Rating: 
Summary: Step aside Spike & Quentin
Review: The book is great. It tells exactly what to do to make your first feature film. Now, I know exactly what Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee did. And if I'm blessed with talent, that the book honestly states can't be taught, then I will succeed. Thank you Dov!
Rating:
Summary: Better than Spike or Quentin
Review: The book is truly amazing. I have bough 15-20 books on filmmaking, directing and screenwriting. I thought I new something. Then I bought Dov's book. I couldn't put it down. It took me step-by-step through Producing, Writing and Directing my first feature film. Now, I truly feel that if god blessed me with enough talent that I can launch a career like Spike Lee or Quentin Tarantino did. Thank you Dov!
Rating:
Summary: Cuts through the ...
Review: This book is amazing, It's straight to the point. Simple to understand and finally allows me to know exactly what I should do to Produce and Direct my first low-budget feature. The "Contact Directory" with the 1,000s of names, addresses and e-mails will be used for the next 5-7 years. Thank you Mr Simens, O Wilcox, Beverly Hills
Rating:
Summary: If you want to make a movie this is the book to read!!!!!
Review: This book is the only coach you'll need to make it in the industry. Dov Simens straight-forward style really tells it like it is, concise and direct you won't question a single word. What I read in 2 hours, I had to learn the hard way in 2 years. Save yourself some time and gain a real step-by-step plan to make your movie.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! Buy it now!
Review: This book knocks you up against the wall and never lets up. Dov tells it like it is, with no sugar-coating. If you want to make a low- or no-budget film, this is the book you absolutely must read. Truly invaluable.
Rating:
Summary: THE REEL/REAL DEAL ON HOLLYWOOD
Review: Wanna produce, direct or write a movie? Buy Dov's book. Period. This 400+ volume should cost $100,000 dollars on the open market, 'cos that's what it's worth, in valuable information alone. You've all heard how film schools like USC, UCLA, NYU all teach film theory? They do. And it's a waste of time, unless you wanna teach theory or study theory in Hollywood. If you wanna make movies, forget those $80,000-dollar film schools, take Dov's 2-day course, and start your career in film producing, directing, shooting, lighting, writing, selling, dealing, financing, etc. If you can't do your own film after taking his seminar or reading this gem, then stick with your day job and tell everyone you "tried." Dov's book, FROM REEL TO DEAL, is transcribed from his seminars, so it sounds VERY conversational, like he's sitting right in front of you, while you kick back in a comfy wingback chair, and he's showing you everything you need to succeed in Hollywood. It feels like your own private lecture, and it's not the typical college lecture, either. This man stimulates, drives, energizes, empowers. He shows and he tells. What's most important in Dov's book is that he cuts to the chase and leaves out the film-school theory. This is a practical approach to film making, from A to Z and beyond that jumps right into (abbreviated list):
1. Producers: who they are, what they do, how they do it
2. Indie vs. Studios: which one are you? Do you have the money to write those 38 different checks during preproduction, production and postproduction?
3. The SCRIPT: it's gotta be great! Dov shows you the formula all the A-list scripters use, the TOP SECRET one with all the plot highs and lows that stimulate an audience
4. Registering and Copyrighting your work: you only need it if you're going to court. Just make the movie!
5. Forming your own production company: set up an LLC, get partners, option scripts, etc.
6. Financing: call on those wealthy dentists in town, the ones who donate to the ballet, theatre, symphony. They don't get back anything from those entities, do they? Tell them how they'll make a mint from financing your movie. If not dentists, call lawyers, other doctors, wealthy grandmas!
7. Budgets: what it REALLY costs to make a movie in Hollywood! I mean, the REAL DEAL here. How much producers, directors and actors get paid for each type of budget; how much film stock costs; how much the belwo-the-line talent costs, etc.
8. Equipment and Film: how to get the best deals with a little haggling, and how to get them to help you find a great crew.
9. Sound and Lighting: finding the best sound and lighting technicians, with their own equipment, and what to look for in each type of worker
10. Directing: a crash course in how to talk with and move those "movable props" called actors
11. Production Crew: how to find the best, hire them for cheap, feed them well, treat them like gold, and have them do the best jobs for you
12. Postproduction: picture editing, sound editing, music score, ADR, Foley, mix, M&E and opticals
13. Filmmaking, from A to Z: how to do a low-budget medium-budget, and a high-budget movie; how to maximize your resources
14. Publicity and Film Festivals: how to get your movie seen by the Who's Who of Hollywood and the World
15. Distribution: who they are, what they do, how they do it, and how to get the best deal from them
16. The Game Plan: a. get the script; b. get the $$$; c. hire great people; d. publicity (trades); e. get ready to shoot; f. more publicity . . . and read this great book to find out more! Quentin Tarentino, Robert Rodriguez, Guy Ritchie et al. all took Dov's course and launched their careers! Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Michael Jackson et al. took Dov's course and enhanced their careers. Are these people much different from you? If you have talent and drive and energy, you can do it. Dov's book shows you how.
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT DOV SIMENS DOESN'T TELL YOU WILL FILL A FEW BOOKS!
Review: Yeah yeah yeah, I read everyone else's rave reviews about Dov Simens's classes. And yes yes yes they're full of energy and facts. While Dov fills his classes with eager faces, and fills these eager faces with fascinating facts, Mr. Simens fails us all in one major respect: he conveniently leaves out the part about how to really really really get the money from potential investors. I was excited about calling up those "stupid dentists," as he calls them, and asking them to come to a local theatre where I'd have the DP's 35-mm reel to show them. Bummer when I discovered that NOT A SINGLE DP IN HOLLYWOOD USES 35-mm REELS. They all have their stuff on DVDs. So, Mr. Simens's theatre model is now shot. Ok, no problemo. I booked a local hotel conference room and rented a big-screen TV for the DVD viewing. When I invited everyone over for the party, one stupid dentist, who was also a former securities attorney, asked, "Will you be giving us the PPM this evening?" PPM? The stupid dentist--one of 50 stupid people I invited to come hear my presentation--educated all of us about the Private Party Offering Memorandum, or PPM, which is used to educate prsopective investors about the offering of a security. Security!? Are you kidding me!?!? I though Dov said this was a freakin' "unit" I was offering! Security!? Yes, the stupid dentist went on. In fact, you have to file with the SEC. Please allow me to interrupt this short horror film right now, and just say this: if you want to raise money for your movie, and you're looking for more than about 5 investors (Dov suggested 50 or so), you'll need to consult with a securities attorney who knows the film business. Period. See you at Sundance, Dov, you freaking schmuck. Still I'm making this film. And so should you continue. Just know that there's no easy way, as Dov suggests so blithely in his book. He does offer an excellent overview of everthing else. Hence the four stars.
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