma Studios

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST..ONE SIMPLY CANNOT STOP READING THIS MASTERPIECE!
Review: I'm an avid reader of HOW TO MAKE FILM books as well as BEHIND THE SCENES OF FAMOUS MOVIES books. I wouldn't be exaggerating to say I've read over a hundred in these genres.

Without a doubt, ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FILMMAKING I LEARNED FROM THE TOXIC AVENGER was the funniest, most insightful and informative book in this area I have ever read.

Lloyd Kaufman manages to be the jester and the sage from moment to moment (often at the same time), as he hysterically and with sensitivity, recounts his early filmmaking mistakes, hardships and triumphs on the road to creating the TOXIC AVENGER, TROMEO & JULIET and the TROMA world.

His scathing, sometimes shocking anecdotes of his work on ROCKY and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER have forever changed how I will view these films and the people connected with them.

From the wild, over the top cover art, I thought the book would be complete fluff, but was surprised to find a depth and honesty most "tell all books" could only dream of achieving. To say it was a page turner would be putting it lightly. One simply cannot stop reading this comic masterpiece until completion.

I was moved at the handling of his personal life and simultaneously found myself laughing out loud. I read a portion of this book on a long plane trip and people kept looking over at me as if I were crazy as I repeatedly burst into laughter.

This is a book I will keep, re-read and wish to share with others.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Troma Has really done it this time.....
Review: If you happened to go to college in the 70's or 80's then your know what TROMA is all about. Lloyd Kaufman has written the best book of all time. It has all the stories of troma (and probably stuff you didn't know). He writes in a way that's it's so hard to put down. Definetley for any perosn who's a fan or ever been a fan of the Troma Enterprise. The book has some of the best information on some of the best troma films such as The Toxic Avenger, class of nuke em high, bloodsucking freaks, surf nazis must die etc..... This book has made a mark in troma history. Lloyd Kaufman has to be one of the best authors out there. Roger Corman does an introduction at the beginning and is co-writed by James Gunn. I've read it 3 times and every time I found something new and interesting. Though troma has not many well known films, they are liked by the people who know about them. The troma gospel has been going on for 25 years and each day a new tromafan is born.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Kaufman for president in 2004
Review: This wonderfully insightful autobiography / coffee table whack-off book was written by the same loveable lunatic that brought you The Toxic Avenger, Sergeant Kabukiman NYPD, and the Class of Nuke 'Em High. This book covers the creation of Troma Studios, in case you are wondering how all this madness was birthed unto this world. You will learn how you can do the same pocket pinching, gross out special effects that you see in all of your favorite Troma movies. Plus, Lloyd reveals his secret affection for the Zapruder film.
I could not put this book down; in fact, I read it twice. It is very humorous, and at the same time the author conveys sincerity within the context of his madcap babblings. This book is like every film in the Troma library in that you cannot label it or place it comfortably into a specific genre. It jumps from fiction to nonfiction, from fantasy to reality and from insane to insightful. Kaufman is a paradox of several different personalities, all residing in Tromaville (located somewhere in the cerebellum of Lloyd's brain).
I insist that if you have not read All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger, read it now...or I will send Sgt. Kabukiman to your home to fill your fish tank with urine, drop laxatives in your Ovaltine, and kidnap your dear sweet, senile granny...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Little advice, but lots of laughs
Review: There's actually very little in this book that will teach you how to be a director. However, this is also the most hilarious film-related book I have ever read. Gotta love Lloyd.

Oh, and you do learn how he makes a few of his gross gore effects.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Bromo Seltzer of Independent Filmmaking
Review: "All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger: The Shocking True Story of Troma Studios" is a yin and yang (hot Asian twins I think) telling of Lloyd Kaufman's years as a leader in independent film making. Less of a step by step process of how to make a movie, unlike his latest literary achievement "Make Your Own Damn Movie," and more of a progression of Lloyd's career, making films and the building of the Troma Studios empire. Although it does give useful information on making independent films, creating special effects for the price of green food coloring and Bromo Seltzer, etc., I think its beauty is in the telling of the history of Troma and the courageous band of ... wait, I thought I was talking about Hogan's Heroes for a minute. Anyway, don't buy the book only for the nudity. Buy it because you want to know about real independent movie making. Besides, it's so funny you'll wet yourself or at least the person next to you.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A look into a world worth living ...
Review: I found this book at a used bookstore , during which time i was extremely depressed and hopeless. I began reading it and immediately started feeling a bit better , page by page i was begining to cheer up quite a bit.

the book is an amazingly well written look into the world of tromaville , a world worth living in. lloyd talks about his obstacles in film making , his visions he couldn't escape until he makes his film and quite a bit of wonderful advice for any one wanting to make a movie. i've learned a lot about troma , lloyd kaufman and film making.

Llyod kaufman actually suceeded in making a book that can keep up with the amaing movies of troma. the flow of the book makes it harder to sit down then most books. a wonderful slab of tree that would be a perfect addition to any ones book collection !

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the most entertaining reads about the industry around
Review: Granted, there isn't the nuts and bolts of Lloyd's second book that makes it so invaluable to people looking to "make their own damn movie", but this book is the perfect companion piece (and all around funnier and more re-readable) to his sequel. This book tackles his history with Troma, the longest running independent movie studio that exists (celebrating 30 years and counting, now), and how Lloyd has stayed afloat in an industry where independent companies are routinely swallowed up by the megacorporations in Hollywood, and doing so and maintaining his artistic integrity and freedom instead of selling out. This book is absolutely hilarious, and there's no way you wouldn't enjoy Lloyd's genial style of writing (including the best joke about pleasuring oneself to the Zapruder film that you'll ever hear). So if you're looking for a fun read, or are interested in one of the cornerstones of indepedent cinema in America, or are just interested in cinema in general, I'd give my absolute highest reccommendation to AINTLAFILFTTA.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Funny and entertaining
Review: This is a strange book. It begins with Lloyd Kaufman cracking jokes about everything from midgets on fire to belching green goo on secretaries. I laughed but I had no idea what this guy was talking about. Then he gets into making B movies with Troma, the company he started with Michael Herz after years working on Hollywood movies. He recounts his early failures and his first success.

That stuff is interesting, but then he goes right back to making bad jokes. I like his brand of humor --- he's the kind of guy who likes bodily functions, squashed baby heads, and tall tales about Thai hookers --- but the humor is really forced. He seems so eager to please when all he has to do is tell the story of making cheesy, entertaining low-budget films. The Troma stories are really good. Lloyd Kaufman has a lot to say about how the film industry works, directing non-union films, setting up stunts, coming up with good exploitation movie ideas, and even merchandising. (The stuff about working in Japan and making a TV cartoon are particularly enlightening.)

But the bad jokes get in the way. Kaufman is a gifted storyteller and his subject matter is important and fun, so I can easily recommend this book. If you want to know about making movies that have no stars in them, this is the book for you. But you might be disappointed --- Kaufman could have described his work in greater detail, but he chose to amuse his readers instead.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Lloyd is a GOD!
Review: Funny, inspirational, and informative- that's the three best descriptive words I can find for this book. Mr. Kaufman is a GOD in the eyes of those of use who have been TROMA-tized by his films. An excellent read, even if you aren't a filmmaker. If you are a filmmaker, Mr. Troma himself's book will teach and inspire, as well as tickle your funny bone. Thanks, Lloyd, for this peek inside the worlds greatest independent studio, and for insight into the mind of a mad genius.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Toxie loves you!
Review: when I picked up this book I knew little to nothing about how Troma came about. It really taught me a lot about, not only, my favorite film company and director, but also how to make green puke and ripped off limbs! I know I've learned more from this book than I ever could cooped up in a classroom!

Troma has brought us some of the greatest trashy independent movies of our time, and it just keeps getting better!


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