business skills

From the appendix the book is based on a lie. He first states all of the forms that are presented on the CD. He claims the AFMA International Multiple Rights Deal Letter is on this CD! It most certainly IS NOT! All of the rest of his forms, which are for the most part, pretty much irrelevant are there, and presented in a very outdated fashion. The information in the book is logical and methodical and is a sensible approach to producing films, but I am certain he has never done so. He has a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, priority approach to financing and distribution which is seldom the way in which situations transpire in the world in which films are produced. His book is a text book world for students in a class room, as is his world best served "giving" his seminars, then in actually producing films. The book certainly disseminates a wonderful amount of options and fully exlores them all in detail and accuracy, in a way that breaks incredibly complicated information into simplicity which is terrific and most appreciated. This is by far my favorite book on film producing. But I purchased the book for the CD and that agreement and he did not honor that agreement or his word, therefore, I have no respect for him or his publisher.

If you're not a [professional] or a rich kid then you had better know what you're doing. Read everything you can find.

Make no mistake, this is NOT a book about producing a film or running a production. This is a great book about the 'business side' of the film business.

Lots of information on how prodco's are set up, figuring out distribution (although nothing about going the direct-to-video route) deals.

No matter what kind of production company you are setting up you will find information of use in here but it's not about production planning from the sense of scheduling or day-to-day running a prodco.