Independent Books

Christine Vachon has written an extremely accessible, entertaining book about what it means to be an independent film producer. She covers every step of the movie-making process, from finding a script to casting to hiring a crew, editing, etc. She covers the material with an engaging style and a sense of humor, and the facts are punctuated with examples and anecdotes from the movies she's produced. She's candid and unapologetic, and apparently some reviewers here have a problem with that. News flash - if you intend to make a career in the film industry, you better get used to people who yell, tight schedules, high expectations, plus low budgets if indies are your thing. If you spent any time on a film set, you would know that it is the producer's JOB to be tough, to get things in on time, and to run a tight ship. At the end of the day, it's the producer's butt that is on the line. It's just plain silly to give the book a low rating because Christine had the guts to be honest about the way things work on a film set and you wouldn't want to work with her. It's clear that some reviewers here need to get a thicker skin or find a different calling.

Christine's films have been critical success stories despite their low budgets and tight time frames - she knows what she is doing and has taken the time to write a wonderful introduction to the world of filmmaking for beginners and those of us with some experience. I highly recommend this book.

Not only is this a thorough and informative piece of work, which would make it worth twice the price all by itself, it's also an inspiration and should be read by anyone, writer, actor, producer, director, anyone.... who's ever been told you have to compromise your vision in this business to get your movie made. There are several great stories in this book but the image that keeps resonating in my head is Christine Vachon, the High Priestess of Indie Film and Soverign Protector of Infant Directors, saying to the producer's rep: "We'll talk about it" and saying to everyone else after hanging up the phone, "We're not cutting anything, we're not cutting anything." Not only did I not know there were people out there doing such things, I had begun to wonder if it was even possible. This book can make you believe again. I didn't read it. I devoured it.

Somewhere between the world of independant movies and studio pictures reside a group of people who've bounced between both worlds and have taken up residence in the void. The author is one of those people. This book isn't very informative for the ultra low budget producer but a good read nonetheless. Although at times it wanders aimlessly while the reader tries to figure out which of the half-dozen guys named "Todd" she's talking about now. I'd recommend this book to people with budgets in the neighborhood of 100,000 to 5 million. I wouldn't call it a very good resource for locating financing.

If you want to know more about what it's like to produce, rather than HOW to produce...this is the book. Vachon takes you through her life, and I've learned more about producing just from reading about one of her days. She's honest, doesn't preach much, doesn't give very many golden rules (since we all make our own), and tells you how it really is. If your tired of reading books on forms and paperwork, negotiating and contacts, and are just plain interested in what it's like to be IN IT, buy the book. It's so worth it.

Having just directed a low-budget feature in Hollywood, I wish I had read this book beforehand (and I certainly wish my producer had read it). Vachon breaks down the process, making it understandable to even the most novice film fan. The writing is gutsy, the tales from the trenches always interesting. One of the must-reads if you're at all interested in making movies.

I found this book to be one of the most helpful I've ordered in the course of three years of personal research and work with my son. I knew that the school my son attends was using picture schedules, but I had not been able to fully understand the theory and practice of this.

While producing and using a picture schedule can take a great deal of time--training for independence is quite challenging--the book establishes the theory of the practice in plain language. This is definitely a must read for parents and care-givers, including volunteers in church or community child-care or respite programs.

In addition to clear explanation of the theory and use of picture schedules, the images included work to sharpen the concepts--also a plus for those of us are more visually inclined. The tips for starting small and working up, as well as tips for using picture schedules of varying levels of sophistication are also priceless.

I'm using this with some of my other (read neuro-typical) children, and it works beautifully with them, as well. Like signing with your baby, this is a great step in establishing routines and independence in little ones, and even older children.

This book is a must have for anyone wishing to implement an activity schedule. This book was required reading for a teaching children with autism course at UMASS. Not only is it extremely informative, guiding the reader through each detail designing the schedule and implementing the schedule, it is also an easy, quick read that I refer back to often. Additionally, the authors are well published in scientific journals. Great resource for parents, teachers, and professionals.

A great book for teaching life skills to children with autism. Useful for the young and old child, the new and experienced teacher. Very detailed and helpful book.

The goal of raising any child is to guide them into independance, and though many autistic children will never reach complete independance, it remains an important goal. Independance is an important factor in self-esteem and is essential for entering any portion of adult life. I was consistantly frustrated with therapy manuals which required my complete and undivided attention at all times. I'm under no delusion that I will be forever available to my autistic son, and it would be nice for me to feel that he could get up and at least dress himself at some point without my verbally prompting him.

The clear instructions and logical directives in "Activity Schedules for Children with Autism" place it on my 'highly recommended' list. While not a book I would recommend for a parent whose child has been newly diagnosed, I certainly recommend it to those parents with other therapeutic programs already in place. The activity schedules are very easily integrated into existing therapies and school environments, greatly boosting their success. I've also implimented an advanced version of activity schedules, verbally explained, with my five-year-old typical daughter - as a result the morning 'dilly-dallies' and afternoon 'hum-drums' have all but disappeared.

I would recommend that existing image programs be used whenever possible, only to cut down on the time it takes to prepare the schedules. I use Flash! Pro2, which can be found online, though there are many other graphic programs that could be used as well. (As a webmaster I've found that many of the 'web-ready' image collections contained pictures that were appropriate for this program as well as ABA and DTT programs.)

All-in-all, excellent book, flexible program, expertly explained.

This book is necessary for anybody looking to implement or improve an already existing activity schedule. Although McClannahan and Krantz are experts in the field of behavior analysis, they wrote the books so that you don't have to be a near genius I.Q to understand it. The book is perfect for parents and teachers as well as students studying behavior analysis or special education teachers interested in working with autistic children. The first chapter is dedicated to discussing what an activity schedule is and how your child or student will benefit. The subsequent chapter delves into the pre-requisite skills the child will need prior to beginning. The authors explain each pre-requisite skill, why it is necessary and provide examples of each skill. The next few chapters discuss how to implement the activity schedule as well as how to measure progress. They really left nothing out. Toward the end of the book, they explained what to do when the activity schedule is mastered and provided a great deal of detail on the dos and don'ts. It is clear, that the McClannahan and Krantz really want readers to be successful at creating and teaching activity schedules. They have also co-authored Teaching Conversation to Children with Autism, which is also worth checking out. My hats off to them on such an awesome educational easy to read and understand how to book.

Kreeft makes philosophy accessible to those without a university education. His "Refutation of Moral Relativism" and "Socrates Meets Jesus" are both written in a similar style: a Socratic dialog between two people. In this book, the dialogs are between the real Socrates and students at Desperate State University. Kreeft explores issues related to belief in God, success, and the value of money.

When I taught 7th grade History, Literature and Theology, we used this book as a warm-up for critical thinking. I lament those that read this book without truly feeling its impact. I don't want to get carried away, but this book has the ability to change lives.

After reading Best Things in Life and Plato's The Death of Socrates, my class began to question everything. They took a long hard look at what messages they were receiving from MTV, the newspapers, even their own parents. It was as if they were peering behind the wizard's curtain for the first time. Many of them come from upper middle class homes and were under the assumption that they were going to a private school in order to go to a good college, in order to get a good job, in order to make good money, in order to live a good life. While there is nothing wrong with wanting these things, it is pure folly to think that they hold the key to fulfillment. We wonder why so many successful executives are committing suicide, hiring therapists and suffering from most of the same ills as the rest of us. Because they have been sold a bill of goods that doesn't fulfill.

Kreeft's dialogues on success, music, drugs and other relevant topics send the reader to a place few people really ever visit - the mirror. It is there that we have to gaze upon our own motives and begin to question with candor and courage why we do the crazy things we do.
I recommend this book mostly for young people who refuse to live lives of mediocrity. Also, parents of teenagers would do well to read it in order to challenge their teens to pursue that which is worth pursuing.

Peter Kreeft is known for writing in the dialectic style. Though Kreeft is famous for using this style, he does not pull it off in this book as well as he does in some of his other books. This book is written as a dialogue or series of dialogues between Socrates and two University students. `Peter Pragma' and `Felicia Flake' both of whom have 6 discussions with Socrates on different subjects.

That is just the beginning; the names are all puns in the book, as we have seen from our two main protagonists(Peter and Felicia). The puns continue through all the professors and personalities encountered. The president of Desperate State University is "Fudge Factor" and is as inept as his name implies. We also meet "Marigold Measurer", the scientist who is addicted to data but without really understanding its purpose or use. Felicia has some mentors in her life - "Pop Syke" who is the guru of pop psychology, and "Karl", the communist who is brother to "Adam", the Capitalist.

Having read a number of Kreeft's other books, this one was a bit of a letdown. The puns with the names got to be so trying and tiring that it was hard to finish the book. The same information could have been conveyed in conventional prose, with half the words. The dialogue grew boring and irritating. I just wanted the meat from this book and had to go through a lot of bone and grist to get to it.

The book has a lot to offer in the examination of why someone does what he does, and to help one live a more examined life. But the book often does it in a very long, roundabout way.

I never like to give a book a bad review, and often go back and read a book a second time before I will do so. This book, though hard to get through the first time, was more than worth it the second time. It teaches you the basics of philosophy, the Socratic method, as well as the Oxford method, for having an argument or discussion.

Much like some of his other writings - for example, Between Heaven and Hell and Making Sense out of Suffering - this book is one I will return to and re-read many times during my lifetime. So even if it seems cheesy and trite at first, I encourage you to persevere. It will be well worth the effort.

In this book Peter Kreeft uses a line from some of his previous books, having Socrates interact with modern characters. This time socrates finds himself in a university setting, and in his dialogues with two university students he examines many topics including sex, money, music, and ultimately objective truth.
The only drawback to this book is that at times Socrates serves only as a poor veil for the author's own beliefs. However for the most part the book is well written. In particular I found his discussion on objective values to be well written and insightful.

As an aside, let me just say that reading the book recalled fond memories of my college and graduate school years, and even reminded me of some people I knew.
The premise of the book is contained in its title: What are "the best things in life?" The modern mind is exposed as one that is so introspective that it is oblivious to the workings of logic, reason, and basic self-understanding. Thus an irony is exposed, namely the inclination toward the self-delusional of the "me" generations.
Socrates' famous dictum: "the unexamined life isn't worth living," is the central tenet of the book. Two people closely evaluate their lives and realize that everything may not be as it seems.
The hopeful effect this will have on a reader is for he or she to turn and examine his or her own life. The book makes some interesting points, and is a "lighter" read than some of Kreeft's theological and philosophical treatises.
All in all, I like the book.

How do you get started on the subject of the birds and bees? It seems all you need is for someone to shove you through the door (with your fingernails leaving ruts in the door way!). The book opens the door gently for you and your kid. The 3rd chapter covers all the physiology and does it so easily. The rest of the book surprised me with the emotional and mental changes. My daughter has requested I read the rest of the book aloud to her. I read it first and wished I had had this book as a kid. Dobson says that about 85% of pre-adolescent kids willing and desiring to talk to the parents close down communication after the onset of puberty. Do the right thing for your kids before it's too late.

This product was bought for our oldest, the first to reach this age. It was all we hoped it would be and was a great jumping off point for a conversation that we were a bit unsure of how to start. It was very well received and we intend to use it with the next four or more if God continues to bless us. This was a very tastefully done approach to a very tender subject. And it leaves just the right amount of room open to add or not add more if the child is ready. This was just what we were looking for.

We used the Preparing for Adolescence book for our Disciple Now with 5th and 6th graders. We went through this book over the weekend. The social issues that we discussed are appropriate for students. The author writes at a level that students can understand.

We will use this again for sure.

What parent is prepared for the roller coaster ride of adolescence when their first child starts "growing up"? I thought I wouldn't have to think about it until my child was 13! Ha! The moodiness has already started -- at 10!

I enjoyed this book by Dr. Dobson, a well known & trusted author. The book helps the parent see this phase from the child's perspective and is written in a style the child can relate to. It assists them in trying to make sense of it all. It offers the child a preview of what to expect as radical physical and emotional changes begin and suggestions of how to handle them with practical common sense and their faith. The section addressing the "facts of life" is respectful, frank and thorough, but only offers age appropriate "details". It is appropriate enough for a 10 year old.

The book cover-to-cover may not keep the attention of a 10-12 year old who is accustomed to reading "action" type books, but if they are searching for answers, it's all there. Whether you buy the book for guidance as a parent, for your child to read, or as a tool to open up discussion on these topics, it is a worthwhile purchase.

I listened to this entire CD series with my son on a road trip to the Michigan Dunes. All I can say is that I wish that I heard this material when I was 13. Growing up is tough and Dobson handles sensitive topics like, deep insecurities, lack of identity, sexuality, emotions and conformance with the wisdom and experience of a clinical child psychologist who could also be your father sitting down with you at the kitchen table. Thanks Dr. Dobson!! My son loved it!!

This book is scary. The author goes through many case studies and examples of the horrible things we're allowing to happen in our communities --- all in the name of promised "economic growth". I think every city planner should read this book. Anyone interested in saving what's left of our communities should read it. Even if you are skeptical of the author's conclusions, the copious bibliography can point you to the sources of her information and many other articles on the subject.

She sometimes repeats stories in different chapters, which can be annoying. However, I enjoyed reading the book because each time I had a questions, the author would answer it in subsequent paragraphs or chapters.

My copy of this book will be passed around to everyone that I can get to read it.

An absolutely necessity, especially for people living in areas where a new "big box" is being considered.

The intricate financial benefits to the corporation are absolutely staggering.

Everyone loves a bargain, and American consumers seem particularly fond of the bargain-priced imported products available at big-box retailers.

Shopping at big-box retailers for the lowest prices may sometimes save us a bundle, but are there hidden costs? The author makes a convincing case that there are. She explains that by shopping at the big boxes, we are hurting our economy by diverting our dollars from locally-owned businesses to far-away head offices and foreign nations. But, you might ask, if those foreign nations don't in turn buy our goods, what will they buy instead? Will they buy our banks, our communications media, and perhaps our politicians as well? As their influence over our daily lives increases, will they support our democratic traditions?

According to the author, politicians need to stop favoring big-box retailers with unfair subsidies. And they need to stop requiring locally-owned business to foot the tax bill - even as they are forced out of existence. This practice is defeating the kind of small-business entrepreneurial spirit that has long been a pillar of our society. It is also destroying better-paying jobs, while increasing minimum wage employment.

Only concerted public pressure will prompt politicians to enact new laws that will level the playing field, giving small businesses a fighting chance at survival. But in the battle to win hearts and minds of politicians and the public, large corporations have an overwhelming advantage, with their deep pockets, public relations skill, and superior organization.

To be fair, the author should mention that some local retailers could be more competitive - by staying open for evening shopping, and by offering the kind of broad selection and one-stop shopping convenience that many consumers crave, for example.

Thankfully, this book does offer some hope, making plenty of suggestions about how small businesses can compete more effectively.

Regardless of which side of the debate you are on, this book will open your eyes. It is carefully researched, skillfully written, and absolutely fascinating. It will likely arouse your anger. And it may even change the way you shop.

Paul Francis Musgrave, author of Indispensable Marketing Strategies - How to Outwit Your Competition, Attract and Retain Customers, and Multiply Your Profits - Marketing Strategy Secrets for Profitable Small Business Management

This book should be required reading for all elected officials....especially those in city and county government. Mitchell backs up her findings with documented studies. A fascinating look at just how manipulated we are as consumers....and we allow it to happen!

There's one sure-fire way to tell if you'll like this book. If you just love shopping, buying, roaming around, reacting to the price-tags in mamouth-sized stores ... then you'll hate Stacy Mitchell's work. She doesn't have much to say about the big-box stores that's flattering, so you may immediately get defensive if not offended about the way she reveals the "inside baseball" on how the corporate structures of these stores go about their business.

-But going the complimentary route isn't her direction. Author Mitchell takes the mega-retailers to the mat and delivers a carefully thought-out knockout punch to the notion that The Big Box Stores exist for other than their own mega-huge profits. She's put together tough details about the operation of these mammoth stores ... the Walmarts, Targets, Best-Buys, Borders, Walgreen's, Albertson's, among many others ... and tells how and why they control shoppers, communities and local governments. Our eyes bug wide open ... as she explains how the big-box stores' steady growth is not about top-flight business practices or high-quality customer-service in a free marketplace. They get bigger and bigger, Mitchell claims, pretty much because they're already big. -And they all expect to get even larger, stronger and will exert expanded control over consumers, manufacturers, employees, governments, environments.

For instance, Mitchell says, Big-Boxers regularly take over small town business districts and even encroach on established, well-run big-city small businesses. Their local buildup is most always sanctioned by local governments through, among other things, giant tax breaks to these massive companies. -And in the process, they ruin small businesses, eliminate jobs, trample on the environment, and destroy many a long and happy career.

Four stars for this absorbing read (maybe 4½)... but could be five were it not for too often getting bogged down in more retail-detail than we ever want/need to know about. The on-and-on descriptions of operations of the giant stores (in part one) and of the local citizenry who are fighting (in part two) the take-overs and expansions are sometimes enough to make a reader's focus drift and eyes wander.

-But, what's not to like about a book that tries to objectively reveal the retail smoke and mirrors that's going on all around us...and the behind-the-scenes action of local citizens trying to put a stop to the bigger-n-bigger-big-box frenzy? There are few reasons not to appreciate this incredibly informative book about the sometimes-daft shopping culture we live in ... unless, of course, you're interested in nothing more than scouting out the latest big-box "New Low Price."

I didn't buy this book, but got it in one of microsoft press' books' cd I've bought. I think it is the 70-350 training kit book.
This guide, which I have only in pdf, is a very useful guide to network admnistrators, devepers and designers. It gives you the exactly information you need about any network protocols, technologies and systems in a short look up.
It's not a networking course, it's a consultant guide. If you don't know about what networking is and how networks work, don't purchase this item, instead, try buying another book. However, if you are a network professional, order it now, because it's helpful when you are learning something new and need explanation about any network protocol. For instance, you are trying to implement VPN in your environment and, suddenly face with the L2TP word. You go to the M.S. ENC. NETWORKING and look for L2TP. The book will show you a clear understandable explanation of how L2TP works and where to find it.
I hope to have helped you.

I love books like this! This guide has every network reference you can think of. If you are any kind of network administrator, you'll want a complete reference on your desk. When you were in school, you'd have to grab Webster's daily to complete projects or double-check your own work. Well...now that you've graduated into the Geek world, you need your own Geekified Webster's. I use this reference daily to look up terms I've always talked about, but not quite understood completely. And, believe it or not (OK, I'm a Geek, too), I'll sit in bed and just browse the text from time-to-time, picking up something new every time I crack the book.

If you're looking for information on network types, architectures, hardware, technologies, protocols, concepts, tools, services and/or software, you have to run right out and purchase this book.

This is probably the most comprehensive book on the market today that covers the A-Z of Microsoft networking. This book is a great addition to any technical school library or any administrator's bookshelf. Would-be MCSE's will greatly benefit from this book.

Not only is it easy to navigate, filled with diagrams, tables and great screenshots, each entry in the encyclopedia has an abundance of easy to read in-depth technical information as well as references to other relevant entries.

I particularly appreciate the CD-ROM that I can take with me when I travel and search when I'm in a hurry.

Not only are networking terms covered in this book, but hardware, platforms, standards, disaster recovery components and essentially every reference you will ever need for the industry has been documented and alphabetically sorted in this book. One of the things that impressed me the most about this book is that the descriptions are not Webster-like. In fact if you look up "shared folder permissions" you will find 3 pages and six diagrams that provide not only a definition, but a practical guide for application as well. For example; what permissions are more restrictive, how the permission changes are applied for several different operating systems ranging from Windows 98 and ME to Windows XP and .NET Server, default permissions, application of permissions to groups and even the implications of an NTFS partition.

The part that earned my respect as a seasoned consultant was the inclusion of wireless networking terms and standards. Recently, I have been involved in several writing projects and need to know a little about everything in order to provide my readers with peripheral information about a particular subject. Not only was I able to find information on the 802.11 standard, but the Tullocks' also included information on the variants including the 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.15 standards. In fact, there are nearly twenty pages of wireless protocol and support information. In addition, subjects such as Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) is covered and explained as is frequency hopping and spread spectrum. I certainly did not plan on finding those examples, diagrams and explanations. I found the same level of detail when I needed to search for information on public key cryptography. A detailed description of the different types of keys is provided as is the components that make up the environment and cross-references to certificate authorities, encryption, SSL and digital certificates including X.509 information. There is enough information on PKI that any reader could not only understand but know enough to be able to identify components and talk intelligently on the subject.

Another important aspect of networking that I did not expect to see is the networking commands and tools. For example, all the TCP/IP commands such as tracert, ping, route, rcp, rexec and tftp are defined and explained. UNIX commands are also defined and explained as are Windows 2000, XP and .NET Server commands. Detailed NET commands for Windows networking are also described and explained from NET ACCOUNTS to NET VIEW. For the most part, the commands that received the most attention in this book are Microsoft networking related, but considerable energy was spent in defining and explaining commands from other networking operating systems including UNIX. In addition, information about Apache and Linux is included as are many pages on NetWare and NDS subjects.

Aside from the many topics that I did not expect to see in the book, the topics that should be included in a networking encyclopedia are all there and in great detail. Just about every hardware element from cables and how to build a cross-over cable to fiber-optic, fibre channel, hubs switches and even routing protocols are covered and explained so that the reader can quickly see the benefits and drawbacks of each technology. It would almost seem that an entire section was dedicated to subnetting as page after page is used to explain and detail how and why subnetting is used and implemented. Many tables are provided to explain the relation between the mask and the number of subnets and hosts. The novice should immediately understand the implications of subnetting while the die-hards will refer to the section as a reference.

I must admit some degree of skepticism when I heard about this book. There are already so many good network reference books on the market why would I be interested in one from Microsoft? It's surely going to be biased right?

However, Mitch Tulloch is a respected contributor to the myITforum.com web-site, so, casting caution to the wind, I dove in.

What I discovered is a reference book that is very different than the others gathering dust on my shelf. The language is clear and concise. The graphs are superb. It is well organized. Moreover it it's actually a delight - no, FUN - to read!

While there is a slight Microsoft "bent" to the content it is only to answer the reader's question in a practical way if they are engaged in Microsoft Networking. For example it will define "grep", give you a UNIX example and then explain how to layer in and use grep in a Windows NT/2000/.NET setting.

I have shown this book to my colleagues at work and they are equally impressed with it. It's a "keeper"!

You may have other computer reference books but I would rate this book as one of the few "gotta haves".

Mary Ellen Bates has created a very well-written, informative work that covers all of the salient aspects of starting one's own information services business - including those that someone looking into the field would never even think to ask about. Ms. Bates' writing style has a personal feel that is at the same time very professional. Her personality as a no-nonsense, savvy, and yet friendly information services professional comes across on every page.

The book really covers two important but somewhat distinct skill sets: how to start and run a successful business and how to be a successful information services professional. Ms. Bates' apt writing style weaves these two elements together quite seamlessly.

I suggest reading "Building & Running a Successful Research Business" cover to cover before spending your time reading any one of the more generic books available on the topics of how to find information online or how to conduct research. Once you have covered all of the bases with Ms. Bates' work, it would then be prudent to pick up some of these other works to dive more deeply into the areas where you need additional support.

Mary Ellen Bates is an internationally-known presenter on business information and research topics, however in this book she talks not about where to find information, but about how to build a business doing just that. The book is practical, inspiration, and actionable, but also makes it clear that the life of an information entrepreneur is not for everyone. A great resource for those considering this career path, or those already in it who need a bit of professional, albeit friendly, coaching.

There are a variety of approaches to starting a Research Business, and this book simply does little justice to providing business-smart content for doing just that. If you want to embark into a research business on your own, this might give you a vision but it will certainly not give you the business smarts you need to really start and manage your new business. Best to look into resources on starting a consulting business and other resources about starting any business.

Best of luck.

- Dissapointed

I bought this book hoping for tips on research, and I got what I wanted. I was also impressed by how this book was organized. It contains a LOT of information, and it seems to me that this information is all relevant and useful. If finding information and doing research is part of your career, this would be a good book to have. I'd also recommend it for people who are likely to hire information professionals.

So many "how to" books are filled with airy reiterations of the obvious or catchy but useless "10 Ways to..." Build and Running a Successful Research Business, on the other hand, is dense, useful, funny, insightful, honest and inspirational. A true page-turner in a genre that so rarely sees this caliber of writing or thought.

While some of the material is fiction, he has in fact got an overall grasp on much of the culture of the USMS. I know because I have been there/done that.

Deadly Force was a great book. It takes you through what a United States Marshal goes through everyday. You get to read about the stakeouts, arrests, raids, etc. It is a good book if you are looking for something a little suspenseful and fun to read.

But it's not. Fascinating look at the system's hunters. The only drawback is that the author sometimes leads you to action, only to cut away and never fully answers your questions. A good read.

After a promising start this book gets boring and confusing fast. Every chapter you have to figure out where you are, what year it is and who is in the scene. The reference at the beginning of each chapter is helpful but with the constant jumping around there is no continuity and you get lost too easily. If you can get past the first 3/4 of the book the last 1/4 is fairly good.

Carsten Stroud has never been a historian or a documentarian, but he admits this. His objective is to capture the sights and sounds of an area, event, profession. His writing style is very dramatic but readable. There is nothing melodramatic or corny about his works. Somehow he always manages to hit the nail on the head. The reader is left thinking, "Yeah, that's right. That's what it's like." or, "Damm that's the truth. That's why I'm a cop or a soldier". So to use the overworked phrase - Stroud's books are very truthful. Deadly Force takes you into not only the world of the Marshals, but the world of the fugitive. And the end result is that you're glad those fellas are out there doing the job. I recommend all of Stroud's books. Deadly Force isn't his best work, but it's still right up there.He lacks Clancey's verbosity which I find to be a relief. It keeps your attention and it has some very suspenseful moments. Some nice attention to details as well, though there are some technical errors I found them to be forgiveable. Good book. Give it a chance.

I try to read only filmmaking books that actually have real world advice and this one does. Simple, to the point and still very interesting. A great read that lays out the nuts and bolts of the best way to approach the low budget filmmaking world. Inspiring as well!

Just when you think it can't be done, John Gaspard comes along and proves you wrong. All of us scared, penniless, aspiring filmmakers can take comfort in the knowledge that all those household names who came before us started out scared and penniless too. With a breezy, unpretentious style, Gaspard introduces us to an array of shoestring auteurs recounting their experiences on the fringes of Hollywood. It's like an all-night gab fest hosted by your favorite college professor.

How low-budget can you go?

Pretty low, or so you'll discover in FAST CHEAP & UNDER CONTROL. You'll also learn how some very good films were made on a shoestring. For everyone who wants to make art without breaking the bank, John Gasper's book is worth every penny.

All film makers have eyes that are bigger than their budgets. That's OK for Spielberg and Scorcese, but Credit Card Filmmakers need this guide to rein in their appetites and make films that don't run away from them.
This simple and sensible book injects reality into the process and helps any filmmaker prevent their film from becoming a money pit. Lessons like those in this book are cheap at ten times the price.

John Gaspard's FAST CHEAP & UNDER CONTROL tells how to stretch production dollars, handle tight budget constraints, and get the most from personnel and props to create a memorable film production. Lessons from low-budget mavericks serve as foundations for duplicating success, with descriptions covering everything from dealing with written scripts and hidden improvisation potentials to previewing results and achieving memorable films even when poor. An outstanding recommendation and a 'must' for any serious film library holding, promising lasting lending value.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Infused with real-world examples and humor and just a little Hollywood edge, Campisi takes you through (from a to z) how to prepare a business plan for investors that even a film-world neophyte can understand and learn from. It's not easy to have your pie-in-the-sky ideas shot down, if you were thinking in vague terms of what a business plan should be. But over and over enthusiasm for the indie newbee and a you-can-do-this attitude make rolling up your sleeves to do the hard work you need to do to wade into the choppy waters film finance, not as hard as you think. I'm using it like a bible right now,as I step into those choppy waters myself and need to catch that Campisi life-preserver he throws into the current now and then. Watery metaphors aside, I highly recommend this book. Besides the appendix rocks with a distilation of the book into a business plan - its worth it to work your way through the book, just for the appendix.

The first thing you notice when you read Mr. Campisi's book is how well written it is. As a writer myself that means I will inherently respect this author and truly absorb what I am reading. Now, I must be honest, this is the kind of book that has always intimidated me, that I tend to shy away from - for I'm not exactly what one would call a natural with regard to matters of finance (as is my screenwriting partner who 'gets' this stuff quite easily). So it was rather pleasing to read this book and actually comprehend what Mr. Campisi was saying. He informs the reader without being condescending. He instructs without being pedantic. The second thing you notice is the warmth and humor: the book is actually fun to read. The cold, complex and harsh worlds of finance and Hollywood are anything but inviting and amusing yet Mr. Campisi manages to embroider his sage advice and interviews with charm and an eloquence that confidantly invites the reader in and says, "Hey, learn from me... I went through this too, you can do this... if you want... if you work hard... IF you are willing to take the time to learn and dispense with the pretense and attitude that will surely drive investors away." My writing partner and I recently decided we wish to produce our first project. We might not have made that choice to produce ourselves were it not for becoming familiar with this well-organized, smartly written book and its knowledgeable author. This is recommended reading for any first time indie film producer who dares to dream, who dares to ponder swimming in those frigid, uncharted waters of the industry. Don't be afraid to jump in - this book is a terrific vessel to get you ashore. The Sample Indie Business Plan alone is worth the money.

Gabe's book "The Independent filmmaker's Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors" is a must for any indie film company. While many books exist on the subject, Gabe's is able to package complex information into an easily digestible format for all readers. The book understands the changes taking place in the film industry.
Anyone not using this book will have to work harder to find the critical information needed to be a success is this competitive industry.

Dennis Baker
Mindsplinters Films

I was extremely disappointed in this book. It told me nothing I didn't already know and nothing that isn't available in numerous other books of the same subject matter. Considering the nearly $ 40 price, I thought I was getting a definitive book on the subject matter and I would hardly call it that. Oh but the cover is beautiful. Smart marketing.

This book has two sections: the first outlines the requirements of a business plan, and the second is a sample business plan, with the intention that you copy it and fill in the blanks.

The first section is very helpful in giving you an overview of what is expected in a business plan, and why. Most crucially, it gets you thinking about your investor and what they are looking for from the deal. Many projects that reach the business-plan stage fail because they to not acknowledge the business element of filmmaking, but focus on the artistic merits of the project. In reading the first section, you'll gain a good understanding of the steps to present your project to an investor. A slight weakness of this is the presumption that you'll have an army of entertainment lawyers to complete the funding process. This is advisable, but not always the case.

The second section, however, is where the book falls short. Reading through the business plan, it is laborious in its repetition - while there is a need to restate some facts or intentions, this plan goes overboard. It is also quite poorly structured: for example, half the plan is an overview of the filmmaking process that assumes your investor knows nothing about film. This information should be in an appendix - an investor should not have to wade through 20 pages of this before reaching the numbers and projections they're really interested in.

In summary, this is a good guide to the realities of presenting your project to investors, but it doesn't deliver as well on that promise as it could. Still a worthwhile read and a useful addition to any low- to mid-level filmmaker's bookshelf.