Independents Books

The book itself was a winner - a gift for my husband. He "devoured" it. The only disappointment was how cheaply and poorly-bound the paperback was. Even with extreme care, it fell apart within the first 70 pages. The replacement nearly made it to the end, but not quite. Buy and read this book, but go for a better-bound version unless you like handling it in pieces.

Author David McCullough gives us an in-depth look into the life of President Truman. He shows how he evolved from a simple farmer to become the President of the United States. McCullough pulls no punches in his biography, and yet, Mr. Truman comes through as a simple man who rose to the challenge of becoming a true statesman and world leader. A Very compelling read.

This is one of those rare biographies which pulls you in from the beginning and never lets go. It is an excellent look at one of the truly under-appreciated presidents. Truman was an amazing man and an incredible public servant. The sense of history that this biography brings makes it a must-read for anyone interested in American history and/or American politics.

An absolutely fantastic biography. McCullough not only gives us an incredibly in-depth account of Truman's role in such momentous events as the decision to drop the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Potsdam Conference (Truman's only face-to-face meeting with Stalin or Uncle Joe as he called him), the Truman Doctrine, The Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, the firing of General MacArthur and so on, but he also succeeds wonderfully in injecting joviality into this rather thick tome through his unsurpassed ability to recount the human side of Truman, the quirkiness, the common trials and errors of a human being and the like.

I am not an American, but I always tell my friends that if I were Truman would be my favorite president. This book only serves to reinforce my view. Overall, one of the best biographies I've read. If I ever became famous one day, I'd really love someone of McCullough's caliber to write my biography. Highly recommended.

I have read most of McCullough's books, and so I knew that after reading this I would understand Harry S. Truman more deeply than I ever had. What I didn't know what was that I would learn so much about 20th century American history. McCullough is a great story-teller. His use of historical details to recreate the man and the times is magnificent. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Even if you have already been through all the stages of filmmaking yourself, this book is an inspiring battle cry for the TRUE indie filmmaker. It also made me laugh out loud several times. I happened to be on the NYC subway when this happened and it made some of my fellow passengers scared of me. What other book about filmmaking can do that?

I rarely laugh when reading books, even when its really funny.
Reading this book though, I was constently cracking up.
The advice is ACTUALLY usefull, it tells the good and bad of film making.
Im keeping this short and simple, so to sum up. This is a truely awesome book.

I don't think I read through 300+ pages so fast in my life. It's incredibly informative on making your own flick from conception to distribution and it is one of the easiest reads I've had. Its also funny as hell, filled with that Kaufman wit.

If you liked Rebel Without a Crew, you'll love this one.

If you're a Troma fan pick it up. If you want to make movies pick it up. If you want a look into the life of a man with an extremely interesting story pick it up.

This is a book I will be returning to both for reference and enjoyment.

I bought this book hoping to have a fun read about making movies and this persons experience. Sadly, what I got was a book load of expletives and degrading ideas of what to throw into a scene them film it. I take away three stars for the no effort put in to not writing a fun book that many can read. I understand the shock value of the title, fine, but curses in every paragraph? I'm not saying to write like a bored, stiff, old tenured expert... But the name calling and mud slinging is not necessary (atleast not all of it). I give it two stars for the street level info. all independents need to know before making a film. Please do protect yourselves.

This is an interesting book for Troma fans and independent film fans. It is really just a book that is meant to entertain and tell stories rather than provide real helpful insight about how to make films. While I appreciate the show of support for independent art, the book doesn't really seem to support independent creation other than Troma's own brand (despite the title of the book). While I will admit that the book is very funny to read, I think sometimes it crosses into somewhat arrogant and self-important banter.

To me this book is more about Troma patting itself on the back and reflecting on their wacky stories then about really empowering anyone but themselves. Read if you are a fan of Troma, not if you are looking for encouragement.

In this book, Lloyd Kaufman, president of the impossibly quirky Troma Studios, shares insights and practical advice about making low-budget (or no-budget) feature films. Lloyd's writing style is just as unusual as the movies he directs, as he meanders aimlessly from self-deprecating autobiography to detailed, spur-of-the-moment instructions on how to fake an onscreen head crushing or make actors appear to vomit green foam. There's also plenty of out-of-place crude and scatological humor peppered heavily throughout. I wouldn't have expected anything else from Kaufman, whose unfathomably eccentric (but amiable) personality and genuine love for the art of do-it-yourself filmmaking shine through on every page. Fans of Troma, young and old, owe it to themselves to read this book. It really is an inspiring read for all of us who have the filmmaking bug but often become too easily defeated by lack of funds or crew members. Long live Troma!

if your a fan of troma or just a fan of movies this is the book for you.it tells the story of how Lloyd started the greatest ( and longest running )independent movie studio in the world ( or any other world for that matter)not bad considering they started off in a broom closet.there movies rock Lloyd is the man just buy the book

[...]I got this book as a birthday present in Christmas of '05, back when I was entertaining ideas of becoming a filmmaker in addition to just being a critic. While the need for actually putting something up on the big (or little) screen has passed for the time being, I am forever grateful for the spell due to the fact that it put this book (and Lloyd's equally engaging MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE) in my possession. When I was done reading it, I knew two things: Lloyd is an amazing human being, and the only limits for success are those we put upon ourselves.

No matter what your passion is, Lloyd Kaufman gives you the inspiration to go out and damn well do it. Don't have the money to do it? Find a way to make it happen regardless. You'll never have all the money you want/need to do things the way you want to, unless you sell your soul to the godless corporations, so just kick that imagination of yours into high gear and get the job done. I recently edited a horror film reference book - a lifelong dream - and much of that inspiration came from meeting Mr. K on and off the page.

I have met Lloyd several times since at various conventions and am always impressed by his passion and his accessibility to his fans. He is constantly surrounded by adoring admirers, but he takes the time to acknowledge each one of them and everyone who comes in contact with him feels that they have had a "real" moment with Lloyd. That is a true gift. But if you want to spend some quality time with the great man himself, pick this book up. You'll have a new best friend and a new hero to look up to.

If you've ever watched a Troma film then you know what to expect from this book. Blood/gore, sex, nudity, head-crushings and more. Only in book form. What starts out as a how-to quickly breaks out into a great history of Troma films.
Lloyd Kaufman tells it like it is (in his mind that is.) But also comes across as genuinely passionate about what he does.
The only thing I can say is that if you've ever watched a Troma film and enjoyed it (even a tiny bit) then get this book.
Don't forget Lloyd's other book "Make Your Own Damn Movie!" and the Toxic Avenger Paperback.
Money spent on Troma is money spent on the things that make movies fun!

I BOUGHT THIS FROM LLOYD HIMSELF AT CRYPTICON AND I WENT HOME AND SAT ON THE CAN AND THATS WHERE I STAYED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AS I READ ONE OF THE GREATEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ IT WAS AWESOME TO FIND OUT THE DETAILS OF SUCH A AWESOME INDEPENDENT STUDIO I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN EVEN IF I WANTED TO LLOYD ATTACHED SOME SORT OF ADHESIVE SO I REALLY WAS FORCED TO READ IT SO CHECK IT OUT ITS A AWESOME BOOK

I purchased this book for a friend, but decided to read parts of it before relinquishing it. It is well written and easy to read. I love that it is for couples that are in the midst of turmoil or couples that have a pretty solid foundation. I am going to buy a copy for my fiance and me for a guideline when we get even more comfortable together!

Its more 77 principles with its proper exercises. Gives you a down to earth overview on the matter. Not a magic book but will tell you that to improve the comunication and talk openly is not the final answer. Its been helpful to me, for my marriage and for my job as a therapist.(obviouly not a couples therapist).

Gottman is a Genius when it comes to male/female relationships. I would suggest that anyone even thinking about getting married read this with their significant other first!

Okay. So I feel that anyone who stops to think about life and peoples reaction and who takes the motto do until others what you would like others to do for you or treat others like you would like to be treated is pretty much set wthin the principles that make up 75% of this book. The other 25% I considered to be food for thought, nothing more. This book didn't offer me any significant insight though it did offer me some peace of mind.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot of insight and calmed my fears about relationships over 45.

I think that this book can be very helpful to any writer that wants to sell his/her book. I am using several of the ideas that I recieved in the book to sell my book 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and collectibles. it has increased my sales. Daryle

I've never read a more informative book. It not only points out what you should do to promote, it actually gives you the tools to do it. Both phone numbers and websites that will really help you. It is the first self help book that doesn't tell you what it is going to tell you, IT JUST TELLS YOU. How novel. It will take me weeks to implement all the information, but each step is clearly presented. If you write to sell you need this book as flowers need rain.

The position of a first-time self-published author is not an enviable one; you've already written your manuscript, invested money in typesetting, cover design and an initial print run, you've purchased an ISBN number and your book is in Ingram's database, so it can be ordered in stores. You wait a week, and then another, for book sales to start coming in. Finally, realization begins to set in - just because it is possible for someone to walk into a book store and order your book, it isn't very likely that it will happen, because nobody knows about it.

Marilyn and Tom Ross have written an excellent resource for self-published authors and small publishers who want to get their book sales going, and their techniques are considerate of the budgets that most self-published authors are constrained by.

If you successfully self-publish your book, there are three steps for you to follow:

1. Write a solid, clear and engaging book that people will enjoy reading. Refer to books about clear and effective writing.

2. Work your way through the publishing process. Refer to Dan Poynter's "Self-Publishing Manual".

3. Get the word out about your recently published work - this is exactly what the Marilyn and Tom Ross show you how to do in "Jump-Start Your Book Sales".

In short, if you are a self-published author, are considering self-publishing, are a small publisher, or even if you're a traditionally published author who wants to take a more active role in the promotion of your book (which most publishers will expect you to do anyway), you should read this book.

Danny Iny
Author of "Ordinary Miracles - Harness the power of writing and get your point across!" (ISBN 1-4116-7252-6)

through the self publishing process of my new book. More than a notion, self publishing is very rewarding but extremely time consuming, and SUPER hard work. I thought writing the book was hard. Ha! That was the easy part!!! Thank goodness I bought this book, as its given me many great ideas for marketing and promotion. It's wonderful to have written the best book in the world, but it doesn't mean anything if no one knows about it! Thanks Marilyn!!!!

Do you know when you should start marketing your book? Marilyn Ross does, and in "Jump Start Your Book Sales" she reveals the answer. (Hint: It's before you start writing it!)

Before, during, and after -- in fact. Regardless of where you are in the writing and publishing process, book marketing should be at the forefront of your thinking. Is your book even marketable? What is the market? What length of book are those people used to buying? Why would they buy yours instead of (or in addition to) all the other similar books on the market? What will differentiate yours? These are the kind of questions you should be asking yourself even before you put pen to paper, or fingers to keys, as the case may be.

These strategic concepts are the bread and butter of the pages comprising "Jump Start." Don't be surprised if you find meat in the middle that you can really sink your teeth into. This isn't another rehash of duplicative information available for free from countless websites. This is the real deal, written by the co-founder of the Small Publishers Association of North America. Highly recommended reading before you start writing, before you start publishing, and after you think you've marketed it all. - Brent Sampson, author of Self-Publishing Simplified

Enough good things have been said about the Guide and they're all true. Having said that, the technical chapters on the book may seem to you (at least they seemed to me) as a conversation between two experts on the matter. In all fairness, the book is tagged as an Intermediate, Advance one and the author does advise early on the first chapters that the book assumes the reader has some background knowledge. Well, I don't consider myself as a beginner and I have more than some background knowledge (including After Effects) and I had (and still have) a hard time understanding some topics. You see, when I buy a book (specially a book that's advertised as having all the info I need), I expect the book to open my eyes and my mind and provide me with enough information so that I can be on my way. I don't like it when I have to supplement my reading with lots of other resources to understand what the author is saying. Also, books that refer to a certain software sometimes recommend that you be able to run that software in order to gain a better understanding of the topic; this one does this. However, most books with this characteristic can be read and understood without the software. Not this one. The way I see it, this book costs around $1030.00 if you don't have the After Effects. You need it to be able to grasp about 50% of the book's information.

Also, if you're looking to understand workflow, image optimization and effective editing techniques but action is not really your cup of tea, meaning that you are driven mostly towards making visual stories without the action element, you'll feel that you're using about $15.00 of the $30.00 price tag of the book. Topics like special effects, color correction and onlining are covered with a subtle assumption that your film is about action (I guess that's the reason for the title).

In general, the book's benefits outweigh its flaws. I would say that if I go into a set of an independent movie or if I meet the director of a short film being made and I see this book among his resouces, I would think that the guy knows what he's doing. I suggest suplementing the book with the DV Rebel's Cafe (forun) and other entry level books on DV and HD workflow.

Do you have Adobe After Effects? If not, I wouldn't purchase this unless you are just an armchair filmmaker because this book's techniques are based on that program. I wish I had Adobe After Effects and this book would be useful, not just entertaining.

I have been studying film since I was a little nerdy kid, writing down the names and titles from the credits of every Happy Harmonies or Merry Melodies cartoon I watched, but in all that time (yes, a lot of time) I have never encountered a more fundamental and essential guide to just picking yourself and your idea up and making a movie, from start to finish. If you have tried in the past and gotten overwhelmed or bogged down in the mire of details involved in making a film on your own, then this book will help you out bigtime.

I have to admit, I am not into action movies, but the principles in the DV Rebel Guide are not really action-movie specific, and what's more, the truth is that if you are making a movie for audiences, it had better keep moving, which is essentially what an action movie is about. You will have literal explosions and bullet holes in your movie, or you will have artistic-symbolic explosions and bullet holes in your movie, but either way, you will have them.

The important reasons to own and read this book, if listed concisely, would be about as long as the book itself. Why? Because everything in the book is *essential information* for making your movie--especially if you're not rich (and maybe nerdy enough to not have a long list of people to call in favors from).

Do you hate wading through 500 page tomes that painstakingly sidetrack on a zillion different flavors of what you might or might not need to know about several aspects of whatever? The best book on C programming is only a half inch thick, and the best book on getting out there and actually making your idea into a film (digitally), with or without a budget, is The DV Rebel's Guide. And that's because you will be able to read it cover to cover without ever falling asleep, and you will know just what to do when you are done. From the amazingly insightful concept of the "resource list" to a nutshell run-through of the daunting field of color correction, as applied in the very accessible software, After Effects, this book will give you the answers you need long before you might have given up in frustration reading another book (or pile of books).

Great book for the beginner & advanced pro. Gives you many suggestions on how to get the shot finished with out spending a lot of money. Many movie clips included on the DVD for examples in support of the text. But what I found is that this book is just fun to read. There is a no holds bared, if you want to make a movie then just do it, "I hate green screen" attitude that encourages everyone they CAN make movies. There is technical stuff on setting up shots & After Effect is the only post software used, but you can skip over or breeze by these on your first read because you'll be using this book as a primer as you make movies of all kinds..."just do it!".

Somebody's got to be honest here -- the movie that Stu made with all of his techniques is simply godawful on nearly every level. In fact, his emphasis on "rebel" technique might very well have you redirecting your creativity in all the wrong ways. Films are about good STORIES.

That being said, for the discerning reader, there is an enormous amount of useful information in this book and it will really get you technically up to speed fast. For that the "guide" really does deserve five stars. But what we have here is also a recipe book for making the most cliche-ridden Hollywood imitations, which is the furthest thing that movies need right now. I believe you should be using your first work to explore your understanding of filmaking principles with relative minimalism.

Easy Company from Band of Brothers revisited. Two of the men who became lifelong friends relate their stories. Easy to read and gives you a sense of war from men who were there. They were indeed a Band of Brothers.

Like many veterans of WW2 these two men say they are not heros, that title they insist , belongs to the boys who didn't come home.

Then what are they? They are two enlisted men who fought in some of the most savage fighting in western Europe during World War Two. The charm of this book is that these men are not officers. They were enlisted men. They were not involved in any big meetings or planning sessions. They took their orders and did their job and their shared memoire is that of the foot soldier on the battlefield. From training, through D-Day to VE and beyond.

Strangley some of the parts I found most moving were their lives after the war. When 'Wild Bill' became one of the driving forces behind the reunions that held the Band of Brothers together. Particularly touching the attmepts to welcome back Herbert Sobel. Hated during the war, he was still a mamber of the company. through the wonderful writing you feel you are there as Bill and Babe and the others are confronted by Sobel's sister, after his death. She was insensed over how her brother was depicted by Ambrose. It fell to "Wild Bill" once the chief hell raiser, to explain some hard facts to her, long after he clearly had forgiven Sobel.

These are not plaster saints but tell their stories, warts and all, gamlbing, drinking and girls rank along side battles and jumping and all the rest. Playing jokes on each other, dodging uptight officers and mourning those whom they would call heros.

So why is this getting so much attention? Well it's very well written. Also, well known from the Ambros book "Band of Brothers" and the HBO series these two men, and the other members of Easy Company, 506 PIR have come to represent all those GI's who went to war. We can hear about 10,000 men going into Arnhem or 90,000 going to Stalingrad, but the numbers are too big. We can't wrap our minds around them. But with Easy Company we can. We can see a few men and names and follow their fates through the war and so, by expansion all the others who served in the war. We can't think of 10,000 men. But we can think of Bill and Babe and their buddies and then a few more companies like them and that we can get.

They were members of an elite unit, but other than that they were pretty common. They are two examples of the millions of americans who put aside their lives and comfort and safety and went out to do nothing less than save the world. You know, that seems pretty darn heroic to me.

After watching Band of Brothers, I couldn't wait to read this book by "Wild Bill" Guarnere and "Babe" Heffron. It really gives you an insight into what went through their minds during the hell of WWII, but the most poignant thing is the enduring love and friendship all of these guys still have for each other. It's a lesson we all should learn.

In "Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends", Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron not only tell us more in-depth stories of their Easy Company exploits but give us a true insight into the bonds formed in battle that most of the rest of us never experience let alone understand. Heffron and Guarnere grew up literally just blocks from each other on the tough streets of Depression era Philadelphia with the same strengths that would see them through the toughest of times during the Battle of the Bulge and the siege of Bastogne during the bitter Winter of 1944-45. We learn of the toughness ingrained into their generation and the street-wise attitudes that lent them the drive to be among the Army's best, the Parachute Infantry. That same savvy enabled them to continue to survive some of the toughest actions and conditions of WWII in the European Theater of Operations.

Bill was a tough sergeant, the prototypical inspirational leader of his men. Leading always by example, he not only lead them in combat but also looked after them like a doting father, especially when meeting Babe as Heffron joined Easy Company as a replacement at Aldbourne, the 506th Regt's. English home following Easy's Normandy exploits.

Robyn Post has done a marvelous job of compiling her interviews of these men not only humanizing each of their personalities but without adding her own to the mix.

If you are interested in first-person information on Easy's exploits in battle with the warmth and humor that only these two B of B can tell them, then please buy this book. Following a more than 60 year friendship forged in the toughest of times is educational, humorous and above all, inspirational.

Brother's In Battle by Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron was an excellent book. It helped to explain so much of the background material that made up Band Of Brothers. It was so hard to put this book down.

Best book ever. No, really. Such a lifesaver. The wedding process has not been a smooth one for me, and I was really at my wits' end until I got this book. I'm still fighting the good fight, though, and Ariel kind of made it possible. It's really hard, in our culture, to plan a wedding and be a feminist-- even a mild-mannered one. I have ammunition, and a renewed sense of humor about the event. It helps you feel better about wanting what you want and draws a HUGE line between bridezilla behavior and merely wanting to be a project manager-- I'm definitely the latter... though I'm not sure my mother (who wants me to have a traditional ceremony) woud agree... BUY THIS BOOK. Even if you're going traditional, BUY IT ANYWAY.

This book is more for getting fired up about planning a wedding that feels real to you and your spouse-to-be than it is step-by-step instructional.

I've never laughed out loud at a wedding book, and I laughed so often while reading this I startled my fiance. It's full of anecdotes from other brides and Stallings recounts her own wedding procession, from non-proposal to post-wedding emotions.

While she didn't have finger-wagging naysayers shooting down her indie visions, other brides in her book did, and give you suggestions and advice on dealing with the people who love you who think they should be running your wedding.

If you are looking to get married and have a meaningful celebration with family and friends, this book opens up the possibilities. And it's not too indie-snobbish, either. As Stallings says on her fantastic web site http://offbeatbride.com, "Your wedding is not a contest...I don't think your wedding needs to be more offbeat. It just needs to be honest and authentic, and if what you want is a white dress and a more traditional ceremony, I think that's f*****g awesome."

What a great book for for alternative weddings- Helped me plan a awesome wedding for a friend- Great book, loved it!

I'm an American living in Japan, and though I have friends here, it has been difficult to find someone to discuss the ins and outs and minute details of my wedding with. It is so easy to lose yourself in all the wedding glitz and without my close friends here to act as mirrors, I felt myself slipping, forgetting who I am and what the real me would want for my wedding.

Then I ordered this book.

It instantly snapped me back to the reality of who I am and what I want. It gave me great ideas, inspired my creativity and most of all, it supported my offbeat-ness in a land that has only pretty recently considered western style weddings to be on-beat (making them THE thing to do).

I know it sounds cheeseball, but seriously, this book is like having a good friend that I can tote around in my bag, when all of my good friends are across the planet.

This book is a breath of fresh air...so many wedding planning books focus on ONE type of wedding. The traditional, white wedding, and nothing else. This is a modern take on planning that provides some great advice for the creative bride who feels stifled by this and wants more options. Best of all, reading this makes wedding planning FUN, which is a small miracle!

This book is awesome. I recieved it as a gift with my first feature film coming up (coming from shorts). I went from having a little bit of a clue, to knowing almost every in and out of what I should do, how to do it, and how to get the upper hand in doing it.

The author is great. His points are humourous because they are so blunt. He'll add little comments that tell you a ton, and totally make fun of something in the process; but whatever it is is so true that it's the information you really need to know. For example, he puts "TOP SECRET" signs by any huge point that makes or breaks films, that 4-year film school and HY avoids telling people. All points helpful, enlightening, and direct.

It also is a huge directory book for studios, executives, rental houses--basically contact information for every single thing he goes over in the book. It also lists other books, films, etcetera to go and read and view and further your knowledge. You can't learn from just 1 book and go out and make it.

I'm going through this particular book, thought, 3 times--at least. To (2) index everything and then (3) pull everything from it together into a timeline that works best for me.

Now, [[[ CONS ]]] . Like other reviews have mentioned--he goes off on how "the other 97% of you probably had a hard time parting with the money to buy this book" when talking about budgets, hinting that you probably are making a 5000$-50000$ feature--and then turns around and gives his most detailed, step-by-step process of making a film, about 15 chapters, all around making a 250,000$ film (which, as you'll find out, is marketed as a 1,000,000$ film). You have to take this relatively. Take what's there, and shrink it down to your budget. He explains SOME things you can cut down on to make a film with lower budgets afterwards, but only spends about a few paragraphs on it. So you go through all the process of the 250,000$ film and take from it everything you can. Bring it down to your level. It has all the information you need to get started, as listed, but you're going to have to get creative and cut down hard on the 250,000$ budget--starting with the things he mentions during those paragraphs.

The other con is, this book is published in 2003, so written during 2002 or earlier. This book doesn't know about HD, HD cameras, and HD tapes. Among others. It's either film or miniDV. And DVC--ha. It's surprisingly savvy on Internet distribution, primarily because it hasn't evolved there yet, but obviously there is other information about it that is present now that you won't find in the book. The main thing is, again, it's a little dated on digital stuff, which is dissappointing, because digital is like the light of ultra low budget film making. However, some updates on this topic can be found at his web school.

Another personal con is all the endorsements and stuff. So a few big names have succeeded by involving Dov's information--it's sad that that's what it takes to sell the book. If you bought the book because tarauntino or queen latifa's names on it, you probably aren't going anywhere. Luckily, he doesn't mention these people anymore than anyone else once you dive into the text; only as references to first-time film makers, etc.

-

Great information, I think it lives up to it's claims, and the personality of Simens makes it interesting all the way through. His personality is extremely direct, and if you can't take the heat, you probably won't make the cut in the industry, so it's probably a great thing.

Enjoy

Thank you MR. Simens... I have read many a film production book. None of them compare to this one. This book is clear and the most organized piece of work I have yet to come across. He speaks in terms that is easy to follow and understand, with a large dose of reality. Reality that can get your movie made. He wants you to do it. He has made your production list for you. No need for other books (money saved). Please, if you have read thus far and have not purchased this book, do so now. You will not be dissapointed... And for the expert(s) (with the three stars or less) Get real. Swallow your pride. This book is perfect. Mr. Simens knows what he is talking/writing about. EVERYTHING you need to succeed is right here. Get your first movie off of the ground, then go from there. Again, Thank you Mr. Simens.

I reference this book all the time. From Reel to Deal cuts to the chase and offers no bull. It is an easy read and loaded full of practical and useful information. I have produced eight short films in four years and currently preparing for my first feature-film. Dov's book it geared for those making a feature-film but useful for shorts as well. I always recommend From Reel to Deal to any filmmaker who has not read it already. Do yourself a favor and buy or borrow this book. It is a must-read for filmmakers, or as Dov's says PRODUCERS.

One of the best books I've read on the motion picture industry.
You could not learn more spending 4 years at UCLA Film School.
Now I watch movies with a different perspective.

I've wanted to take one of Dov's workshops but they're never close to where I live so I bought this book which I like. However, with a copyright of 2005 I would have thought it would have more web information (urls, etc) in it. I suspect most of the information was compiled before the web got popular which has been a while. Oh well. I emailed Dov last year too and nobody bothered to reply. Still, for the price, very good info.

Should we "let go and let God", trusting Him to bring us victory in the battle for holiness? Jerry Bridges would answer this question with a firm "no." Instead, he would lead us to "grab hold and let God." In other words, Bridges charges us to take hold of the resources Christ offers us to kill sin's power and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. In Bridges' view, holiness is not a matter of victory or defeat, but of obedience or disobedience. He teaches that victory is the byproduct of obedience, not the aim of the pursuit of holiness. Holiness is still the work of God, but we must actively lay hold of the work of God in our lives to see the fullest possible work of the Holy Spirit in us. As I consider all of the personal commands to action in the Bible regarding holiness, I am convinced that Bridges is right. Commands like, "put off your old self, mortify the deeds of the flesh, put on the new self, pursue righteousness, think about whatever is good and pure, walk in the Spirit" and many more show me that my part in holiness is to throw off everything that hinders and fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. This excellent book is best in its final half, as Bridges deals with some of the details of this walk of faith and the specifics of how to fight sin and cultivate good in your life. Highly recommended.

When I started reading this book I had the "fear" that true "holiness" was something I could never achieve. Yet scripture calls us to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-25) so it must be possible. As I went through this book and examined my heart, I realized the obstacles that stood in the way of holiness and came away from the book with a whole new understanding and sense of hope and purpose. I now encourage other men to step up and TRULY pursue a life of holiness.

Don't read this book unless you are ready to be convicted and own up to your responsibility as a Christian! I have read this book twice and am reading it again (along with the Study Guide) with my church's women's Bible Study. It is a provocative book to study alone or with a group. It lends itself to wonderful group discussions. Jerry Bridge's book, very practically written, is an aid to Christians in our understanding of God's grace on one hand and our obligation to live a life worthy of His calling on the other.

I highly recommend this book and the study guide as essential to every serious christian's library. Jerry Bridges gave me an entirely new perspective on living life as a christian that has led to a lot of positive changes in my attitude and actions. I also recommend the companion to this book, "The Practice of Godliness".

Very good book for anyone who wants to become a more mature Christian. It really helped me understand the differense and interrelation between God's provision and my responsibility for addressing sin. Direct, practical, and "to the point".