Shooting to Kill

Rating:
Summary: Learn Filmmaking Without Paying
Review: If you are a filmakker this book is for you. Detailed explainations of most aspects of low-budget indie filmmaking, how realtionships work on set, and what problems to look out for in regards to all aspects of production. Detailed budgeting information and what not to do. Diary entries that explain Christine's experiences as a filmmaker. All in all a great book to gain experience without paying for it. Now this does not make you a professional filmmaker, but it sure helps in the process. Just remember that this book is about her experiences and how she dealt with them. One must remember that she is only one person in a world of many producers; even though she is extremely successful; her way is not always the right way for everyone. Wishing you success.

Rating:
Summary: Blunt as Hell, Thank God
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Blunt as Hell, Thank God
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: ...or, why producers should stick to producing.
Review: Informative, though hard to read if you haven't seen the films in question. She thinks she's funny, but her predictable jokes left me cold.

Rating:
Summary: Producers aren't directors
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Producers aren't directors
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: recommended for anyone interested in film practicalities
Review: There are some filmmakers who seem to know their craft instinctively, without needing the assistance of any sort of education. Financing and the inner workings of a film shoot are somehow instinctive to such individuals, and they have a natural knack for obtaining and understanding the very complicated technical aspects of filmmaking. In a culture fascinated with yet mystified by the film process, many soon-to-be filmmakers become focused on being directors, deciding to solely depend upon creative vision to carry them through the process without paying proper mind to the not-to glamorous details like trying to actualize a budget, planning a shoot, and figuring out exactly how to get their film sold.

Yet there still remain many filmmakers in need of and enthusiastic to receive some sort of assistance in such areas, and these are the sort of individuals for which books like this are written. Some may seek practical information in the useless endeavor that is film school, while others garner an education through other means. And while it is not necessarily required for a prospective filmmaker to have knowledge in the area of production [or in any other area outside their primary interest], it is still unwise to presume they could work without.

As a filmmaker, it is my opinion that one needs three things to be able to put one's burgeoning artistic dreams into action; cinematic literacy, some sort of business sense, and knowledge of shooting details. Assuming artistry inherent within the individual, a filmmaker should be able to and should want to deal with these three aspects. An "education" in filmmaking is something to be attained through viewing films, through reading about the creative and business aspects of the craft, and through being on an actual functioning set.

In Shooting to Kill, Christine Vachon covers such necessary aspects of production for prospective filmmakers in any niche with brutally honest grace, being informative without giving overbearing instructions. The book doesn't give one all the answers, but it fills in the gaps for those wondering what exactly goes into the business of filmmaking without the constant and futile focus on teaching creativity. Vachon spills forth all information she deems is necessary for one to be prepared for the day-to-day occurrences of independent filmmaking. She allows the reader a glimpse into a world of practicality, business sense, and management without imposing upon them any sort of creative rule book to follow. This coupled with an unrelenting passion for honesty allows her book to serve as a peek into the side of filmmaking not clouded with theoretical discourse; the actual side in which collaborators work together to form the best film possible with available resources. Entertaining, informational, hilarious, truthful, and always practical, Shooting to Kill is a magnificent and exciting guide to filmmaking in the independent film world.

Rating:
Summary: Total Access!
Review: This book just grabbed me right from the start. It's a unique jump behind the scenes. Christine is amazingly generous allowing you to gather so much information. She pours her years of HARD earned experiance into every page. I found myself motivated and entertained and grateful! If you want to make a movie you'd be foolish not to make this book your bible.

Rating:
Summary: Total Access!
Review: This book just grabbed me right from the start. It's a unique jump behind the scenes. Christine is amazingly generous allowing you to gather so much information. She pours her years of HARD earned experiance into every page. I found myself motivated and entertained and grateful! If you want to make a movie you'd be foolish not to make this book your bible.

Rating:
Summary: A smart,passionate and funny guide to movie making.
Review: This is easily the best book of its kind I have ever read. Ms. Vachon is astoundingly generous with her experiences. Some of it is laugh-out-loud hysterical and it is always highly readable. It should be required reading for anyone who has even ever thought of making a film.