This is the Safari online edition of the printed book.

Written by Stu Maschwitz, co-founder of the Orphanage (the legendary guerrilla visual effects studio responsible for amazing and award-winning effects in such movies as Sin City, The Day After Tomorrow, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), this book is a must-have for all those budding filmmakers and students who want to produce action movies with visual effects but don't have Hollywood budgets. The Orphanage was created by three twenty-something visual effects veterans who wanted to make their own feature films and discovered they could do this by utilizing home computers, off the shelf software, and approaching things artistically. This guide details exactly how to do this: from planning and selecting the necessary cameras, software, and equipment, to creating specific special effects (including gunfire, Kung Fu fighting, car chases, dismemberment, and more) to editing and mixing sound and music. Its mantra is that the best, low-budget action moviemakers must visualize the end product first in order to reverse-engineer the least expensive way to get there. Readers will learn how to integrate visual effects into every aspect of filmmaking--before filming, during filming and with "in camera" shots, and with computers in postproduction. Throughout the book, the author makes specific references to and uses popular action movies (both low and big-budget) as detailed examples--including El Mariachi, La Femme Nikita, Die Hard, and Terminator 2. Note from the Publisher: If you have the 3rd printing of The DV Rebel’s Guide, your disc may be missing the data files that accompany the book. If this is the case, please send an email to Peachpit in order to obtain the files at ask@peachpit.com

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 74 Ratings

Awesome book for low budget film makers. - 2009-09-16
Reviewer Rating:
I'm a low (read no) budget filmmaker, however the $30 this book cost me was definitely well spent. Well written and accessible but full of fantastic information that both appreciates the limitations of guerilla film making and inspires you to push the boundaries.
I'd thoroughly recommend this book!!
Cheers
Jez

Modern Day Filmmaker Bible - 2009-09-12
Reviewer Rating:
Guess my tittle says it all...

A pleasure to read, a world of precious information, no matter what level of a filmmaker you are, you should read this book.. no wait you HAVE to read this book!!!

T ; )~

A must-buy! - 2009-08-12
Reviewer Rating:
This book was originally referred to me by Aharon Rabinowitz of [...] as great book for amateur filmmakers. It was definitely a great buy with some pretty useful bonus content on the DVD. Definitely worth checking out.

Great read fun and informative at the same time - 2009-06-24
Reviewer Rating:
I really have enjoyed this book. Its whimsical approach has great bits of information and the author provides a supplemental cd with some great extras.

Inspiring and Practical - 2009-04-19
Reviewer Rating:
I've been in the business of producing corporate film and video projects for over 30 years. With over 400 projects completed I felt like I knew my way around. But this book has taken me to a new level of excitement to create my own film project using DV technology.

I recently bought a Nikon D90 and, using the information in this book, I'm well on my way to creating my first independent film project with this remarkable camera.

If you're interested in learning how to do it and getting fired up enough so that you'll actually go for it, this book is right for you.
-a-

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