$30 Film School

Rating:
Summary: Not what it hypes itself to be...
Review: After reading all of the raving reviews for this book, I picked it up because of my lifelong dream of becoming a filmmaker... Ugh.
Regrettably the book is NOT what it touts itself to be. It's self-promotion and ego-stroking at it's worst, with Michael W. Dean constantly referring to himself as something he's not (a hugely successful filmmmaker). Don't get me wrong, at NO POINT in the book does he ever say he's big and popular, but the constant references to how great he did and how wonderful his films are and how he's broken the mold and how revolutionary he and his ideas are wear thin after the first chapter or two.
I also had to skip most of the middle of the book (pages 148-347) because he wrote those 200 pages as a technical manual for windows-based programs that he claims are just as good (or better) than anything you could possibly use (and anybody who knows anything about digital media will tell you that Macintosh is the way to go). Pretty much anything and everything he tells you about software you can throw right out the window and just go buy a Mac with iMovie and iDVD because they're both better programs (and easier to use) than the dozen or so craptastic pieces of software that he wasted 200 pages trying to explain to you.
The section on raising money for your project is a waste of paper unless you're dedicated to making documentaries because it says little to nothing about raising funds for an actual movie and instead repeatedly tells you to get nonprofit status from the government so you can use his techniques for raising money. For someone who wants to make movies and break into the business and be a part of the industry, this is all a waste of time and energy (again, unless you're solely interested in making documentaries).
All in all this book is not "how to make a good movie cheap," it's more of a "how I made my movie, which rules, and how I did it cheap." Shortcuts on production values and equipment only take you so far, and unless you want to relegate yourself to obscurity and DEEP-underground-cult-status (something this counter-culture freak seems to think is the way to success), you're better off simply picking up a copy of Robert Rodriguez's "Rebel Without a Crew" and reading it at least twice and paying attention.
(on a personal note, that was another beef for me and the $30 Film School... Dean likes to trash Rodriguez and El Mariachi because he doesn't seem to understand that Mariachi WAS a self-contained film made for a mere $7,000. Dean likes to think it was made only as a precursor to Desperado, which is 100% false (something you'll learn once you read "Rebel Without a Crew")).

Rating:
Summary: Great learning aid
Review: This book includes lots of good information. Interviews with a few people in the business are in the back. I liked reading their views on the topics.
Lots of practicle information on cameras and other equipment were included.
This is all about how he did it, and how you can do it. No "how to sell your movie to the big boys" crap. This is realistic.
After reading this book I was out pacing some film students I knew.
There's just so much I liked about this book. Go read it now.

(...)

Rating:
Summary: How AND Why
Review: This is a pretty good book for anyone wanting to make their own movie, whether they're just messing around or if they seriously want to share their art with the world. Dean takes you from the very beginning, step-by-step all the way through to your finished project and gives you ideas for getting your film shown. The D.I.Y. attitude is the constant theme through the book and the author's passion for his art really comes through and gets you motivated. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more information about getting good sound while filming. But, the author responded to my emailed questions the very same day I asked him, so major props for that. At the end of the book is a collection of interviews with D.I.Y. filmmakers who really round out the perspective on filmmaking, followed by a robust list of reccommended reading/surfing/viewing. This book is perfect for anyone who has no experience in filmmaking and wants to dive right in.

Rating:
Summary: Do-It-Yourself Film Making
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to dive into the world of digital film making. Michael Dean covers every aspect from beginning to end, in a way that anyone can understand. Without a doubt, the most comprehensive, all inclusive guide to independent film making on the market today.

Rating:
Summary: A Fire Re-ignited
Review: I started college
to study film and got discouraged and didn't go back....at least not for film. I changed my focus to
business studies and have been a banker for 16 years,
but I've never been satisfied. When my kids found out
what my original course of study was they chided me
for abandoning that pursuit. I recently took my
daughter to the library and while she was getting
books for her lit class I found this book. It's almost like having a revelation! I am now anxious to start my first video project in 20 years! Michael Dean's book is the catalyst. It's well written and very informative, not to mention entertaining. I have no idea how my project will turn out, but I can guarantee you that had I not read this book, my video would have never been undertaken.

A MUST READ for anyone who thinks you have to belong to the club before you play golf.



Rating:
Summary: Helpful for Video Production Course Design
Review: I teach Video Production to secondary school students and recently began a most successful video competition called 3in6. (http://3in6.openlab.net.au). We liked Michael's book so much we gave it as prizes to the first three place getters for 2004.
Although you don't have to agree with everything he says, you can see what he is suggesting and why and make up your own mind. Along with books by Ben Long, I found this book most helpful in structuring a course that would totally involve the kids in actually making movies. Warmly recommended to people who want to actually do it, and not just read about video making.

Rating:
Summary: save your money
Review: You might get as much useful information if you go over to your neighbor's house and ask him his opinion about making a movie. This guy did it once (unsuccessfully) and thinks he can write a book about it. Waste of money. If you want to read about someone who made a movie with no money that was actually successful, I recommend "Rebel without a crew."

Rating:
Summary: Great for PC user, Not friendly for Mac users
Review: I was going to buy this book from Amazon because it's $10 cheaper than my local Barnes & Noble, but when I went into the store and looked through it, half the book had screenshots for PC editing. There looked like a few good sections , but it's unfortunate half the book is a waste for Mac users.