The Producer's Business Handbook (Book & CD-ROM)

Rating:
Summary: REEL MAGIC
Review: "Access is something you create in the same way you create credibility. You do the job right." The Producers Handbook presents deal structure and organizational practice for independent producers which do not require relationships with stars, super-agents and heads of studios, but rather rely on accepted, salient business practices -- which in turn not only engender such relationships, but successful, profitable, mainstream film making -- with distributors, agents, stars and investors who are pleased to be involved, and remain involved time after time. This material offers the most exciting, dynamic and pivotal business information and applications readers are likely to encounter in their entertainment career. Perhaps as life-changing as the day one sees their first motion picture or first determines to make motion pictures their life's work.

Rating:
Summary: Worthless
Review: As a practicing attorney and filmmaker, I found John J. Lee, Jr.'s book to be practically useless. While the table of contents is impressive, his discussion of each topic is cursory and usually limited to a couple paragraphs of very broad and general language. The limited industry data provided is dated and the few documents that are provided, mostly arcane excel spreadsheet forms, are so specifically tailored to extremely large studio multi-picture deals as to be useless to anyone other than a major studio executive without legal counsel (unlikely) or a first-time producer of a multi-million dollar feature and a large legal budget (again, not likely ) or an accountant. For your money and time, there are much better books and materials out there that provide good, solid practical advice and information for independant filmmakers and attorneys alike.

Rating:
Summary: BLUE-PRINT FOR SUCCESSFUL FILMMAKING
Review: Finally, we have a comprehensive guide to the business of making movies the way movies are supposed to be made -- and written by someone who knows whereof he writes. No longer do filmmakers need luck or magic to succeed; The Producer's Business Handbook lays out all the details of show BUSINESS in a straightforward format that's as readable as it is informative. Lee's affable style of writing, which features a refreshing dose of enthusiasm for the ethical integrity still to be found in Hollywood, renders this book the perfect and indispensable blue-print for anyone -- novice or veteran -- hoping to succeed in the business of making motion pictures.

Rating:
Summary: BLUE-PRINT FOR SUCCESSFUL FILMMAKING
Review: Finally, we have a comprehensive guide to the business of making movies the way movies are supposed to be made -- and written by someone who knows whereof he writes. No longer do filmmakers need luck or magic to succeed; The Producer's Business Handbook lays out all the details of show BUSINESS in a straightforward format that's as readable as it is informative. Lee's affable style of writing, which features a refreshing dose of enthusiasm for the ethical integrity still to be found in Hollywood, renders this book the perfect and indispensable blue-print for anyone -- novice or veteran -- hoping to succeed in the business of making motion pictures.

Rating:
Summary: Those who do not produce films give seminars and write books
Review: From the appendix the book is based on a lie. He first states all of the forms that are presented on the CD. He claims the AFMA International Multiple Rights Deal Letter is on this CD! It most certainly IS NOT! All of the rest of his forms, which are for the most part, pretty much irrelevant are there, and presented in a very outdated fashion. The information in the book is logical and methodical and is a sensible approach to producing films, but I am certain he has never done so. He has a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, priority approach to financing and distribution which is seldom the way in which situations transpire in the world in which films are produced. His book is a text book world for students in a class room, as is his world best served "giving" his seminars, then in actually producing films. The book certainly disseminates a wonderful amount of options and fully exlores them all in detail and accuracy, in a way that breaks incredibly complicated information into simplicity which is terrific and most appreciated. This is by far my favorite book on film producing. But I purchased the book for the CD and that agreement and he did not honor that agreement or his word, therefore, I have no respect for him or his publisher.

Rating:
Summary: Those who do not produce films give seminars and write books
Review: From the appendix the book is based on a lie. He first states all of the forms that are presented on the CD. He claims the AFMA International Multiple Rights Deal Letter is on this CD! It most certainly IS NOT! All of the rest of his forms, which are for the most part, pretty much irrelevant are there, and presented in a very outdated fashion. The information in the book is logical and methodical and is a sensible approach to producing films, but I am certain he has never done so. He has a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, priority approach to financing and distribution which is seldom the way in which situations transpire in the world in which films are produced. His book is a text book world for students in a class room, as is his world best served "giving" his seminars, then in actually producing films. The book certainly disseminates a wonderful amount of options and fully exlores them all in detail and accuracy, in a way that breaks incredibly complicated information into simplicity which is terrific and most appreciated. This is by far my favorite book on film producing. But I purchased the book for the CD and that agreement and he did not honor that agreement or his word, therefore, I have no respect for him or his publisher.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended!
Review: I recently took the producer's business seminar offered by John J. Lee Jr. Not only is he an exceptional speaker, but the material within the book is truly amazing. For new producers like myself, the book gives the reader a wealth of information on the film business. For those of you who are interested in the seminar, I would also recommend that. Its worth every penny!

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended!
Review: I recently took the producer's business seminar offered by John J. Lee Jr. Not only is he an exceptional speaker, but the material within the book is truly amazing. For new producers like myself, the book gives the reader a wealth of information on the film business. For those of you who are interested in the seminar, I would also recommend that. Its worth every penny!

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable
Review: I'm a new producer starting my own production company, and this book is absolutely incredible. I'm buying copies for all the members of my company. The accompanying cd is phenomenal--I don't have to create any spreadsheets or charts; they're already there for me. I don't want to sound too gushing but I truly feel this book will be a vital resource for many production companies.

Rating:
Summary: Invaluable
Review: I'm a new producer starting my own production company, and this book is absolutely incredible. I'm buying copies for all the members of my company. The accompanying cd is phenomenal--I don't have to create any spreadsheets or charts; they're already there for me. I don't want to sound too gushing but I truly feel this book will be a vital resource for many production companies.