From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film

by Dov Simens

From screenwriting & budgeting to marketing, Simens provides encyclopedic, precise, & creative instruction for putting your vision up on the screen.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Business, Media Tie In

433 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Belal Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a seminar in a book. Walks you...no, the writing style is more akin to kicking you in the behind to learn and make your film. Lot of homework in the book.

[Wmba Dams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out. Dov s-s Simens has updated it since then. And he also runs a film school you can access on ground, online, and via DVD.
https://www.webfilmschool.com/
https://www.webfilmschool.com/dvd-fil...

This book shows you what you need to do and is far better than most 4 year film schools at the uni. This is real practical advice not old theory from wannabee professors.

Read about Dov here
https://www.webfilmschool.com/about/dov/
See the success his students have had making films.

Read his no bull blog to learn more than the book has room to include.
https://www.webfilmschool.com/no-bull...

His graduates include Tarantino, will Smith, Guy Ritchie and others.
His graduates in total have made 16 billion USD box office revenue.

If you are serious about making films then you need to check out Reel to Deal and then look at his blog and take his course. The price is a pittance compared to others especially university tuition and 4 years of time.

The bad news is that you really have to *DO* the work to succeed. You do not start at the top. But if you start and do the work you can move up like Tarantino et al.

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently re-reading this book again. I read it in 2007. I loved what Dov says about Film Funding. He has some very wise advice for filmmakers and film students alike. Other than that I found out that Will Smith went through his training long ago. I am thinking about going to this training? when? maybe this year or next year? He has a lot of valuable resources at his website for Screenwriters & Actors like myself

[James Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information for filmmakers. Very detailed.

[Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dov S-S Simens teaches a two day course on how to create your own film on a small budget. Simens goes into all aspects of the independent film business. It's an extremely practical and useful book. If you're thinking of writing your own film, Simens recommends that you create a story with minimal characters and sets, something that is like a filmed play. That way you will be able to afford producing your project without being drowned in cost overruns.

[Phil Spitzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very good, very detailed information on making movies cheaply. I didn't really enjoy the constant advertisements for all of the contacts he recommends for everything from camera stores to attorneys. Again, I think there was a lot to learn in this book. I just couldn't shake the feeling that the author was a bit of a hack--and I suppose that's what he's going for, "hacking movies", so this could be positive or negative, depending on how you see it.

[Travis Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've taken Dov's 2 day film class in LA twice and learned much. The book is a great addition to his class. I was a bit concerned though when I ran into Dov at his and mine first American Film Market adventure pushing his film course...in the book he tells how once your film is finished, take it to the markets to sale. I guess he doesn't quite know what it takes on the distribution side of things, but everything prior to distribution he seems to know more about! Still a great read!

[Nick Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done book. Extremely well-organized and succinctly written. Tons of reference material and additional helps. If you want to make a movie, then this book is for you! Breaks the movie industry down by budget categories and walks you through the entire process from obtaining movie rights to ultimately marketing the movie worldwide. Excellent!

[Inggita · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty darn good guide for no-budget filmmakers - although the directory is only good for US-based ones. Now we need its structure for the Indian and Indonesian version, right? there's one production guide for the latter, but this book is more comprehensive and to-the-point.

[Azaghedi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was expecting some sort of esoteric, hush-hush info from behind the lines, so to speak. All I got was a lot of stuff I already knew, whether that be from the internet or just common sense. Big old "meh" for this one. Maybe the course is better than the book, but I'll never know.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really intersting book on how to make an indpendent film. The only thing stopping me now is my own fears!

[Daylyn Presley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a novice or just plain interested in the film industry this is a great book about the film industry, how to get into it and what it takes to succeed.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant screenwriting chapter. All around awesome book for filmmakers, should be a must-read.

[Bote Thibeault]

This is better for producers than any other human aspect of movie making