By Forris Day Jr.
OK filmmaker friends, has anyone in your circle of friends and family ever said to you,“I’m so proud of you, you’re the best filmmaker ever!”, “You are going to make it big in Hollywood with your films”, “ Wow….you’re really talented, remember us little folks when you are accepting your Academy Award”? That is terrific if people have said that to you. My advice, do not believe a word of it. I know, I’m cruel. Let me rephrase. Believe it, but not to the point where you think someone from Hollywood will whisk you off to your dream filmmaking job in California. It’s great to dream, but you also need a plan and an understanding of how the film world works if you want to be successful.
Chris Nolan’s E-Book, “Instant Filmmaker” is a great tool to actually help you reach your goals. It is loaded with advice and information that can help you create indie films the right way. From concept, to budgeting, to film festivals, it’s all here. In bite size chunks that you can easily digest. Nolan pulls no punches. Written honestly and concisely, “Instant Filmmaker” tells you what you need to know to fast-track your filmmaking career. Your family and friends mean well and Nolan does too. The difference is Nolan offers the expert advice and tidbits of information that will save you time. Brutally honest, amazingly inspiring, and fun at the same time. Filmmaking is a business and much of that aspect is covered in the book.
I found the book lighthearted, with pictures that back up the text. Each page is very colorful with different images and clipart. I found some of the pictures a bit distracting as the text wrapped around them but I can forgive graphic layout because this book is loaded with solid information. One of my favorite segments is how he suggests having a live event to promote your film. It can include a Q&A session with actors and crew, selling of merchandise, and other out of the box ideas. I never thought about doing that with the films I act in and work on but now I will.
I recommend that anyone who makes independent film read Chris Nolan’s “Instant Filmmaker” even if you think you know all there is about making movies. He has great pieces of information in here that will guide you through the entire process of your movie. The e-book is set up like a reference book. You can read it through it’s entirety then refer back when you have a question. Let your family and friends offer the moral support and let Chris Nolan offer the business knowledge. With that powerful 1-2 combination you will be launched into indie film success.
Rating: 8.5/10 – An instruction book for success.
