In this comprehensive guidebook, three experienced entertainment lawyers tell you everything you need to know to produce and market an independent film—from the development process to deal making, financing, setting up the production, hiring directors and actors, securing location rights, acquiring music, calculating profits, digital moving making, distribution, and marketing your movie. This all-new second edition has been completed updated.
In which three lawyers tell you most of what you need to know about producing independent films. (Alas, they don't tell you enough that you can safely do without lawyers...)
It's best to read this book, thoroughly, long before you go into production. Make notes on the various issues that are likely to affect your particular project. Then, as these issues start to come up in preproduction, pull out the book again and go over the relevant sections in detail. You'll probably save yourself a world of trouble that way, and the book will pay for itself a thousandfold.
The section on digital filmmaking is of course already seriously out of date, but that was unavoidable.
The writing is nothing to speak of: generally clear and concise, only occasionally lapsing into lawyer-speak. You won't remember this book for the prose, but that's not the point. And once you start copying one of the many sample documents provided, you'll be immensely glad you bought this.
Very thorough reference on all the myriad issues film producers have to shepherd, anticipate, execute, etc. So thorough, in fact, it nearly makes one think 'why bother?' making movies?
There is a quote on the cover from the director and CEO of AFI, Jean Picker Firstenberg. 'This is the true bible for all aspiring-and active-independent producers.'...Yep.