Persistence of Vision: An Impractical Guide to Producing a Feature Film for Under $30,000

Rating:
Summary: awesome book!
Review: I own about 20 books on filmaking, and this book is very good, probably the best out of the 20. The writers of the book have made a couple of film features (not digital), and they detail everything that they did in the process. Robert Rodriguez's book "rebel without a crew" is a very, very inspirational book. But this book explains every step in the process from starting out writing, to making a camera dolly for $80, to using the canadian exchange rates to your advantage. I got the book used here on amazon for $15. Buy the book, then write a review here, and then go out and make your film!

Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile
Review: I've read this book and have found it quite useful - I'm using it as the starting point for my own forays in this area - and the best thing I can say about it is the spirit it engenders. There are probley a million ways to make a film but you'll never make one unless you believe you can - and this book by showing you very effecive means goes along way into making you believe you can. It's quite comprehensive and goes into good detail though I wouldn't say it was the last word on film-making but then nor does it - and that's not the point because it gives you enough to not just get started with but to make an actual film with - and whatever more you want or need you're natural learning and further exploration will take you to. I reccomend it.

Rating:
Summary: Decent, but way overpriced
Review: There's enough practical information here that you could probably go out and do it - the only meaningful test for a how-to book. But the pages are small, the type is large, the filler is plentiful, and the cover price is exorbitant. Your call.