Ted Newsom directs this Full Moon guide to how to make a low budget film.
Set over six disc the entire methodology of movie making is covered. There are numerous interviews with mainly horror filmmakers but also comic illustrators and other figures relevant to low budget filmaking. Disc 1 is introduced by Charles Band who shares very brief memories of some of his own films, beginning with reference to his father director, Albert Band and has clips of his 'I Bury the Living' and a brief scene of Charles and Albert together. Disc 1 covers film planning (or pre-production). Disc 2 is shooting the movie (production). Disc 3 is finishing the film (post-production). Disc 4 is selling the film (marketing). Disc 5 has music and film demos plus interviews with Stan Lee (with William Shatner from 'Full Moon's Fright Night'), Jack Kirby and a number of DVD-Rom tools. Disc 5 is basically a series of short promotional and educational films regarding different elements of making a film (No Charles Band here). Disc 6 is the full length Full Moon feature 'Blood Dolls' complete with extras and a DVD-Rom script.
Overall a nice package, informative and concise (Band even tells us to remember that not everyone on set might eat meat) this is a good value addition to budding film creators. For Full Moon fans it's great to see Band present though there is little actual Full Moon footage. Most interesting is some scenes from Dave Allen's unfinished 'Primevals' and some scenes of 'Murdercycle' that failed to meet QC standards. Recommended.
Director Ted Newsom began working at Full Moon after his friend David DeCoteau introduced him to Charles Band. Aside from various editing roles and putting together 'Cinemaker' he also edited his own film using Full Moon top quality editing equipment that would normally cost around $300 an hour. After many months his film completed using Full Moon's technology became 'The Naked Monster' which was released not through Full Moon but through Anthem Pictures.
