Rating: 
Summary: Filmmaking with a Tromatic Twist
Review: Lloyd Kaufman's follow-up to the hysterical "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger" is no less entertaining than its predecessor, but will prove far more invaluable to the aspiring director. Kaufman, whose 30+ year career has earned him a rabid cult following all over the world, is no stranger to opearting outside the Hollywood system. His fillmaking advice (not to mention the occasional anti-establishment tirade) is consistently practical, brutally candid, and frequently hilarious.There are excellent chapters on unorthodox fundraising techniques (a necessity for those filmmakers whose artistic aspirations run contrary to the mainstream), casting, keeping cast and crew morale high, the merits of shooting on film versus tape, and other vital--though frequently overlooked by other books--considerations for the would-be auteur. It should be noted that this book is probably not for everyone. As with "All I Need to Know About Filmmaking," Kaufman's language can get quite raunchy at times, and his prediliction for sharing his masturbatory fantasies will not amuse the ultra-straightlaced. However, anyone who might find himself or herself offended by such things is probably not going to be reading a filmmaking book by the founder of Troma Studios to begin with. But still, be warned: no prudes allowed. This book has made an indelible impression on me, and is a terrific addition to the library of any aspiring director. I am now ready to go MAKE MY OWN DAMN MOVIE, and you can do the same. Thanks, Lloyd! Toxie taught you well.
Rating:
Summary: Make Your Own Damn Movie!: Secrets of a Renegade Director
Review: This is the funniest and most informative book I think I have ever read. Kaufman and his fellow Troma empoyees present valuable information on how to make your own movie while making it so funny you never get bored reading it. I couldn't put it down until I read the entire thing. Recommend this to all your friends, and if you are even remotely a troma fan, would like to make your own independent film, or are just looking for a damn funny book to read than this book should definately find it's way into your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Perversely Inspiring
Review: Is this book funny? Sure, often hysterically. But it's much more -- Lloyd Kaufmann, perhaps the nastiest sweet man on the planet, reveals invaluble truths, secrets and techniques to indie filmmakers. Between the profane, self-immolating anecdotes, Kaufmann provides the skinny on surviving in the trenches of low/no budget moviemaking. Very few filmmaking books are by real filmmakers, and Kaufmann is a quirky, much underrated auteur with a style and vision that rivals John Waters (that the Troma guru's films are funny, entertaining and smart is often lost on critics and even viewers, caught up in his punk theatrics). Even if you have a real budget of several hundred thousand dollars or even a mil, Kaufmann has much to teach you, and -- between the laughs -- sobering truths to share. As an indie director myself, I wish I'd had this book to guide me on my first effort; and I still find it useful and perversely inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: My Own Damn Review
Review: "Make Your Own Damn Movie" tells you the blood and guts and more guts (with more blood and assorted body parts) of independent movie making. While going through each process of assembling a film it doesn't candy coat the time, trouble, expense, headaches, anxiety and possible asthma attacks making one's own movie a reality WILL be. If one truly wants to make one's dream come true, without selling one's soul to the Hollywood corporate system, this is the book that tells one how to do it. Lloyd Kaufman has been a leader in independent film making for thirty years. He knows how to get it done and shares it with you along with some personal quirks you just may not want to know about Lloyd or anyone else. But I digress. You want to make your own movie under your own control? Buy and read this book. You don't want to make a movie? Buy it anyway. It's so funny you'll wet yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Informative
Review: This is the must have for the low to no budget director. Lloyd tells it like it is with anecdotes and plain speak. Though he is light on some of the technical terms and glosses over the ease of DV (which at the time of this writing was still a little expensive) this is an invaluable reference into Making Your Own Damn Movie.
Heck if it can get me off my own fat lazy butt and working on a screenplay, then it'll work for anybody.
Read it, enjoy it, then use it to do like the title.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious, Subversive and Very Informative
Review: Troma Studios' manic impressario Lloyd Kaufman has relented and actually written a how-to book on ultra-low-budget filmmaking (this is the book Putnam-Penguin expected him to write five years ago). It still has mental digressions on the soulless corporate film industry, bodily functions, Napster, and Lloyd's improbable sleeping arrangements at Cannes, but it also addresses the kinds of disasters that can and will befall first-time filmmakers, and takes the reader step-by-step from pre-production through distribution. He even reveals the secret of raising the funds to make a movie (pitch your story to everyone you meet and eventually you'll find an inspired--or gullible--rich investor). Co-authors Haaga and Jahnke often disagree with their boss and mentor, and are actually given substantial chunks of the book to refute him (particularly his personal obsession with shooting on 35mm film when most low-budget indies are shooting digitally). Buy all the other filmmaking books, too--you'll slog through them and pick up worthwhile info--but Lloyd's book is actually fun to read and it's frequently hilarious. And unlike nearly every other how-to author out there, Lloyd Kaufman actually runs a production and distribution company that has survived thirty years, and underneath the humor are many hard-earned lessons. Even if you don't plan to do a kitschy, monster blood-fest, the everyday issues of keeping a set running inexpensively make it worthwhile.
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Summary: master the fine art of fellatio
Review: If you liked Kaufman's first book "All I Need To Know About Filmmaking I learned From The Toxic Avenger" then you'll love this one. This is, hands down, the funniest book I've ever read and I'm not even a troma fan. Kaufman's razor-sharp self-defecating wit keeps you reading and somehow you actually learn a thing or two about filmmaking. After his first two books, I'll buy anything this guy writes and he just told me he's trying to get a novel of The Toxic Avenger pulblished but the publisher doesn't think it will go over well. So if you're a TROMA fan and you want the Toxie novel, post your own review and let your voice be heard!!! Do it for Lloyd and all the Tromites around the world!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Shameless and Brilliant - REDUX!
Review: In his second foray into the world of paperback, Lloyd Kaufman marches the reader down the hall of hell that is low-budget filmmaking. When taken with a grain of salt (and sometimes a 'grain' of alcohol) we come to realize that ironically all this trauma, Troma and chaos does lead to a 'happy ending'. Lloyd really does get it. He is the Everyman, making the Every-film and believes that anything is possible. His advice is solid, his enthusiam wild and his love of celluloid genuine and honest... ESPECIALLY for a 30 veteran of the film industry.
I found it highly entertaining, amusing, abrasive and more than worth the price I paid for it. I understand he is working on a Toxic Avenger novel which I can only imagine to be out-of-control, engaging and full of the chaos that is Troma. Outsiders Unite and Long Live Toxie!
Rating:
Summary: should be required reading for film-makers
Review: Lloyd Kaufman presents his thoughts and experiences in low budget filmmaking in a readable and highly entertaining style that is a stark contrast to your average dry filmmaking text book. For the unintiated, the writing may be a bit unorthodox but it puts the reader in a comfortable place. Although his production company, Troma films may not have the most respect in the film community, that should not deter one from picking this up. The book presents practical and realistic issues that other books do not cover. For example, dealing with tempermental actors, safety issues and how to run a smooth set when barely anyone is being paid. Again, the style may take some getting used to but the reader will definitely come away better prepared for a film shoot. Also recommended is Mr. Kaufman's first book "All I Need to Know about filmmaking I learned from the Toxic Avenger". The book also presents much useful information in a humorous and approachable style. I'm looking forward to his upcoming novelization of the Toxic Avenger.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST for any aspiring filmaker. Excellent book.
Review: This book is a masterpiece of information for any aspiring movie maker. I read the book and couldn't put it down. Lloyd has over 30 years expierience on the movie making business and he shares many of his tips and tools of the trade, the pitfalls to watch out for, and shares many funny and true stories of the adventures of Troma productions. If you are ever serious about putting together your own movie, it is an excellent and fun read, with other pointers prodived by Troma veterns Trent Haaga, and Adam Jahnke. Troma fans will delight in this book, and keep your eyes peeled for Mr. Kaufman's next book, a diary of stuff about the workings of the Toxic Avenger and Troma Behind the scenes.
Thank you Mr. Kaufman for this wonderfull book and continue to make art! :)
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