Make Your Own Hollywood Movie: A Step-by-Step Guide to Scripting, Storyboarding, Casting, Shooting, Editing, and Publishing Your Very Own Blockbuster Movie

Rating:
Summary: Quiet on the Set!
Review: Tired of making the same old home movie? Everyone with a video camera has made one. You know, they are usually titled "The Johnsons Family Vacation", "Christmas 2003" or "Johnny's 2004 Soccer Season Highlights." If you're ready to take the next step and create a movie that won't have the audience falling asleep in their seat, I suggest that you run to your local bookstore and purchase a copy of "Make Your Own Hollywood Movie."

"Make Your Own Hollywood Movie" is a great reference book. By just cruising through the index you can see it covers everything from creating a story board to lighting, special effects, and stunts. Anything and everything you want to know how to do is there. Considering that purchasing a new camera and computer will cost you any ware from $1000 to $5000 dollars spending $29.95 on a great "how to" book is cheap.

I found the book very easy and fun to read. Each chapter was thoroughly laid out and with many great pictures and diagrams. The Author claims the book is a "step-by-step guide" to digital movie creation. I would agree.

The majority of the information can be used by anyone with basic editing software like Apple's iMovie. Many of the high-tech editing and special effects will require using professional software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere. But that shouldn't let stop you from buying the book. Learning how the process works will only make you a better videoographer and editor.

The "Hollywood Tricks" chapter was my favorite. The author explained in great detail how to build lunar landscapes out of clay and flour and then create outer space, stars and then add a space craft to the prop. And if that wasn't enough you can make explosions to create drama. I could easily waste a whole weekend recreating my favorite Star Wars scene.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a video camera. Those days of filming "Susie's Cello Recital" are over. Turn that Cello recital into an award winning concert. "Make Your Own Hollywood Movie" will show you how.