A Killer Life: How an Independent Film Producer Survives Deals and Disasters in Hollywood and Beyond

by Christine Vachon, Austin Bunn, John Pierson

Here is an account of a filmmaker who looks straight into the eye of the Hollywood blockbuster storm and dares not to blink.In "A Killer Life," Christine Vachon follows up her independent producing handbook, "Shooting to Kill," with a behind-the-scenes memoir of the battle between creativity and commerce -- and a renegade's rise to being one of the most powerful female producers in independent film today.

"A Killer Life" traces the early years Vachon spent producing such controversial and critically acclaimed movies as "Poison, Happiness," and "Kids," films that paved the way for Academy Award-winning triumphs like "Boys Don't Cry." She recounts the birth and rise of independent film and the evolution of her company, Killer Films, revealing the stories behind star castings and firings and films that never got made; how sexuality factors into the films she produces; and how the often lethal combination of finance and creativity affects what we see on the big screen.

Intelligent and tough as nails, but endearingly self-effacing, Vachon's account of her filmmaking experiences, and the successes and failures that have made Killer Films one of the few truly independent film companies in New York, is a thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking read for filmmakers and fans alike.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Memoir, Business, Biography, Biography Memoir

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2006

Reviews

[Daniela Capistrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an intern at Killer Films when Christine Vachon was writing this book. I was able to read a few different drafts and enjoyed that experience immensely. Her two books have inspired me to write my own memoir in the future.

[Rowan Sully Sully · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight into how an independent production company works. Highlights the importance of maintaining relationships with distributors, directors, and cast to creating a marketable film and demonstrates how the failure to do this will create many problems. Well written, highly engaging, and informative enough to cast the reader as a temporary producer.

[Dav · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a triumph. Long live Killer Films, and all producers who live out in the left field, actually.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most industries, Hollywood is anything, but special. In fact, it is a thankless world filled with egos (there is a clause in Robert de Niro's contract that says his trailer needs to be set-up fifty feet away from the set because he does not want to walk), deception, and good ole blind luck in hopes to bring the words on a script to the movie screen. And even then when that miracle happens, the money and glamour never goes to the grinders, but to the top 1% of the people involved with the project. The rich get richer kind of thing. So, if this truth is so obvious, then how come there is never a shortage of people who are subserviently willing to roll on their backs to reveal their tummies to the Hollywood beast? Well, after reading this book, I think I may know why people do it. One, working at an office job is for suckers and two if you don't have the balls to be a criminal than you do the next best thing and blindly throw your dignity into the pits of the film industry with no regrets.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

For real film/ production fans only. Curious about the nuts and bolts of producing? This book, and Vachon's first Shoot to Kill, are great behind the curtain reads.

That being said, probably not a lot here for the average reader or lover of Hollywood gossip.

Hilarious at the end she advises folks to take a chance on watching a smaller independent film. Who do you think is reading the book? Lol!

[RND · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, interesting stories from Vachon's production career. There's some overlap with Ted Hope's Hope For Film, which I read recently. She also puts in excerpts from her producer's diary direct from back in the day, and essays from other people whose various viewpoints complement hers. I especially appreciate that she discusses mistakes and failures as well.

[David Samuels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Do I recommend it? Idk. It’s so specific to its topic that it’s like a textbook almost.

[Lavis Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspiring and motivational for those who takes great interest in the industry; it also cuts into the fiber of the interactive process between the market and the filmmaking as a practice. :)

[Laura Bermejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christine Vachon is an incredible independent producer from New York who founded her production company, Killer Films, a long time ago. This is her second book, where she explains all the behind-the-scenes situations that a producer has to think about, solve, negotiate, yield into, convince, push, and go through from the very moment an idea begins to flourish in a writer´s mind, to the moment the movie is released to the public, and beyond.

Through an organized and thorough storytelling, Christine guides you through the process of producing movies, dealing with the crew and cast, selling your assets in festivals like Cannes.... It is a really, REALLY, interesting and well-crafted book, not only if you are in the business but if you want to learn about the untold truth behind the scenes. For me, reading it and imagining me dealing with the scenarios that Vachon describes here, was the proof that I am willing to move forward with producing.

I am telling you this is one of the most direct, unfiltered books about production and the daily fixes that come up while trying to succeed with a movie project. I have found incredibly inspirational and I cannot wait to read her other book, Shooting to kill.

[Jason Béliveau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engageant as hell. J'en aurais pris le double. Concret sans être barbant et trop technique. M'a donné le goût de replonger dans tous les Todd Haynes (I'm Not There est le premier film que j'ai vu dont ma critique a été publiée, le film et toute son œuvre revêt donc une important particulière à mes yeux).

Ah et j'ai assisté il y a trois ans à une rencontre entre elle et Guy Maddin organisé par le Centre Phi et c'était tout autant fascinant.

Si seulement il y avait une ou un producteur de la trempe de Christine Vachon à Québec. ;(

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating. I read it years ago and it stayed with me. Killer Films produced Boys Don’t Cry, one of my all-time favorites. She uses examples from that film in this book along with others to bring to life the complexities of producing indie movies. Recommend!

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

a film school-like read about locating funding and procuring talent to appear in films. studio heads get rolled. attend award shows. insightful, b/w images, swearing.

[William Torgerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book, I kept two lists:
1. A list of Killer Film productions that I would watch. I've got I'm Not There, the Dylan film, ready to watch today.
2. Movies that author Christine Vachon mentions something interesting about that I want to see.

Here's some of my favorite lines:

The whole reason we know these films and recognize these stars is that some producer brought together the talent, the financing, and the studio to deliver it to you.

My parents took me to see Patton, which I loved (so did Nixon), probably because it had such a vivid and intense point of view--still a criterion for me of what makes a movie strong.

Todd has wisely written a script defined by interiors: Kathy's suburban home, her husband's office, and two bars--one gay, one black.

I play the only chip we have left: Steven Soderbergh. He's editing Solaris, which is both a good time and a terrible time to contact a filmmaker. He's done with the madness of the shoot, but he's in the middle of an enormous jigsaw puzzle. I call the editing room...

In my experience, what makes a successful film producer is the ability to live, almost entirely, in both present and future: the excitement of what's next mixed with a responsibility for right now.


This is a book I read fast and learned a lot from. I felt like I was able to sit on meetings where films were put together and also the circumstances in which films were sold. I recommend this book to those interested in the stories behind how stories are born and eventually make it to the screen.

[shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

very much more a memoir than shooting to kill, which is probably the best how-to-produce textbook i've ever read. in comparison this is like an indie, queer(er) episode of Entourage, more about how to navigate and negotiate with big egos and big money (if still smaller money than would be at play for mega studio movies). there was some good practical advice on how to survive a studio's indie division wanting to test and market your film, how to fight to keep some artistic integrity, and a lot of stories of fucked up situations where people want things to be less gay (but we knew that). the strength in this sequel is in how utterly sure she is of her POV - what is a fit for Killer, what's not, and why.

my favorite part is the first page - which could double as a table of contents - where she lists her basic maxims for survival, especially: "do what you love; do it consistently. everything else will follow." and "every story behind a movie that gets made is a success story."

[Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christine Vachon was an true independent film producer back before indie came to mean 'a studio movie but with a lot less money spent on it'.

This book is a sequel to her earlier book, Shooting to Kill, and spends more emphasis on from-the-trenches stories from her more recent films, like Happiness, Boys Don't Cry, Far from Heaven, and Infamous (the ill-fated Capote competitor.)

A great, no-holds-barred looks at what it takes to get an indie film made these days, and a behind-the-curtain answer to the question "just what exactly does a producer do, anyway?"

I couldn't recommend this book more to those interested in filmmaking.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book from the standpoint of "what exactly does a film producer do?" It was a fascinating read when it focused on specific films and the challenges in getting those films made. However, there was a lot of personal bias, ax-grinding and I-can't-mention-any-names-because-it-will-bite-me-later garbage which was amateurish and defensive. On the whole, an enlightening look into independent film production and how precarious some deals can be. Could have gone into more depth, which would have made it a superlative book.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book because I was immediately engaged by Christine Vachon's stories and words of wisdom. She has this down-to-earth edginess that I love. The book includes stories from film makers like Todd Solondz, Todd Haynes, John Cameron Mitchell as well as agents, producers and distributers. I learned so much - it's one of those books that I want to reread because I ate it up so quickly.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's an insider look at how christine vachon (who wrote the book as well) started killer films (which produced "hedwig", "boy's don't cry", etc.). it's full of fun insider-y stuff, like what each movie set was like, how the actors got along with the directors, etc., and also with a lot of really interesting information about what it takes to get a movie produced and keep a business running. she's pretty kick-ass, and i found the book very inspiring.

[Don]

The producer of financially successful independent films, including Boys Don't Cry and Far from Heaven, chronicles her twenty-some years in the film business. This is an insider’s view of both the successes and disagreements needed to finish a film, and shows the fragile balance between artistic vision and financial realities (Vachon survived a corporate takeover of Far from Heaven, when she couldn’t even access the production’s bank account).

[Mark Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining follow-up to Shooting to Kill and am amazing auto biography of one of the most interesting and influential film producers of the past 20 years. An inspiring read for anyone who works in production and is curious how one goes from being a Set PA and AD to a major producer and creative force in the film world.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one much more anecdotal than her previous book, "Shooting To Kill," (which was more of an instructional, how-to-produce book) which made for an entertaining as well as eye-opening read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Killer Films, or would simply like to get a behind-the-scenes account of independent filmmaking.

[Armando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for those serious about filmmaking. Vachon is a legend in the indie film industry, and for good reason. This book fills in the blank of everything they didn't tell you in film school about how hard is to actually make movies.

[Vivencio · Rating 4 out of 5]

a worthy follow-up to 'shooting to kill' which should be required reading to anyone who love films. its a credit to the independent spirit vachon so ably represents that, faced with the laramie incident, she'd rather do a story about matthew sheppard's killers than matthew sheppard himself.

[Crystal Lenette Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read

For anyone interested in producing movies, they should read this book. She describes what it's like to deal with people in the industry. No matter what kinds of films you want to make, everyone can learn from her experience. I highly recommend it.

[Margaret Wappler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vachon is a super-tough broad.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her first book was so much better - this one felt like a way to make money. Too gossipy. And I went to see her speak and have a signed copy! Sadness.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who wants a serious inside on what a indie producer actually does, this is the book for you. I thought it was a facinating read and I'm really glad I just write and direct!

[Mbowness · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far so good..

[Jennifer Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of went off movies and then fell in love with them all over again after reading this. An absolute cracker by a woman who's produced some of my favourite films!

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for those pursuing the field. Experience is the best teacher, and Vachon delivers.