The Reel Truth : Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film

Did you know that most of the biggest indie filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers working today each made the same avoidable mistakes early on in their careers? __The Reel Truth__ details the pitfalls, snares, and roadblocks that aspiring filmmakers encounter. Reed Martin interviewed more than one hundred luminaries from the independent film world to discuss the near misses that almost derailed their first and second films and identify the close shaves that could have cut their careers short. Other books may tell you the best way to make your independent film or online short, but no other book describes so candidly how to spot and avoid such issues and obstacles as equipment problems, shooting-day snafus, postproduction myths, theatrical distribution deal breakers, and dozens of other commonly made missteps, including the top fifty mistakes every filmmaker makes. From personal experience and his years as a freelance reporter covering independent film for __USA Today__ and __Filmmaker__ magazine, Martin uncovers the truth about the risks and potential rewards that go with chasing celluloid glory. Whether you're writing a screenplay, looking for financing, about to start shooting, or thinking about investing time and money (or someone else's money) in an independent film, __The Reel Truth__ is a must-read. Publisher: Did You Know That Most Of The Biggest Indie Filmmakers, Screenwriters, And Producers Working Today Each Made The Same Avoidable Mistakes Early On In Their Careers? The Reel Truth Details The Pitfalls, Snares, And Roadblocks That Aspiring Filmmakers Encounter. Reed Martin Interviewed More Than One Hundred Luminaries From The Independent Film World To Discuss The Near Misses That Almost Derailed Their First And Second Films And Identify The Close Shaves That Could Have Cut Their Careers Short. Other Books May Tell You The Best Way To Make Your Independent Film Or Online Short, But No Other Book Describes So Candidly How To Spot And Avoid Such Issues And Obstacles As Equipment Problems, Shooting-day Snafus, Postproduction Myths, Theatrical Distribution Deal Breakers, And Dozens Of Other Commonly Made Missteps, Including The Top Fifty Mistakes Every Filmmaker Makes. From Personal Experience And His Years As A Freelance Reporter Covering Independent Film For Usa Today And Filmmaker Magazine, Martin Uncovers The Truth About The Risks And Potential Rewards That Go With Chasing Celluloid Glory. Whether You're Writing A Screenplay, Looking For Financing, About To Start Shooting, Or Thinking About Investing Time And Money (or Someone Else's Money) In An Independent Film, The Reel Truth Is A Must-read. Introduction -- 1: Many Famous Directors Struggled Famously -- 2: Writing Mba-style Business Plans Or Not -- 3: First You Get The Money: Financing Woes -- 4: Seeking Legal Advice: Cheaper Than Your Life -- 5: Casting Up And Cashing In: Landing Big Names -- 6: Nightmare Of Story And Screenplay Theft -- 7: Phones Off! Common Production-day Mistakes -- 8: That Music In Your Head Is Too Expensive -- 9: Guess What? It Can't Be Fixed In Post -- 10: Your New Best Friend: The Producer Rep! -- 11: All Or Nothing: Distribution Deal Breakers -- 12: Getting Your Film Seen: Smarter Marketing -- 13: What's Next? Career Strategies For Making It -- 14: Documentary: Following In Herzog's Footsteps -- 15: Out Of The Theater: Bittorrent, Netflix, And Amazon -- Appendix 1: Independent-film Budgets -- Appendix 2: Sample Formal Agent/screenwriter Representation Contract -- Acknowledgements -- Index. Reed Martin. Includes Index.

Did you know that most of the biggest indie filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers working today each made the same avoidable mistakes early on in their careers?

The Reel Truth details the pitfalls, snares, and roadblocks that aspiring filmmakers encounter. Reed Martin interviewed more than one hundred luminaries from the independent film world to discuss the near misses that almost derailed their first and second films and identify the close shaves that could have cut their careers short. Other books may tell you the best way to make your independent film or online short, but no other book describes so candidly how to spot and avoid such issues and obstacles as equipment problems, shooting-day snafus, postproduction myths, theatrical distribution deal breakers, and dozens of other commonly made missteps, including the top fifty mistakes every filmmaker makes.

From personal experience and his years as a freelance reporter covering independent film for USA Today and Filmmaker magazine, Martin uncovers the truth about the risks and potential rewards that go with chasing celluloid glory. Whether you're writing a screenplay, looking for financing, about to start shooting, or thinking about investing time and money (or someone else's money) in an independent film, The Reel Truth is a must-read.

Many famous directors struggled famously Writing MBA-style business plans or not First you get the money : financing woes Seeking legal advice : cheaper than your life Casting up and cashing in : landing big names The nightmare of story and screenplay theft Phones off! Common production day mistakes That music in your head is too expensive Guess what? It can't be fixed in post Your new best friend : the producer rep! All or nothing : distribution deal breakers Getting you film seen : smarter marketing What's next? Career strategies for making it Documentary : following in Herzog's footsteps Out of the theater : BitTorrent, Netflix, and Amazon Appendix I : Independent film budgets Appendix II : Sample formal agent/screenwriter representation contract