When first becoming interested in screenwriting, I knew I had to read as much as possible about the art, craft, theories, opinions, and everything in between, so I started stalking the screenwriting section of books at Barns and Noble.

I spent so much time there reading and getting to know the books that I decided it might be a good idea to be paid for it; I filled out an application, dropped it off, and before I knew it not only was I stalking the film section on a daily basis, but I was actually stocking the film section on a daily basis, which allowed me to get closer with the material and even shortlist the books I was interested in reading. I was always on the lookout for that special book that would divulge that drop of fresh information, inspiration, knowledge, and understanding of what screenwriting, and the film business as a whole, was all about.

A few weeks ago, a guy named Reed Martin sent me this book. It’s called  The Reel Truth – Everything you didn’t know you need to know about making an independent film.

The Reel Truth is written by Reed Martin, a seasoned business professional and well known professor with credit teaching film marketing, distribution, and exhibition at NYU’s Stern School of Business and Columbia Business School. He’s a graduate of the 20th Century Fox Film International in Los Angeles, an MBA from Columbia, and holds two masters in business reporting from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.

The book does a good job presenting the film business as it is, touching upon topics such as screenplay theft, star power, common production mistakes, post production misconceptions, and distribution, while providing an encouraging tone and sense of possibility. With over 100 interviews with Hollywood pros, this book provides an entire pitcher of fresh information and inspiration that you can sip from again and again.

As an aspiring director, my favorite section of the book has to be the first chapter — Many Famous Directors Struggled Famously.

This chapter includes fresh interviews from directors of all lists and goes into detail about such topics as raising money, working with nightmare producers, and, my favorite, working the day job.

Overall rating: A | The Reel Truth is an exceptional choice for both beginners and semi-pros. If you’re looking for a book that covers what the business in film business is all about, this one’s for you.

Table of Contents:

• Many Famous Directors Struggled Famously
• Writing MBA-Style Business Plans … Or Not
• First You Get the Money: Financing Woes
• Seeking Legal ADvice: Cheaper Than Your Life
• Casting Up and Cashing In: Landing Big Names
• The Nightmare of Story and Screenplay Theft
• Phones Off! COmmon Production-Day Mistakes
• The Music in Your Head … Is Too Expensive
• Guess What … It Can’t Be Fixed in Post
• Your New Best Friend: The Producer Rep!
• All of Nothing: Distribution Deal Breakers
• Getting Your Film Seen: Smarter Marketing
• What’s Next? Career Strategies for Making it
• Documentary: Following in Herzog’s Footsteps
• Out of the Theater: BitTorrent, Netflix, and Amazon

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