Make Your Own Damn Movie!

I've made several short films and am venturing into feature film territory. Even though I thought I knew everything there was to know about making and selling films (at least on a small level) I am the first to admit I was wrong. I'm a long time fan of Troma and picked up both the 'Make Your Own Damn Movie' book by Lloyd Kaufman and then the DVD set mainly because I was just a fan. I was surprised that I learned quite a bit. The documentaries give you a good idea of how hard it is to make a movie and the interviews give you a lot of good tips when it comes to selling your film. My main gripe would be that some of the interviews were done using the camera microphone so on some of them it was hard to hear all of the audio.

If you're looking for something on the art of film-making then there are plenty of other places to look. If you're looking for something that gives you a good idea of the hard work that goes into making and selling movies then I highly recommend this set.

Troma 30 Years of pure rubbish.

I really like the idea of independent films, Directors and Producers who have gone out of their way to gain funding, cast, crew and distribution for little or no money, and then bless the world with an Independent movie free of Studio involvement for all us movie buffs to enjoy.

Now Lloyd Kaufman has Directed well over 50 B-Films for his company Troma. Troma has almost created it's on genre simple called "Troma", which stands for "Really Crappy Movies Nobody Really Likes, But Claim To Because They Think They Hate Commercialism In Hollywood", which they don't.

Lloyd Kaufman's – Make Your Own Damn Movie is an example of how not to make a movie. I guarantee you this: You will not learn how to make a film from watching this 5 disk box-set. You will simple learn how not to make a movie. The DVD's do not show you how to direct, producer, write, or gain finance for you project. For example: In the How to get financing section of the DVD Lloyd simple tells you "There are many ways to get funding for you Feature" So I needed to pay $50 for you to tell me there are many ways to finance my film? No point during the 12 hours of footage do you learn any technical matters relating to film making. This to me is a promotional disk aimed at getting needed attention to Troma movies and that bloody hideous creation "The Toxic Avenger" which was released in 1985 and the people at Troma never shut up about.

Believe me when I say you will learn absolutely nothing from this DVD or book by the same name.

The only good thing I got from this DVD was the interview with Eli Roth (Cabin Fever & Hostel) and his frank interview about the Unions in Hollywood.

In closing: DON'T WASTE YOU MONEY ON THIS RUBISH. I have and that's something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. Save you self avoid TROMA MOVIES like the Bubonic Plague and "MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE" Mr. Kaufman I will make my own damn movie with the hints and advice from real filmmakers.