Book Review - Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices

Review by Ron Cotton - May 11, 2005

by Rick Schmidt
published by Penguin Books, Ltd. (http://www.penguinputnam.com)
$16.95 US Soft cover.
412 pages, Copyright 2000, Third Edition.
ISBN: 0-14-029184-9

Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices I believe is quite possibly most common staple to amateurs taking their first steps in the field of movie making. The title alone is enticing to those who romanticize being the next Orson Wells. After being bombarded with a dose of reality and a heap of pessimism, Rick breaks down the costs to approximately $12,000 US dollars only if you have drive, ambition, and the weaseling powers of sniffing out good deals.

Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices introduces itself with an inspirational foreword written by Ray Carney which is for new artistic independent film renditions and opposes Hollywood knockoffs. Rodriguez's article on 10 Minute Filmmaking seems dry and drab by comparison. Rick Schmidt's introduction explains first hand his trials and tribulations filming his own features – demonstrating throughout that film making isn't a “get rich quick” scheme. Demonstrating all of the debt and hardships endured and how only the select few get their names in the limelight. Starting from conception to script, Rick Schmidt guides you step-by-step in the entire process. In contrast, most other books of this caliber focuses entirely on the technical camera-work while Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices analyzes the writing, direction, and editing involved. From pre-production to post-production, describing both cutting film to digital video editing, this book is quite complete and unlike any other publication.

The famed people quoted on the inside and out is what caught my eye initially. Eduardo Sanchez, Vilmos Zsigmond, and Dennis Hopper were a few of the names mentioned. Even Kevin Smith gets his two cents stating that Clerks would have never became reality without this book.

All and all, this exceptional read is a must read if not a must have. Rick Schmidt's Feature Filmmaking at Used Car Prices is very likely required reading in virtually every film school class. Highly recommended.