Lexie's Filmmaking Book Reviews

This is a fairly useful book for indie filmmakers. I'd wish the author spent more time on the film making aspect and less time on computers and software -- the latter felt like filler and consists of a large part of the book. Still, a worthwhile read for those relatively new to filmmaking.

Steer clear of this huge rip off. This book is over 90% useless filler. The author's anecdotes are uninteresting and a huge turnoff -- readers want to be EXCITED about filmmaking, not bored to death! Avoid at all costs! Shame on you McGraw-Hill for foisting this $30 turkey on the market!

50 FAST FINAL CUT EXPRESS TECHNIQUES
Tim Meehan, 2003. ISBN: 0-7645-4091-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B

Useful? Yes. But do you really need this book? Depends. Final Cut Pro/Express is very intuitive, so once you've got some time using it under your belt, you'll be able to figure out how to do most of these effect techniques without ever looking in a book. However, if you're new to film editing and you need to make that effect NOW, this book may help.

ANGRY FILMMAKER SURVIVAL GUIDE
Kelley Baker, 2009. ISBN: 1-4392-3273-3

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

I bought this thing even though I didn't need to read it as my film is done. "Angry Filmmaker" might be a good marketing gimmick, but it makes for an awful writing style. Yes, it does contain a lot of useful information, but it's not an enjoyable read. This is one of those used books you see at Amazon.com with the description: "Like new, read only once." You'll find my copy there.

BEHIND THE SEEN
Charles Koppelman, 2005. ISBN: 0-7357-1426-6

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

I was expecting this to be a great book, but I was somewhat disappointed. Most indie filmmakers can safely skip this, however if you're really into editing, there may be some things of interest. I'm not even sure all Walter Murch fans will love this book, even though it is entirely about his editing of the film "Cold Mountain" using Final Cut Pro and the difficulty of getting it all to work out.

This book might have rated a B when it first came out, but it is now woefully out-of-date. Some of the business-side information may still be useful to those wanting to put their equipment to work earning money outside of filmmaking, but again there are likely newer sources for this.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO LOW BUDGET FEATURE FILMMAKING
Josh Becker, 2006. ISBN: 978-0-8095-6291-6

LEXIE'S RATING: C

In the 5 years since the author made this plea to keep shooting on film, things have changed dramatically. Even if his position was valid then, its less so now. There is some useful material here, but much of the film information is simply useless to the majority of today's filmmakers. Skip it.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO VIDEO
John Hedgecoe, 1992. ISBN: 0-8069-8694-8

LEXIE'S RATING: C-

The age of this book alone makes it rather obsolete, however, so much of the book contains a lot of basic filmmaking techniques that is still valid.This used to be a popular book in its day so newbies can pick up a copy for practically nothing for a look-see and just ignore the few pages that deals with the dated technology.

COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO FILMMAKING
Joanne Parrent, 2002. ISBN: 0-02-864340-2

LEXIE'S RATING: C-

There are so many missing gaps and misinformation in this filmmaking guide I'm afraid you WILL be an idiot among your filmmaking peers. Save yourself embarrassment and skip it!

CUT BY CUT
Gael Chandler, 2004. ISBN: 0-941188-99-X

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

This book is simple and clear enough for one to grasp the necessary things indie filmmakers must know to produce a successful feature film. Reading this book BEFORE you shoot your film will make your film better and you an even better director. I recommend this one.

DIGITAL FILMMAKING
Mike Figgis, 2007. ISBN: 0-571-22625-6

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

While this book by an Oscar nominated filmmaker contains useful information, it is rather thin. Indie filmmakers will need to supplement it with other necessary information obtained elsewhere. Hence, you'd be better off finding another book having more of it.

This popular book is actually quite useful to low budget filmmakers. Loads of information and enjoyable reading. I docked a few points because some of the material is dated, however I would have likely recommended it when it first came out. There is a new version that came out in 2007 that I have not read yet. Still, this older version is a good read.

A very useful book for the indie filmmaker. Loads of information that will help with your decision making. On the downside, tech-wise, this book will age rapidly -- although I've no doubt a 4th edition will take care of that. The publisher also changed the layout and font of this book from the earlier edition -- its less user-friendly. Fortunately, the writer's no-BS style still shines through.

DIGITAL VIDEO: AN INTRODUCTION
Tom Ang, 2006. ISBN: 0-7566-1600-X

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

We all have to start somewhere. While it doesn't go very deep, it is great introduction to the DV format. From there you can move to books on indie filmmaking without getting lost! The book's design and look is top notch too.

DIGITAL VIDEO FILMMAKER'S HANDBOOK
Maxie Collier, 2001. ISBN: 1-58065-031-7

LEXIE'S RATING: C

This was a heck of a book when it first came out, however, time has passed it by. Since the majority of the book deals with the technology of digital video, there isn't much else to benefit from here for many filmmakers. However, broke newbies picking up an early model DV (non-HD) camera will learn quite a lot! The Sony DVX1000/2000 and the Canon XL-1 are well represented in this book.

DIRECT YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE
Lloyd Kaufman, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-240-81052-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B

I rather enjoyed this one. While his writing style is not for everybody, its an amusing read. While no means complete, there is a lot of useful information here. One can't argue with his successes over the years, hence it's worth a look at how he accomplished it all.

DV FILMMAKING FROM START TO FINISH
Ian David Aronson, 2006. ISBN: 0-596-00848-1

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

If you're going to be a filmmaker, you have to start somewhere to learn the basics, and this one will get you on your way nicely. I'm only docking a few points because technology has advanced a bit since the book came out 5 years ago, but by and large, the information presented is spot on.

THE DV REBEL'S GUIDE
Stu Maschwitz, 2007. ISBN: 0-321-41364-4

LEXIE'S RATING: C

When I saw this at the bookstore, I thought I'd found the Holy Grail. It had a cool title, it looked cool and I liked the layout. Never judge a book by its cover they say . . . this book is why we don't. Wow, what a letdown. The material is okay, but thin. Utterly unfulfilling. This thing was $44.99. I suppose the gimmick to get me to buy the book worked though.

THE EASY GUIDE TO FINAL CUT 3
Rick Young, 2002. ISBN:0-240-51920-5

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

This book appears to be a decent quick guide to start cutting your film but truthfully, it isn't going to be enough if you're making an indie feature film. Things will come up and you'll be reaching for a book you don't have! The book does seems simple and laid out nicely as not to scare people away from trying to get into editing. So that may be a plus.

EDITING WITH FINAL CUT 4
Charles Roberts, 2004. ISBN: 0-240-80518-6

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

This is a decent guide for the immediate level editor. For whatever reason, I did not reach for this one again after reading through it the first time. I found others more friendly to use. It may otherwise be perfectly serviceable and work for you just fine.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COLOR CORRECTION (Field Techniques Using FCP)
Alexis Van Hurksman, 2007. ISBN: 0-321-43231-2

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

This is a mid level to advanced tech manual for FCE/FCP (Mac) users! I rate this highly because I used a LOT of the techniques in my film -- some I figured out by myself, but the fact of the matter that they're in this book means readers will have nearly all the tools for final film (video, actually) color correction and film grading to do it themselves. The book is well written too. This one stays in my library!

EXTREME DV AT USED CAR PRICES
Rick Schmidt, 2004. ISBN: 0-14-200435-9

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This a pretty decent starter book for those just getting into ultra low budget filmmaking. While I don't agree with everything the writer says and the material is slightly dated, the information does get one going down the right path to actually completing a feature film at low cost. Worth checking out.

I've mixed feeling on this film editing book - while it is a worthy read, the writer doesn't always make it clear what he's saying leaving the reader to backtrack to figure things out. I also got the sense some information was left out, for instance he discusses a basic editing rule (the 180 degree rule) at length, but nary a word about other common rules. This shouldn't be the first book on film editing you pick up.

FAST CHEAP AND UNDER CONTROL
John Gaspard, 2006. ISBN: 1-932907-15-7

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

I have to hand it to this writer for coming up with a very useful and enjoyable book utilizing the "interview style". Newbies and people thinking about making an indie film will gain quite a bit -- the lessons learned are also summarized, a nice touch.

FEATURE FILMMAKING AT USED-CAR PRICES (Third edition)
Rick Schmidt, 2000. ISBN: 0-14-029184-9

LEXIE'S RATING: C

Once upon a time this book would have garnered an "A" easily. Indeed, it opened my eyes to the possibility of making my own indie film. Time however, has rendered this book mostly obsolete. There are still some juicy nuggets in this book making it worth flipping through for those of you with time on your hands and money to spend.

Usually by the time one's film is completed and ready for the film festival circuit, filmmakers find either the film fest world has changed, or they're ill prepared for it, usually both. The author has compiled most of this ever changing but necessary information into one book. Granted, this book will soon be dated as well, but for now, its the right book at the right time. If you've just completed, or are completing a film, get this book. This one I recommend.

FILMMAKING STRUCTURE AND NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES
Bob Foss, 1992. ISBN: 1-879505-14-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This is a somewhat useful tool for getting your script and camera work top notch. Although it's a bit dense, however, I did learn a few new things here that I didn't figure out elsewhere, so that's a huge plus. If you understand the basics of filmmaking, this book will help you get to the next level.

For whatever reason I found this book to be the least useful of the many Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro books I used. As a result, it ended up at the bottom of the shelf. It may work for you, but I found others more to my liking.

FINAL CUT EXPRESS F0R MAC OSX
Lisa Brenneis. 2003 ISBN: 0-321-19912-X

LEXIE'S RATING: B

For sure, this is NOT the first book you want to pick up to learn FCE film editing. It isn't really user-friendly nor a fun read. But time and time again, THIS book provided answers when others didn't. As a result I've a well-worn dog-eared copy. And I'm keeping it. But to recommend it? I'd say it depends on where you're at on the learning curve.

FINAL CUT EXPRESS: MAKE THE CUT
Kyle McCabe, 2004. ISBN: 1-58450-260-6

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

This book seems useful, but for whatever reasons, I ended up using others when editing issues came up. The mediocre photos used didn't help the overall presentation. While there are better books, this may work for you just fine.

FINAL CUT EXPRESS SOLUTIONS
Jason Cranford Teague, 2003. ISBN: 0-7821-4248-6

LEXIE'S RATING: C

Not enough. That pretty much sums up this book. The publisher asked for $40 and there are other better books that give a lot more information in that price range. Skip this one.

FINAL CUT PRO 3 FOR DUMMIES
Helmut Kobler, 2002. ISBN: 0-7645-1654-X

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

I wasn't expecting much here, just the usual dummies level of information. But this one seemed even less informative and somewhat disorganized. This one was phoned in. There are better books out there, even for dummies!

FROM REEL TO DEAL

Dov S-S Simens 2003, ISBN: 0-446-67462-1

LEXIE'S RATING: D+

When this book on independent film making first came out I might have gave it an A-, however, at this writing (2011), its woefully outdated. Shooting on actual film has gone by the wayside, rendering much of this book useless for indie filmmakers. The author is highly regarded in indie film circles and I have no doubt newer books from him will find an anxious audience waiting, including me.

GODS AND MONSTERS
Peter Biskind, 2004. ISBN: 1-56025-545-5

LEXIE'S RATING: C

I'm not sure too many people will enjoy this book on film and culture. Aside from being a bit dated, its a rather disjointed read (it is a collection a different articles). It has its moments though. Indie filmmakers can safely skip it.

Don't be confused by the title, this book is about short films, EXPENSIVE short films. The choice to use "interviews" is distracting. There is decent film making information, but the book is a chore to read. A lot of the material is now quite dated making this book one to skip.

GUERILLA FILMMAKERS HANDBOOK (American version)
Chris Jones, 2004. ISBN: 0-8264-14684

LEXIE'S RATING: C

First of all, I don't care for the publisher's decision to use the same title on all versions of the book sold in the U.S. without identifying that they're different. THIS book is the U.S version, published in 2004. An second edition U.K. version (also not disclosed), with the same title came out 2000. The usage of the word "guerrilla" in the title is misleading. There is very little to do with Guerrilla filmmaking here. We're talking big bucks indie filmmaking. Addtionally, the format is almost wholly "interview style", not a plus for me. Some of the material is becoming dated. However, there is still some useful information within, but proceed at your own risk.

GUERILLA FILMMAKERS HANDBOOK (UK Version, Second Edition)
Chris Jones, 2000. ISBN: 0-8264-4713-9

LEXIE'S RATING: C-

First of all, I don't care for the publisher's decision to use the same title on all versions of the book sold in the U.S. without identifying that they're different. THIS book is the second edition of the UK version, published in 2000. An American version (also not disclosed) with the same title came out 2004. The usage of the word "guerrilla" in the title is misleading. There is very little to do with Guerrilla filmmaking here. We're talking big bucks indie filmmaking. Addtionally, the format is almost wholly "interview style", not a plus for me. Much of the material is now dated. However, there is still some useful information within, but proceed at your own risk.

GUERRILLA FILMMAKERS MOVIE BLUEPRINT
Chris Jones, 2003. ISBN: 0-8264-1453-2

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

The usage of the word "guerrilla" in the title is completely misleading, ESPECIALLY in this version of their "Guerilla Filmmaker" series. There is very little to do with Guerrilla filmmaking here. We're talking mostly big bucks full crew indie filmmaking. A true low budget or guerrilla filmmaker will be disappointed. In addition, some of the material is becoming dated. However, there is still some useful information within, but proceed at your own risk.

While this book does have good information and is fairly up-to-date, it does rely a lot on "interviews" with other filmmakers. This is okay if you like this format, however, as expected, many things are repeated. The layout of the book is cool, I liked that. However there isn't much "guerilla" info in the book as one would expect with that term in the title. Not a bad book. There are better options.

HOW I MADE 100 MOVIES IN HOLLYWOOD AND NEVER LOST A DIME
Roger Corman, 1998. ISBN: 0-306-80874-9

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

This is not a how-to book, furthermore, I highly doubt Roger Corman could duplicate his success if he were starting out today in this digital age. As a result, this book is of limited value for indie filmmakers. However, as a source of inspiration, it's a fairly interesting read.

While this book does have some useful information, it falls woefully short in the presentation. Its full of lengthy quotes, interview-like passages and other filler. A good editor could easily pare this book by half. In addition, for a book titled "how to NOT make a short film, there isn't much about what not to do. Disappointing. There are better books out there.

HOW NOT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY
Denny Martin Flinn, 1999. ISBN: 1-58065-015-5

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

This is actually a pretty useful book, especially if you intend to be a screenwriter as a career choice -- you ought to check it out before you make form blunders typical of newbies. For indie filmmakers who typically shoot their own scripts, the info is less critical. On the other hand, a technically perfect script will help with financing and attracting talent.

HOW TO SHOOT A FEATURE FILM FOR UNDER $10,000
Bret Stein, 2002. ISBN: 0-06-008467-7

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

This book has aged rapidly, however there is plenty to learn here -- indeed, I found tips I hadn't seen elsewhere. I like the writer's no-nonsense, tell it how it is style. If you're leaning towards the guerrilla style of filmmaking, you'll want to look at this, and just skip the parts having to do with film (you know, the stuff that comes in reels!).

I WAKE UP SCREENING
John Anderson, 2006. ISBN: 0-8230-8898-7

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

This is a great read. The only downside is that its geared toward the rare few of us indie filmmakers having a film that is likely to be desired by a film distributor and/or top-tier film festivals. Most of us filmmakers think our films are top-tier material hence a risk of being distracted by the material in this book when we should actually be focusing on plan "B" for the distribution of our films.

IF IT'S PURPLE, SOMEONE'S GONNA DIE
Patti Bellantoni, 2005. ISBN: 0-240-80688-3

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

This is film school overkill. While the deliberate selection of colors is a powerful tool in film storytelling, this book goes off the deep end with theory and a lot of baloney I feel. Real theories usually don't have a lot of contradictions and gaps, hence my baloney comment. Furthermore, for such an in-depth book on color, it doesn't give much attention to the desaturation of the colors in the image -- an equally powerful tool in filmmaking. Some people may find this interesting reading, the majority will be film school students finding it a class requirement.

An amusing read mostly about inside Hollywood and bad movies, this well-known writer doesn't hold back. While its value for indie filmmakers may seem limited, I believe there is always something to be learned from bad movies, especially ones made on someone else's dime! This book is somewhat dated, but history remains the same and people keep repeating it!

IN A BLINK OF AN EYE
Walter Murch, Second Edition 2001, ISBN: 1-879505-62-2

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

This is a great little book from a nearly undisputed top authority on film editing. This not a book on the nuts and bolts of editing, but rather, a simple overview of why editing works and how you can use this knowledge to create great films. Anyone relatively new to editing would benefit giving this a look before starting on the next big project! Highly recommended!

INDEPENDENT FILM DISTRIBUTION
Phil Hall, 2006. ISBN: 1-932907-16-5

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

The writer of the book choose to use a lot of interviews. This is a technique that I don't care for and doesn't make for fun or smooth reading, never mind the learning of things you need to know. There are better books out there.

INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCING - AN OUTSIDER'S GUIDE

by Paul Battista, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-615-34356-3

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

The bigger your indie film project (think $$), the more likely you'll need a book of this type. Focused on legal and financial matters, this book will keep you from making blunders or landing in hot water (or both!) Smaller productions can find legal info elsewhere. But if you're seeking "investors" for your film, or if film buyers are handing you contracts to sign, you'll need to educate yourself. This book I do recommend.

A KILLER LIFE
Christine Vachon, 2006. ISBN: 0-7432-5630-1

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

Not a bad read, however not as good as the author's first book "Shooting to Kill." Its aimed at the upper limits of "low budget" filmmaking (say $750,000 and up) so most of us won't benefit much from this book.

LIVING IN OBLIVION
Tom DiCillo, 1995. ISBN: 0-452-27599-7

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

A diary of this filmmaker's trials and tribulations getting the film "Living in Oblivion" made. While I did enjoy the diary part, most of the book consists of the entire shooting script. I'd suggest everyone just watch the film instead -- which is GREAT! As for this book, you can skip it unless you want to know more about this particular film.

THE MAD HOT ADVENTURES OF AN UNLIKELY DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER
Amy Sewell, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4013-0318-1

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

There is nothing special about this "making of" (Mad Hot Ballroom). Perhaps I'm a bit jaded, but there isn't too much to learn here that hasn't been told elsewhere in better books. However, if you like the film and are making documentaries, maybe you'll find this more interesting than the average filmmaker.

While Lloyd Kaufman's (of Troma fame) writing style is not for everyone, low budget filmmakers will benefit from reading this primarily because the author has remained in business for decades producing low budget films while everyone else around him went bankrupt. Its hard to argue with this kind of success. It's also a dose of reality for film makers wearing rose-colored glasses bought on Sunset Blvd!

This is a highly polished production with a real nice look. I appreciated the absence of filler! However, be warned: you'll need to know a lot more than is contained in this book to make your "Hollywood movie". Some of the information will become obsolete in time, but a lot of it is basic film making craft that is always current.

MAKING A WINNING SHORT
Edmund Levy, 1994. ISBN: 0-8050-2680-0

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

This book covers most of the basic filmmaking conventions to help first timers get on their way. The writer keeps it simple and to the point -- a style I liked. I did have to knock off a few points because technology has changed a lot, but by and large, a useful book for the beginner.

This is a great book for someone wanting to learn how movies are made. The late Sidney Lumet was a highly regarded director too, giving the book added credence. Unfortunately this book is now somewhat dated and its usefulness to indie filmmakers is rather limited. A worthwhile read for the curious though.

MAKING PRISCILLA (The Hilarious Story Behind The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert)
Al Clark, 1995. ISBN: 0-452-27484-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This is one of the better "making of" books. While its usefulness to indie filmmakers is limited, it does convey quite well how difficult it is to complete an indie film -- even if it is in the "upper" low budget category. I enjoyed this, not to mention the film itself is GREAT!

MOTION GRAPHICS AND EFFECTS IN FINAL CUT PRO
Kevin Monahan, 2004. ISBN: 0-321-17915-3

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

Don't get this book until you're already well underway with editing your film! Only then will you be ready for this book. Not only it will help you fine tune your film, it'll give you ideas. It also gets into color grading and the final "look" for your film. I really liked the writing style and the layout is great. A bonus here is this information really doesn't get obsolete with the newer versions of FCP (up to 2010 anyway). Keep in mind that just because you CAN do motion and effects, doesn't mean you should. Use this book instead to make subtle changes to your film so it'll look like hundreds of thousands of dollars was spent in post production!

NAKED FILMMAKING (How to make a feature-length film without a crew for $10,000 or less.)

Mike Carroll, 2010. ISBN: 1-140-51026-4

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

While this book is far from perfect, I'm giving it a high rating because its a rare book that shows how a feature film can be created by a single person. Not only he's spot on with the information, its a sorely needed anti-Hollywood/film school mindset fix! The heck with tradition, greenlight your own feature film! Like the author, I know it can be done.

THE POCKET LAWYER FOR FILMMAKERS
Thomas A. Crowell, 2007. ISBN: 0-240-80842-8

LEXIE'S RATING: A

This is the highest rating I've ever given -- a book on legal matters, imagine that. I gave big bonus points for the writing and the organization of the book -- I was impressed, congrats to you Mr. Crowell. Accessible and covers EVERYTHING! Whether you're a no budget guerrilla filmmaker or making a film with investors' millions, this book will cover your butt.

PRACTICAL DV FILMMAKING (Second Edition)
Russell Evans, 2005. ISBN: 0-240-80738-3

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

This book is so . . . well, practical! It may read as a text book, but for the beginning filmmaker, it covers everything and you're off to a great start. I docked a few points for its age, but for the vast majority of the material, its great! I recommend this.

PRODUCER TO PRODUCER (2ND EDITION)
Michael Wiese, 1997. ISBN: 0-941188-61-2

LEXIE'S RATING: C+

While this book isn't about filmmaking specifically, it centers mostly around a producer's (that's you!) need to hustle in order to get projects made. Indeed, if you aren't up to relentless hustling, your film will never get made. While the author is highly regarded, this book however, is showing its age.

REBEL WITHOUT A CREW
Robert Rodriguez, 1995. ISBN: 0-452-27187-8

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

This is likely the hardest book for me to give a less than stellar rating. Its an indie filmmaker classic and inspired a generation of filmmakers, including myself. But alas, the book is pushing 20 years old and consists mostly of technology no low-budget filmmaker uses anymore, limiting its usefulness. But I will share the three most groundbreaking revelations this book made when this came out: 1) You don't need to go to film school to make a feature film, 2) You don't need to spend more than a few thousands to make a feature film, and 3) You don't need a crew to make a feature film. All these things are even more true today. If you're looking for inspiration, get the book. If you're looking for filmmaking information, keep looking.

THE REEL TRUTH
Reed Martin, 2009. ISBN: 0-571-21103-8

LEXIE'S RATING: B+

This is a great in depth book to read after you've learned the movie making basics and you're seriously considering getting investors for your indie project. The writer is most helpful in pointing out the pitfalls along the way which can result in wasted money and an unfinished film, usually both! The book is a necessary look at the not-so-fun side of the business where the threat of losing your shirt is very real.

A low budget filmmaker's production diary -- mostly about how things go wrong. A dose of reality for new filmmakers. I really enjoyed this! I docked a few points only because some of the information is somewhat dated, but by and large, a worthwhile read!

Written by two Hollywood studio heads, this is the ultimate look inside the movie industry. Forget the tabloids--the truth about what's really going on in Hollywood is more outrageous! Seriously hilarious! Indie filmmakers will want to know why they're better off remaining indie filmmakers. I recommend reading this one.

SHOOTING TO KILL
Christine Vachon, 1998. ISBN: 0-130-79854-9

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This one of my favorite books about filmmaking, however, its aimed at the upper limits of "low budget" filmmaking (say $750,000 and up) and somewhat dated. Although most of us won't benefit much from this, it is a great read.

I've mixed feelings about this book. Its very in-depth, and has a lot of information, yet at the same time I felt the writer was unnecessary complicating the subject. The bottom line here is that the majority of filmmakers aren't likely to ever have the opportunity to direct a film with a large enough budget to make use of much of the information.

SPIKE LEE'S GOTTA HAVE IT
Spike Lee, 1987. ISBN: 0-671-64417-3

LEXIE'S RATING: C

While there are some filmmakers who may enjoy Spike Lee's diary detailing the struggle to get his film made, but the fact of the matter is the entire world of filmmaking has changed since the time this book was written. If you want inspiration, maybe you'll find it here, but beyond that, the time is better spent on a different book.

TALES FROM THE FRONT LINE OF INDIE FILMMAKING
Peter John Ross, 2007. ISBN: 978-1434802361

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

Welcome to the real world of indie filmmaking. By gosh, the author sums up almost perfectly the trials and tribulations of trying to get low budget films made and the characters who get in your way. Save yourself some heartache and read this before get into the development of your film. I docked points only because the author went off format in the last chapter. Still, highly recommended.

10 SURE SIGNS A MOVIE CHARACTER IS DOOMED
Richard Roeper 2003, ISBN: 0-7868-8830-X

LEXIE'S RATING: C

I like film reviewer Richard Roeper (who once teamed with Roger Ebert) and this small book is a quick and amusing read. While this book's usefulness to filmmakers is rather limited, however, it's a great source on things Hollywood has done wrong. If you're duplicating these blunders, you're going down the wrong path.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX OFFICE
Jon Reiss, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-9825762-0-5

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This appears to be the right book at the right time. You're done with your film, the distribution world has changed since you began your film, now what? The author answers nearly all of it. Somehow though, I find the book less than satisfying to read. I won't knock it entirely though -- there is a lot to gain here. I'm thinking another writer could hit a home run with the same material.

ULTIMATE FILM FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE (Fourth Edition)
Chris Gore, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8230-9971-9

LEXIE'S RATING: D

Chris Gore's previous edition of this book was an "A", but this time around he took the heart of the material -- the classifications, groupings and recommendations of film festivals out of the book and put them on the web, and just listing them A to Z. The space in the book is now filled with useless fluff. Had I known you did this prior to buying the book, I would have never had ordered it. Mr. Gore, do you really think most of the readers bought your book to get tips on party crashing? It was your unique insights on individual film festivals that kept us faithful buyers of each new edition. Now, your book and website is less useful than places like Withoutabox.

THE ULTIMATE FILMMAKER'S GUIDE TO SHORT FILMS
Kim Adelman, 2004. ISBN: 0-941188-89-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B-

This is a decent book with useful tips and all, however, I don't care for the false hopes this (and many other) books on short filmmaking tend to project. "Make it big in Hollywood" it says on the cover. That rarely happens with shorts. Remember, unlike feature films, in the end you'll have no sellable product with a short. Inexpensive shorts are great for developing your skills. Expensive shorts as a stepping stone to the Hollywood big time? Consider making a feature instead.

VIDEO FIELD PRODUCTION AND EDITING (4th Edition)
Ronald J. Compesi, 1997. ISBN:0-205-26358-5

LEXIE'S RATING: C-

Packed with information, this book was an "A-" when it came out. Now, its too obsolete for much use. However, there is a 7th edition out. Be aware that this is a textbook and the newest edition is over $100! (The 4th edition was $60 dollars!) Is it worth it? Cheaper than film school I'd say.

VIDEO SHOOTER
Barry Braverman, 2005. ISBN: 1-57820-289-2

LEXIE'S RATING: B

This is actually a pretty informative book on using video cameras -- it goes quite a bit beyond the basics without getting too technical. However, the author, a career video shooter, seems somewhat peeved that advanced digital technology has resulted the availability of low cost video equipment -- meaning more competition for established video shooters. This would have been a better book if the editor had a sharper pencil

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Art Linson, 2002. ISBN: 1-58234-288-1

LEXIE'S RATING: D

What should have been a fun read was most certainly not. Its a disjointed mess in need of an editor. I had to torture myself a second time to write this review. Filmmakers, skip it.

WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU AT FILM SCHOOL
Camille Landau, 2000. ISBN: 0-7868-8477-0

LEXIE'S RATING: A-

This book is the one to get you fired up about making your film YOUR way, NOT the traditional way. While not perfect or complete, it is almost a required read for film school students or those thinking about applying. Indie filmmakers will benefit from loads of practical advice and assurance that the non-film-school route to filmmaking was likely a better choice.