Rating: 
Summary: A book above all others
Review: From Reel To Deal is the best book on filmmaking I've ever read. I'm not just saying this because I learned something I didn't already know. I'm saying this because after reading several books on screenwriting, filmmaking and producing I still didn't have the knowledge or skill to make my first independent feature film and now I do, thanks to Dov's book. I was scared, I was intimidated and I didn't believe in myself and my ability to make a film. This book changed all that. It gave me a step by step process on how to get started putting everything together like pieces of the puzzle. There are 38 steps of filmmaking. I now understand this now. I now understand everything now. Script, Money, Actors, Equipment, Crew, publicity, distribution, Festivals, I am now in production of a feature film that I wrote myself, I've teamed up with a producer I've casted it and I have potential investors reviewing the budget. Dov's book not only showed me how to make a film but how to become a filmmaker. The book has been my bible. I don't need to flip through giant Hollywood Reference books anymore to find equipment and crew, lights, camera, distributors, postproduction houses, labs, etc. It's all in there. Dov, thank you for coming out with this book. My search is over. Because of you, I can now call myself a Filmmaker.
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Summary: WORTH $100,000
Review: I attended NYU film school ('76-'79). It cost me $100,000. It was good but when I gradauted I still was confused of what to do, where to start and how to start. Then I stumbled on this book, written by the guy who created the "2-Day Film School". I was very cynical when I bought it. However, after 1 hour of reading 50 pages, I now no more about what to do and where to go to re-launch my career, then after 4 years and $100,000 at NYU. This book is so valuable to every first-time filmmaker, producer, director that it should be priced at $100,000.
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Summary: Totally awesome
Review: I spent $87,000 and wasted four years at NYU film school. Why?
I have just read the first 6 chapters of FROM REEL TO DEAL and have learned more in these 60 pages than I did over the four years at NYU. The book is awesome.
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Summary: Best Filmmaking Book Ever!
Review: I'm a Line Producer in the Japanese Film industry and am fluent in English. Each time that I come to Hollywood I buy 15-20 books on Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, Financing, etc and bring them back to Tokyo. This time I saw the just published book, "FROM REEL TO DEAL", in a bookstore and satrted to thumb through the pages. Two hours later I hadn't moved and found myself still reading this amazing how-to book on filmmaking. I instantly bought all 16 copies that they had on the display and brought them back to Tokyo instead of the usual 15-20 various books. "FROM REEL TO DEAL" is superb. It is without a doubt the "best book ever written" on the subject of filmmaking and Hollywood. I highly advise everyone who has ever thought about Writing, Directing, Producing or even Starring in a Feature Film or Television Series to purchase this book.
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Summary: A good cornerstone book for the independent filmmaker
Review: If, like me, you are doing research on how to produce an independent film because you actually want to make one, this book should serve as your cornerstone.
You will need to get some extra knowledge, but that is not to criticise this book. Simens does not claim otherwise and recommends lots of good sources for the specialised information you will need at the end of each chapter.
Take the book for what it is: a quick and dirty once over on how to get your film made in a concise, straight-up and uncompromising form. Once you've got the main factors in place, you can work to fill in the spaces.
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Summary: spend he $12 or screw up your film
Review: Like everyone else, I agree that this is a straight to the point book and I'm telling you to read it. I could'nt put it down. Yes it is that good. Some people on here claim that they went to USC or NYU and learned nothing but theory. I always thought these schools were decent since some of the big shots went there but I went to Columbia college which supposibly is the best film school in chicago.
This is the scoop on going to film school:
You first must take theory classes(watch old movies, silent films yatta, yatta!! Along with an asthetic class.
Then you take classes like development and screenwriting which arent what they seem. Columbia teaches this thing called Development and pre-production which is nothing more but a class to take up time and steal your money. You learn how to write a treatment. Thats all you learn. Even my teacher called it BULL SH**. YOu can learn how to write one in 10 minutes from a book or someone. The screenwriting course is a joke for the teachers dont know how to teach. THey will teach you what a program like Final Draft will do automatically for you maybe even better.
Then you take a production class which is the only class that you will make a short film in. WAIT! Columbia gives you a world war 2 film camera and a 750 watt light kit and tell you to go make a film with it. Yup that is what you get for $20,000+ a year. So what happens in this class? You actually learn how to make a crappy film "BUT YOU LEARN". THen comes the confidance part of school. They will get a Yokel called a top advisor to come to you and his advice is to take sound classes because there arent too many sound people out there. Boringest job out there. And then he tells you that if you just work really really really hard then you just might get paid. For years I watched all those poor students' faces as each of them were convinced that they will never be George Lucas! I got angry. Very angry and I chose to fight the system.
This is the bottom line. All you need to do is take 1-2 production classes where you make a short film. Then you need an open mind and listen to those who work in the industry. But listen to only those who are positive. Film school teachers are not professionals. They are past film students from the school they teach at who have no [...]. This is why they lecture film and not make films. You go to school to network with other students. THATS IT!! you can do this for free just walk in, no one will stop you. the security guards are just there for display. If you want to prove me wrong spend $80,000+ on a film school and 5 years later visit me and tell me that I was right. I'm not bashing these schools but FACT: all of these schools will admit to you that they are just a business. SO shut up, buy this book, Robert Mckee's book "STORY", "film director's intuition" and directing actors" Now watch me, i'm going to be a millionare this year thanks to being open minded and listening to the right people. Good luck and God bless you.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Only through about 1/5 of it, and I already love it. I am now ready to make an indie!
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Summary: FINALLY!
Review: Over the years I have considered going to Dov's 2-Day film school and kept putting it off because I had been to film seminars, got a film school degree and worked in the film industry, all without really being convinced that anyone teaching me knew entirely what they were talking about. So when I saw that this book came out, I bought it immediately and, true to his seminar's form, I finished it in two days. I couldn't put it down. I almost don't want to let everyone know what a great resource it is, because I want to keep the tricks all to myself!!! I could go on telling you everything that is amazing about this book, but my comments would be the length of the book. I dog-earred every other page. If you REALLY want to make a feature instead of sitting around a coffee shop talking about how you want to make a feature, buy this book. New filmmakers whine that they need to make X number of 35 mm shorts before anyone will let them make a feature, and then they choke on their soy lattes when they read in the trades that some 25 year old kid out of nowhere with no experience is being courted by all of the studios. That kid read this book.
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Summary: amazing information
Review: The book is amazing. Here's why. I spent 4-years and probably over $100,000 at USC film school and this stariaght and to-the-point book taught me more filmmaking how-to info in the first three chapters. From learning Screening, to Budgeting, to Financing, to Directing Mr Simens has it all here in easy to understand sentences. As a BONUS Mr Simens gives an amazing chapter-by-chapter list of who to contact (complete with adresses, phone numbers and e-mails) and what to say when you have them either on the phone or on the web. Imagine calling a big agent and he answers the phone. What do you say. Easy just turn to the chapter in "From Reel to Deal" and you'll be in control. This book is a MUST READ especially to any adult who thinks that they are missing something by not attending a 4- or 2-year film school. Now that I have read Mr Simens's book I am ready to be the next female Tarantino or feminin Spike.Thanks Dov, If I'm ever on the podium there'll be a thank you for you. Jane Smithson
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Summary: Excellent Book - Correction to Barry Timmons' Review
Review: The book is excellent, and I highly recommend it. I also wanted to point out that Barry Timmons review was a bit unfair in that Dov does in fact discuss Offering Memorandums in his book in Chapter 12: Form a production company (do your legal work). I have to agree with Barry that it is not a very comprehensive look at the legal process, but Dov does make it clear that you will want an attorney to prepare the memorandum as part of your start up of a production company. To Quote from Page 95: "Additional work you'll want the attorney to do is to prepare the paperwork to properly solicit funds (chapter 14) from investors. This will include creating a limited partnership (LP) or a limited liability company (LLC); establishing an escrow account with your bank; and preparing an 'offering memorandum'. He should charge no more than $2,000 for this." Again, this is in no way comprehensive, and I can see that if you arn't familiar with offering memorandums (I happen to be) it's easy to overlook this brief mention. Still, I thought it was only fair to the author to note here that the information is actually in the book, albeit briefly mentioned. That being said, take heed from Barry's example. You may want to review the SEC's Regulation D for private placement memorandums prior to getting an attorney. It's available on their website at www.sec.gov. Best of Luck to all the filmmakers out there!
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