RSSFrom Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film
By Dov S-S Simens
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The boom in interest in independent filmmaking witnessed during the 1990s gave birth to a cottage industry built around offering slimmed down, "just the facts" filmmaker training and taking advantage of a new audience of reasonably wealthy middle class wanna-be filmmakers who had no time for lengthy degree programs at traditional films schools. At the forefront of this industry was "2 Day" film school founder and indie film evangelist Dov S-S Simens. The "2 Day" film school (apparently attended by the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, Will Smith, and Michael Jackson at some point in their careers) has now moved out of the lecture theatre and into print with Simens' first book From Reel to Deal.
In essence the book is the text version of the two day motivational course that made Simens a familiar name in independent filmmaking circles, and takes you through the process step by step of getting a feature film project off the ground. The book claims to demystify the filmmaking process and resoundingly succeeds in this aim (although almost to the point of making it all seem a little too easy). Each step is encapsulated in bite-sized chapters of information which outline the process and provide practical advice on common problems that befall the neophyte filmmaker when they dip their toe in the shark-infested waters that is the film industry. Each chapter is also supported by a selection of relevant sources of further information such as books, tools, and useful (but mainly American) organisations.
The book is let down a little by some inaccuracies in the way it describes the business side of film festivals and markets, and more blatantly, in its advocation of the use of the web as a potential distribution medium (Simens' understanding of the issues facing mass distribution of media content on the Internet is painfully shallow). The section on digital filmmaking is also a bit lightweight given the profound changes the independent filmmaking community is witnessing in the face of falling hi-def prices and expanding digital distribution options, but then this isn't really what this book is about. Where it shines is in the area of making you understand the feature film production process from start to finish and the challenges you will face along the way, and more importantly, exploding the myth of 'film as art' (at least for anyone who wants to earn a crust from working in the industry). Simens' explanation of the subtle, yet critical difference between a "film" and a "movie" is perhaps the most poignant observation in the entire book.
From Reel to Deal is a worthy addition to your bookshelf, particularly if you've had a little exposure to filmmaking through the shorts arena and are dreaming about your first feature. We'd possibly go as far as saying that it's maybe better value than attending the "2 Day" film school itself, which perhaps was not Simens' intention in writing this book but is certainly a result. This book won't help those who don't have talent already, but for those that do it might just show you the route to a successful filmmaking career.
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