Customer Reviews

Raindance Producers' Lab Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking

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If you make indie movies, or you'd like to, I recommend this book. I've attended a Raindance weekend course as well, and this book will build on what you learn there, or, if you haven't taken a Raindance course, will help you out tremendously.
Although this book is written primarilyy for British producers, the information is applicable to Canadians as well (probably for anyone working outside the U.S. industry, actually). It teaches you the business side of the process in some detail, whether you make narrative or documentary films, features or shorts. It is also good for motivation, too. I've forsaken the couch after reading this and am working on a couple of projects I plan to sell this year.
So, if you are an indie producer and don't have access to a decent film school, or you need a spark of inspiration, or you're confused by the hundreds of filmmaking books out there and want a good resource, this one is for you.

Elliot Grove's book is a must-have even if you haven't attended any of his excellent lectures. This volume is crammed with very practical information, tips and advice from the whole range of film-making experience and from the point of view of someone living and breathing movies. It concentrates on the hands-on approach, the nitty-gritty aspect of film-making for both the novice and fairly experienced. Most of all, it is inspiring and encouraging. With this book, some passion, drive and like-minded colleagues, there is no reason you can't put your ideas to tape/film/digital media... whatever your budget.

Although the book was written for people trying to make movies in the U.K., this book is also good for Canadians because the U.K. film industry is similar to the Canadian one in terms of how things work. Most of the books I've read on filmmaking are from the U.S., but because the industry there is different from the rest of the world, the Raindance book covers things American filmmakers never have to face.
Any producer, director, or writer should have this book on their desk as a ready reference. This book details the nuts and bolts of producing, from development to submitting to festivals.