Almost
all microfilmmakers make their movies, not because they
merely want to, but because they have to;
it's in their blood, it's in their mind, begging to be
let out. They will spend their savings, go into debt,
or work crappy jobs to make their dreams a visual reality.
For these people, it's not about them; it's about their
art. If you are a person who wants to make movies, not
for the money or the glory, but because it's your passion,
The $30 Film School will be your "bible."
Michael W. Dean has written the definitive book on micro-filmmaking
and has done it with all of the passion and attention
to detail that it deserves.
Like
many guides to filmmaking (no-budget or big-budget), this
book starts out with the basic writing process and guides
you through the various steps of pre-production, production,
and post. Dean takes it completely from the DIY (do-it-yourself)
point of view: if you want to make a movie, you're the
one who's going to have to make it happen. You have to
raise the money; you have to find a crew to help shoot
it; you have to direct, organize, shoot, edit, and finish
the project. However, unlike most filmmaking guides, this
one focuses specifically on the needs of the no-budget
filmmaker. There are no expectations of having expensive
equipment or paying lots of money for accommodations,
craft services, etc. The only expectation is to do as
good quality a job as you can with the money and friends
you have.
Comprehension
This book is extremely easy to read. I read through all
500-some pages in a few days because it was so engaging.
Dean shares his anecdotes, struggles, ideas, tips, and
technical know-how in a way that makes you want to keep
reading.
While
the style is laid-back and conversational, it is also
very informative. Video/audio editing and DVD authoring
is covered in excellent detail, although he only covers
one video editing program--Premiere Pro--in this
edition of the book. The reason this is of note is because,
in the first edition of the book, Dean explained the process
of video editing in three different editing systems: Discreet's
Cinestream, Sony Vegas, and Adobe Premiere.
This past diversity was a nice feature, because different
people have different software, and it gave the reader
a basic idea of the process in each system. I don't think
anything would have been lost by carrying this information
over into the second edition. In the audio section, he
retained the comparative nature found in the past edition
by describing how to do audio editing using both ACID
and SoundForge. (Though I'm not sure why he doesn't
examine Audition, Adobe's audio editing program,
considering he focuses on Adobe's Premiere Pro
in the video section).
Additionally,
Dean gives great in-depth information about the legal
side of things. Having worked lots of temp jobs in the
legal/clerical field and having successfully negotiated
several of his own contracts, he knows what he's talking
about. He talks about understanding contracts, what to
look for and what to avoid, and how to get the word out
about your film. The information he shares is both practical
and informative.
Depth
of Information
The amount of information this book covers is vast. Everything
you'd need to know about how to make your own no-budget
movie is here. Beginning with how to flesh out a good,
working story, Dean progresses through to how to raise
funding for your production, then how to find equipment,
materials, and a cast and crew. He then guides you through
the actual process of production--including lighting,
shooting and directing-to the post-production steps of
audio/video editing and DVD authoring. He concludes with
how to distribute your new film, do publicity, negotiate
contracts, etc. If you've ever wanted to know about how
to start making your own films, this is the ultimate one-stop
learning guide.
Interest
Level
You might think that a 500 page book about the movie making
process would be tedious, but it isn't. I found myself
picking up this book and reading it as casual reading
whenever I had the time. There are many places where I
found myself laughing out loud or reading various parts
to my husband. It is an excellent balance of lighthearted
humor and valuable information.
Reusability
Not only will this be a book that you will read again
and again until the cover falls off, but it's one that
you will be recommending to any of your friends that are
or want to be making their own low-budget movies. (Note
that I didn't say that you'd be lending it to your friends;
make them buy it, because, if you lend it to them, they
won't ever give it back!)
Value
vs. Cost
If you seriously want to get into true movie-making (not
old Hollywood movie-making; I'm talking about making movies
because you need to, even if you never make a dime),
this is the book for you. The $30 you spend on this book
is small compared to the invaluable information it provides.
It is written by a microfilmmaker for microfilmmakers.
It speaks to their dreams, passions, and artistic vision.
You'll get way more than your money's worth, I guarantee
it.
Overall
Comment
What more can I say about The $30 Film School? I mean,
for a 500-page book, a mere two-page review doesn't seem
adequate. But there's not much more I can say, other than
this: of all of the books I've read for this site (and
believe me, there have been some great ones), this is
the only one that I felt was written just for us as microfilmmakers.
Michael Dean knows what it's like to have to do everything
by yourself for a project; he knows what it's like to
struggle as a filmmaker; he knows what's really important
and what's not in making a no-budget project; he understands
the struggles and successes of a microfilmmaker. And because
of this, I think that every micro-filmmaker should read
this book.
