Indieproduction, LLC | Reading List

Reading List

By no means a complete list, these are some of the books that have helped me learn more about the film industry both the business and the artistic side. Some might have updated editions by now, some may be out of print but you can often find them on Ebay, Amazon.com or the great Samuel French, or your public library.

ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE William Goldman, Warner Books, 1983
A classic book about the movie industry from the writer’s perspective.

BREAKING INTO FILM, making your career search a blockbuster Kenna McHugh, Peterson’s, 1999. Practical, basic advise for anyone ready to start a film career.

COMPLETE FILM PRODUCTION HANDBOOK, THE (3rd Edition)
Eve Light Honthaner, Focal Press, 2001
Includes a CD-Rom of contracts, production forms and lots of practical advice.

COMPLETE GUIDE TO AMERICAN FILM SCHOOLS Ernest Pintoff, Penguin Books, 1994. For those interested in attending college/university in the U.S.

CONVERSATIONS, THE; Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
Michael Ondaatje, Alfred A Knopf, 2002
A new book on the editing of an award-winning film and sound editor.

DIGITAL BABYLON Hollywood, Indiewood and Dogme 95
Shari Roman, Lone Eagle Publishing, 2001
Interviews and analysis of the digital filmmaking movement.

CELLULOID MAVERICKS, A History of American Independent Film
Greg Merritt, Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2000

DIGITAL FILMMAKING Thomas A. Ohanian & Michael E. Phillips, Focal Press, 2000
Another guide for shooting digitally.

DOWN AND DIRTY PICTURES Peter Biskind, Simon & Shuster, 2004
An expose of Miramax, Sundance and the rise and fall of independent film in the ‘90’s.

EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS Peter Biskind, Simon & Shuster, 1998
An entertaining and informative look at 1960s and ‘70’s cinema.

FILM & VIDEO FINANCING Michael Wiese, Michael Wiese Productions, 1991
Practical guide to raising money for production.

FILM DIRECTING SHOT BY SHOT Steven D. Katz, Michael Wiese Productions, 1989
A handbook for directors to visualize their work.

FILM PRODUCER, THE Paul N. Lazarus III, St. Martin’s Press, 1991
The role of the film producer is examined here in detail.

FILM PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT, 2nd Edition Bastian Cleve, Focal Press, 2000. The craft of the production manager is examined here in detail.

FILM SCHEDULING Ralph S. Singleton, Lone Eagle, 1984
Great guide for assistant directors and production managers to understand scheduling.

FILMMAKER’S HANDBOOK, THE Edward Pincus, Penguin Books, 1984
A to Z practical advice on technical and creative issues (there is a new edition available).

HIT & RUN, How Jon Peters and Peter Guber Took Sony for a Ride in Hollywood
Nancy Griffin & Kim Masters, Simon & Schuster, 1996
An inside look at the Hollywood studio system.

HOLLYWOOD ON $5,000, $10,000, OR $25,000 A DAY
The Survival Guide for Low Budget Filmmakers
Philip Gaines and David J. Rhodes, Silman-James Press, 1994
A guide to making very low budget films.

HOW TO READ A FILM James Monaco, Oxford University Press, 1981
(3rd Edition available-2000)
A scholarly book about interpreting meaning in cinema.

INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION Gregory Goodell, St. Martin’s Griffin, 1998. Very good overall guide to making independent movies.

INDEPENDENT FILM & VIDEOMAKER’S GUIDE, THE
Michael Wiese, Michael Wiese Productions, 1998 (2nd Edition)
Another good guide, also focuses on direct to video and other types of production.

INDEPENDENT VISIONS, A Critical Introduction to Recent Independent American Film Donald Lyons, Ballantine Books, 1994. A look at late 80’s, early 90’s indie films and their creators.

INDIE PRODUCER’S HANDBOOK, THE; CREATIVE PRODUCING FROM A TO Z
Myrl A. Schreibman, Lone Eagle Publishing, 2001

MOVIE BUSINESS BOOK, THE Editor: Jason E. Squire, Fireside, 1992
Very informative interviews with professionals in all the film disciplines.

OFF HOLLYWOOD, THE MAKING & MARKETING OF INDEPENDENT FILMS
David Rosen with Peter Hamilton, Grove Wiedenfield, 1990
A film-by-film look at successful independent films in the 1980’s.

PRODUCER TO PRODUCER, Insider Tips for Success in Media, 2nd Edition
Michael Wiese, Michael Wiese Productions, 1997

REBEL WITHOUT A CREW Robert Rodriguez, Penguin Books, 1995
This famous indie director launched his career with a $7,000 film, “El Mariachi”. Here’s how he did it.

REEL POWER, The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood
Mark Litwak, Plume, 1986
A very informative business-side book by an excellent entertainment lawyer.

SELLING A SCREENPLAY, The Screenwriter’s Guide to Hollywood
Syd Field, Dell, 1989
Also recommended is the same writer’s Screenplay for beginning screenwriters.

SHOOTING TO KILL,
How an Independent Producer Blasts Through the Barriers to Make Movies That Matter
Christine Vachon with David Edelstein, Spike, Avon 1998
A journal book by a very successful independent producer.

SUNDANCE TO SARAJEVO, Film Festivals and the World They Made
Kenneth Turan, University of California Press, 2002

SURVIVING PRODUCTION, THE ART OF PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR FILM AND TELEVISION
Deborah S. Patz, Michael S. Wiese Productions, 1997

ULTIMATE FILM FESTIVAL SURVIVAL GUIDE, THE
Chris Gore, Ifilm Publishing, 2001

WORKING IN HOLLYWOOD
Alexandra Brouwer & Thomas Lee Wright, Avon Books, 1990
A basic guide to the various crafts and jobs in the film industry.

WRITER’S JOURNEY, THE; Mythic Structure for Storytellers & Screenwriters
Christopher Vogler, Michael Wiese Productions, 1992
For understanding how writers use myth to write successful screenplays.