The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know about Making an Independent Film

This is an amazingly well-researched and accurate chronicle of independent filmmaking. I learned so much--things I wish I'd known when I was in the middle of it all myself. It is hard sometimes to make filmmaking advice flow with dramatic interest, but Reed Martin keeps it clear, eloquent, and fresh. I would definitely suggest The Reel Truth to aspiring filmmakers--it would make a great textbook--and I am personally looking forward to the next volume, especially now. Tom DiCillo, director of Living in Oblivion, Johnny Suede, Delirious, and When You're Strange

The Reel Truth is definitely a book every filmmaker should read. Reed Martin does a great job of covering everything from first-timer mistakes to new paths in distribution and gets some really great advice from leading producers, distributors, writers--pretty much everyone. Brian Newman, CEO, Tribeca Film Institute

Reed Martin has written a production guide filled with indispensible information and enlightening anecdotes. The novice filmmaker can learn something by opening to any page in The Reel Truth. Mark Pogachefsky, President MPRM Communications

[Martin] interviewed Danny Boyle, Christine Vachon, Doug Liman, Barbara Kopple, Alexander Payne, Darren Aronofsky, and Werner Herzog along with dozens of indie film execs. He says he asked everyone two questions: What's the worst advice you ever got?' and What do you wish somebody had told you that would have saved you a lot of trouble?' . . . Martin peppers The Reel Truth's tales of woe with inspirational stories about tough-minded auteurs who refuse to give up.' Hugh Hart, The San Francisco Chronicle

The road to making an indie film can seem more like the stations of the cross at times. Reed Martin's The Reel Truth is the gospel telling of a journey that many martyrs have taken before. Bring it with you for inspiration, and as a reminder that any movie that gets made is a miracle. Matt Tyrnauer, director/producer, Valentino: The Last Emperor

Reed Martin's The Reel Truth is not only a terrific guide for aspiring filmmakers and a modern textbook for film school students everywhere. The advice and anecdotes in the chapters covering production, marketing, distribution, and online exhibition are useful for working filmmakers as well. For anyone hoping to make a successful independent film--especially in today's hyper-competitive environment--The Reel Truth is required reading. Miguel Arteta, director, Youth in Revolt, and The Good Girl

A brilliant how-to manual for tackling and mastering the industry. Anthony Bregman, producer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This book is indispensable. Tom Bernard, Copresident, Sony Pictures Classics

The path to the premiere and beyond of any feature film is a minefield. With The Reel Truth, Reed Martin has given new filmmakers the battalion of bomb detectors necessary for survival. Ted Hope, producer of The Ice Storm

Reed Martin has created a smart, engaging read that is also one of the most comprehensive and cutting-edge looks at the changing face of independent-film production and distribution today. This is the one book I would call essential for anyone who really wants to make a career out of filmmaking. Drew McWeeny, aka Moriarty, Ain't It Cool News

Packed with practical advice and anecdotes from successful indie icons, Reed has written a guidebook essential for any aspiring filmmaker. Tom Ortenberg, President of Theatrical Films, The Weinstein Company

The most up-to-date guide readers could want No one who embarks on a feature of his or her own after reading The Reel Truth can say he or she has not been warned--and, more important, not been prepared. Jim Hemphill, American Cinematographer Magazine

A must-have manual of knowledge and entertainment for beginning and experienced filmmakers...To not have this information is like scuba diving by yourself, skydiving without packing your own parachute...why risk it? Chris Eyre, director of Smoke Signals

What's great about The Reel Truth isn't simply its usefulness, but its thoroughness...Martin's invaluable book will help you navigate the treacherous terrain of the modern independent film scene. Chris Bolton Powells.com

An invaluable resource for those striking out on their own From production, post-production, marketing and distribution, the book also covers such areas as dealing with music licensing, investors, script theft and securing legal help. However, it is Martin's personal interviews with leading directors, writers, producers and studio executives that offers The Reel Truth an extra layer of validity and insight to make it a true insider's guide. Jorge Carreon, Examiner.com (Los Angeles)

Making a movie, be it a five-minute short or a two-hour feature, takes more than vision. In his witty and addictively readable book The Reel Truth, author Reed Martin provides 500 pages of how-to advice for would-be De Palmas--everything from financing to casting, scoring to marketing--and backs it up with cautionary anecdotes and tips from famous directors. Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

Reed Martin interviews some of the brightest minds in independent cinema, including Danny Boyle ( Slumdog Millionaire ) and Christopher Nolan ( Memento ), for riveting first-person accounts of their own success stories as well as the moments when their careers could have ended right then and there if they opted to give up More importantly, Martin offers practical lessons for those still dedicated enough to want to make a film Christian Toto, Examiner.com (Denver)

This is an amazingly well-researched and accurate chronicle of independent filmmaking. I learned so much--things I wish I'd known when I was in the middle of it all myself. It is hard sometimes to make filmmaking advice flow with dramatic interest, but Reed Martin keeps it clear, eloquent, and fresh. I would definitely suggest The Reel Truth to aspiring filmmakers--it would make a great textbook--and I am personally looking forward to the next volume, especially now. --Tom DiCillo, director of Living in Oblivion, Johnny Suede, Delirious, and When You're Strange

The Reel Truth is definitely a book every filmmaker should read. Reed Martin does a great job of covering everything from first-timer mistakes to new paths in distribution and gets some really great advice from leading producers, distributors, writers--pretty much everyone. --Brian Newman, CEO, Tribeca Film Institute

Reed Martin has written a production guide filled with indispensible information and enlightening anecdotes. The novice filmmaker can learn something by opening to any page in The Reel Truth. --Mark Pogachefsky, President MPRM Communications

[Martin] interviewed Danny Boyle, Christine Vachon, Doug Liman, Barbara Kopple, Alexander Payne, Darren Aronofsky, and Werner Herzog along with dozens of indie film execs. He says he asked everyone two questions: 'What's the worst advice you ever got?' and 'What do you wish somebody had told you that would have saved you a lot of trouble?' . . . Martin peppers The Reel Truth's tales of woe with inspirational stories about tough-minded auteurs who refuse to give up.' --Hugh Hart, The San Francisco Chronicle

The road to making an indie film can seem more like the stations of the cross at times. Reed Martin's The Reel Truth is the gospel telling of a journey that many martyrs have taken before. Bring it with you for inspiration, and as a reminder that any movie that gets made is a miracle. --Matt Tyrnauer, director/producer, Valentino: The Last Emperor

Reed Martin's The Reel Truth is not only a terrific guide for aspiring filmmakers and a modern textbook for film school students everywhere. The advice and anecdotes in the chapters covering production, marketing, distribution, and online exhibition are useful for working filmmakers as well. For anyone hoping to make a successful independent film--especially in today's hyper-competitive environment--The Reel Truth is required reading. --Miguel Arteta, director, Youth in Revolt, and The Good Girl

A brilliant how-to manual for tackling and mastering the industry. --Anthony Bregman, producer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This book is indispensable. --Tom Bernard, Copresident, Sony Pictures Classics

The path to the premiere and beyond of any feature film is a minefield. With The Reel Truth, Reed Martin has given new filmmakers the battalion of bomb detectors necessary for survival. --Ted Hope, producer of The Ice Storm

Reed Martin has created a smart, engaging read that is also one of the most comprehensive and cutting-edge looks at the changing face of independent-film production and distribution today. This is the one book I would call essential for anyone who really wants to make a career out of filmmaking. --Drew McWeeny, aka Moriarty, Ain't It Cool News

Packed with practical advice and anecdotes from successful indie icons, Reed has written a guidebook essential for any aspiring filmmaker. --Tom Ortenberg, President of Theatrical Films, The Weinstein Company

The most up-to-date guide readers could want...No one who embarks on a feature of his or her own after reading The Reel Truth can say he or she has not been warned--and, more important, not been prepared. --Jim Hemphill, American Cinematographer Magazine

A must-have manual of knowledge and entertainment for beginning and experienced filmmakers...To not have this information is like scuba diving by yourself, skydiving without packing your own parachute...why risk it? --Chris Eyre, director of Smoke Signals

What's great about The Reel Truth isn't simply its usefulness, but its thoroughness...Martin's invaluable book will help you navigate the treacherous terrain of the modern independent film scene. --Chris Bolton Powells.com

An invaluable resource for those striking out on their own...From production, post-production, marketing and distribution, the book also covers such areas as dealing with music licensing, investors, script theft and securing legal help. However, it is Martin's personal interviews with leading directors, writers, producers and studio executives that offers The Reel Truth an extra layer of validity and insight to make it a true insider's guide. --Jorge Carreon, Examiner.com (Los Angeles)

Making a movie, be it a five-minute short or a two-hour feature, takes more than vision. In his witty and addictively readable book The Reel Truth, author Reed Martin provides 500 pages of how-to advice for would-be De Palmas--everything from financing to casting, scoring to marketing--and backs it up with cautionary anecdotes and tips from famous directors. --Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

Reed Martin interviews some of the brightest minds in independent cinema, including Danny Boyle ( Slumdog Millionaire ) and Christopher Nolan ( Memento ), for riveting first-person accounts of their own success stories as well as the moments when their careers could have ended right then and there if they opted to give up ...More importantly, Martin offers practical lessons for those still dedicated enough to want to make a film --Christian Toto, Examiner.com (Denver)

Reed Martin has taught film finance and marketing at a variety of institutions, including NYU's Stern School of Business and Columbia Business School, and is the former director of marketing at Cary Woods's Independent Pictures.