Rating: 
Summary: Comments from an Architect (and Sometime Indy Actor)
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Practical, useful, slightly boring
Review: This book has some wonderfully helpful pieces for anyone who might want to make a film. I bought it at the same time as "How to Shoot a Feature Film for Under $10,000 (And Not Go to Jail)" by Bret Stern. The two books balance each other quite nicely, and I'm quite pleased that I purchased/read them at the same time. This one seemed to have a less useful information, but has some really helpful stuff for someone who's want to make "respectable movie."
Rating:
Summary: Best Book of its Kind
Review: This book is extremely well-written, targeting exactly what the title says: "making your own movie no matter what". I submit that the ppl having issues with this book either (a) need to have a clue, or (b) can't read (ie, the book title). The core, primary, absolute must-have of making a film is persistance. PERSISTANCE. Not the technology, not the "film or digital" question, not "Hollywood or Sundance or not", & not even the funding (or lack thereof). Really terrible films are made with big-budgets all the time, simply b/c of the incredible persistance of the director, producer, etc. Anybody see "Daredevil"? The [director] got some high-quality storyboards made, & literally sat in front of Producers for years & years until he convinced somebody to fund it (too bad he didn't spend the $$ on a script). Persistance => green-light. Landau & White target the person emerging from film-school, and/or those who've given it a miss, & lay-out the bare necessities:
1) Vision. Ie, WHY you want to make a film. Absolute must-have, for success. They include some very good ideas & break-down the process here for determining just *what* you [originally] wanted to say.
2) Script. Pummel your vision/motivation until it screams, & squeeze that into a screenplay format that's presentable. And make *sure* to have your [next] one ready, if/when you current work gets noticed(!!!)
3) Production. Ie, find like-minded, talented ppl to work with you, & learn how to treat them properly. Getting into that whole "diva" crap will only destroy your chances of making films later-on...
4) Community. Make sure to work w/ others, both on your own productions & others'. There is no better way to learn how to make films, than making films. Why do so many ppl blindly repeat this, & then try to make their 'first movie' & never have been on a hot set before?!!
-and always-
5) Persistance. From various techniques of equipment acquisition to relationship issues, Landau/White keep the book directly on-target: "Don't Give Up". If some, or even many, of the suggestions & personal stories/experiences related err on the side of "feel-good", I for one am not even slightly dismayed. Why? b/c ALL the material is from Direct Experience. I have over 100 books on filmmaking, & huge numbers of them are clearly info cut/copy/pasted back & forth from ppl who "read it somewhere". Landau/White know what they're talking about, b/c they've *done* it. And having done it, they realize that a tremendous amount of filmmaking is (pre)planning & fighting fires... ie, "Project Management" ("Ewww!!!" say the 'Artists'). Well, filmmaking is tough, & any little bit of inspiration (coupled w/ a ton of great guidelines) is greatly appreciated. I say all this having shot cable music-videos & short films, where one of the main comments from cast & crew was the [appreciation] for not having a high-stress set. Wow. Not the script, (which was great, natch). Not the production value(s). Not even the (lack) of craft-services or not. Just treating ppl well, appreciating their input, & making them feel part of the Process. This is the core of what Landau & White are communicating, & they do it extremely well... amidst a major lack of books communicating same. I for one am highly appreciative. If you need "how to find $$ for your films" book(s), check out "Digital Filmmaking 101"; if you need a very-good in-depth tech workbook of digital filmmaking, check out Billups' books. But whatever [book] you use, you will also need MOTIVATION & PEOPLE-SKILLS. And Landau/White teach (as much as possible in book-form), both. Thank-you, ladies.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but...
Review: This book read pretty fast and had some good information, but just not enough of it. They tried to interject some humor at times, but they failed. I would recommend this book, but only if you want to extend your collection on the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad, but...
Review: This book read pretty fast and had some good information, but just not enough of it. They tried to interject some humor at times, but they failed. I would recommend this book, but only if you want to extend your collection on the subject.
Rating:
Summary: rock on
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The #1 book for filmmakers everywhere
Review: This is an incredible, get down to it, grass roots, no holds bar book on what it takes to make a film. From the practical to the emotional, Camille Landau and Tiare White have managed to capture the essence of filmmaking, the true gritty nuts and bolts of the experience as well as getting you excited to go out and shoot, to just do it, whether it's your first feature or your latest blockbuster. Honestly, it's the "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance" for the filmmaker, teaching and pondering life's lessons along the way. I loved it and am totally motivated to go shoot my first film. This is definitely a must have classic!
Rating: 
Summary: Great for insomniacs!
Review: To try and level the playing field I felt I had to write this review. If you are an aspiring film-maker then you probably fall into one of three categories: 1. Going to film school, 2. Not going but going to use daddy's money to make an artsy film, 3. Just wanna get out there and make a cool film or 10. The first 2 will probably enjoy the book. It doesnt tell you much about making films but feeds you with plenty of artsy stuff to impress the chicks at the coffee shop, ie "When having script-writing problems - Take out that picture of the moment you first met - Its a good idea when your just starting a project to write yourself a note about what it means to you and save it in a sealed envelope to take out in moments just like this!" - and this section continues with paragraphs headed, "Go on a special vacation together","seperation, or an open marriage", "divorce....now that you and your script dont have an exclusive relationship with each other, it might be easier...."!!!!
If this is the kind of stuff you enjoy reading then go for it. This book is really full of it. If you just want to get out there and make films read "Rebel Without a Crew" by Robert Rodriguez first of all!! Then read "How To Shoot a Feature Film for Under $10,000" by Bret Stern. Believe me after reading, "What they dont teach you at film school" I'm glad I didnt go to film school and I'm not sure that I learnt anything from this book either.
I tell a lie, I learnt that there are some really dull and condescending books out there. In summary there's not that much in here that will help you out if you actually want to write, produce and direct an actual film. Also cures insomnia. Only use under medical supervision!
Rating:
Summary: Just Do it!
Review: You might have a hard time finishing this book, not because it's bad, but because you'll be so motivated you'll want to grab a camera and start shooting right away! Bravo to the writers!
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