The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style

by Joseph Strickland, B.J. Patterson, Cat Ellington

"Entertaining…Journal entries make for a fun read...Particularly for fans of 1990s independent cinema."
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

Inspired by the feature film produced, written, and directed by Chicago filmmaker Joseph Strickland, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style is a boldly personal account of what it takes to create, produce, and direct an independent feature film in current times.

The nonfiction narrative takes the reader through the sometimes hilarious, frustrating, and bewildering film production process with the fiercely creative Strickland, along with co-authors B.J. Patterson and Cat Ellington, witnessing a fiery account of his own firsthand experiences through the menacing highs and lows of independent filmmaking in Chicago.

With a fascinating foreword by Cat Ellington, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style also features in-depth interviews with the filmmakers, detailed storyboards, behind the scenes photos, and the original motion picture screenplay.

Paperback

Published July 1, 2021

About the author

Joseph Strickland is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and author from Chicago, IL. A former film festival judge for the 32nd Chicago International Film Festival and the 14th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, Strickland also served as Chair of the Features Jury on the adult jury panel for the 15th Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style is the author’s first collaborative work of nonfiction from the Joseph Strickland™ Film Collection, co-authored with fellow writer and theater critic B.J. Patterson, and author Cat Ellington, to whom Strickland is married. The fiery narrative was inspired by Strickland’s directorial debut Dual Mania, a psychological thriller dealing with the dual persona a young possesses and attempts to conceal throughout his ongoing sessions with his therapist.

Outside of his creative work, Strickland enjoys watching Turner Classic Movies (TCM), reading, oil painting, visiting art museums, and watching the Chicago Bears.

Reviews

[LazerBlaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, I love thrillers. And man, after seeing the film trailer and all the stuff about this indie movie, I just had to buy this film book, immediately. And boy, it did not disappoint me! I loved reading the entire movie screenplay, and learning about what it really takes to make an independent movie. And I must say, I learned it takes a lot more than I ever could have imagined. I liked the interviews with the director (Joseph Strickland) and the casting director (Cat Ellington) too, because of the insights they shared on how to make a real movie. Good job, guys!

[Judith Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a leap of faith buying this book as I had not heard of this director, but the all-in-one concept intrigued me. It's a quick read, and the impact of the charisma from Joseph (the director) increased the value of the prose. A real-world glimpse of the enormous amount of strength, money and most of all willpower to get a documentary in-the-can. If you don't like swearing or humor, this book is not for you. I also enjoyed the compilation of realism, backroom discussions, interviews that intrigued me to read the screenplay along with storyboards. A genuinely fascinating and sometimes educational read!

[Eric Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book from Amazon, and I was very impressed with it. The writers and director did an exceptional job telling about how an independent movie gets made. And the screenplay to Dual Mania is phenomenal. I loved the screenplay. It's entertaining, gripping, and thrilling. Plus, it has nice storyboards, too. Overall, The Making of Dual Mania: Filmmaking Chicago Style is worth a good read. And I would recommend it to everyone who loves movies, thrillers, and the arts.

[Tim Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool film book that shows the real indie way of how filmmakers produce movies. Learned a lot but I also discovered that this author, Joseph Strickland ( who wrote, directed and produced the movie, Dual Mania ), wrote a compelling director's daily journal that offered insight into the daily grind of creating a psychological-thriller movie in the city of Chicago. Includes the original screenplay and some nice, graphic storyboard. Overall, educational, raw and funny. Highly recommended to film lovers of indie movies.

[Charlene Dobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although, I do not work in the film industry, I was curious about movies and how someone would get started in this business. I viewed the movie trailer for "Dual Mania" on Google and I wanted to know what the title meant and what was this picture about. Boy, I was in for a treat! I had no ideal how difficult to actually create a movie (especially a movie outside of the major movie studio system) and the arduous process from script to screen. The author, Joseph Strickland has a story to tell in how he first came to write, produce and direct his directorial debut which the book is based on. At times profane, passionate and bewildered, Joseph Strickland walks the reader through the creative process and the many, many pitfalls along the way. This creative book also features inside the full original screenplay as well as several behind-the-scenes photos as well as a storyboard. I would tout this book to creative people as well as those who are curious like me about the entertainment industry.

[BonStevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is not making this stuff up. I read this behind the scenes movie book, and let me just say that I didn't know how tough it was to actually make a movie, let alone an independent movie at that. The author did a helluva job in showing all of the crap he had to go through as depicted in his director journal-he not only directed the suspense/thriller, Dual Mania, which the book is based on but also wrote the script and produced it as well-and shares all trials and headaches in his struggles to create something different than the usual Hollywood fare. Funny with some salty language thrown in but overall a good learning reference for movie fans. Big plus was reading the script which was included at the end of the book. Real eye opener.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be an inspiration and profoundly instructive as Joseph Strickland shares his experience of the many challenges he and his film team encountered while directing his first feature film titled, Dual Mania. I enjoyed reading the film journal, which provided some surprising discoveries on how complex producing a motion picture truly is outside of the major studios in Hollywood. The original screenplay from the movie was an additional delight as well as some photos and cool storyboards that were created for the film. Funny, engrossing and flat out joyride, I would think that this filmmaking personal journey is a must-have book for cinema lovers and filmmakers about to dip into the swap pool of the movie business.

[Ben Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent and Raunchy. I enjoyed the movie that this book is based on, and I must truly say that it is one of a kind. I was curious how this film director created this diabolical, cutting edge psychological suspense tale and I now have a questions answered. I would recommend it to those readers who are interested in jumping into the chaotic world of movie making. But only if you believe you have some form of talent, balls of steel and a near obsession to create a movie.

[Lawrence Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great thriller and i heard about Dual Mania from a good friend, he told me to just check it out and as he said I'm hooked now on this thriller as I'm reading the book I noticed that the director used real problems with ourselves and showed us what it truly is and what made certain people to do what they do, just wow ok I love how the story is and the character's lives is within the movie, so if anyone who wants a great thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat well dual mania is the movie.