Hope for Film
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Hope for Film: From the Frontline of the Independent Cinema Revolutions Hardcover – August 5, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A relentlessly useful insider’s guide to independent film from a longtime practitioner." —Kirkus
"Filled with tidbits of earned wisdom and stories from the proverbial trenches..." —SF Weekly
"Filled with tidbits of earned wisdom and stories from the proverbial trenches..." —SF Weekly
About the Author
Ted Hope is one of the most respected voices in independent film. As the creator, editor and regular contributor to HopeForFilm.com blog, Hope provides a must-read forum for discussion and engagement about the critical issues faced by filmmakers, artists, and the film industry in today's global, market-driven economy. A true expert in the field, a survey of his 65 plus films includes many highlights and breakthroughs in independent cinema, including Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm, " Shari Springer vBerman and Robert" Pulcini's "American Splendor, " Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's "21 Grams, " Todd Solondz's "Happiness, " Sean Durkin's "Martha Marcy May Marlene, " and Greg Mottola's "Adventureland, " amongst many others. In 1990 he cofounded with James Schamus the production and sales powerhouse Good Machine, which was sold to Universal in 2002. Known within the industry for having an extraordinary ability to recognize emerging talent, Hope has more than 20 first features to his credit, including those of Alan Ball, Todd Field, Michel Gondry, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, et al. In September 2012, Hope left a lifetime in New York City to take leadership of the San Francisco Film Society as Executive Director, where he is providing a launchpad for film lovers and filmmakers to participate in the broadest definition of cinema by creating innovative programs for the creation, appreciation and monetization of the art form. He is also an exciting and prolific voice on Twitter with over 30,000 followers, and has contributed to numerous publications, including "The New York Times" and "Filmmaker Magazine. "
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
R. Harper
on August 2, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Whether you love independent cinema or just can't pass up a good story, Hope for Film draws you in with its engaging combination of film school explanations and personal memoir. Ted Hope is clearly someone who knows the business of making movies on a shoestring budget, and he shares his experiences in working the system with such well-known indie directors as Ang Lee and Nicole Holofcener. Through the book we follow his own growth from PA to respected executive producer to visionary determined to change the way things are done. Each chapter is somewhat self-contained, reflecting on a formative film-making experience that teaches Hope another lesson. By the time you reach the end you'll be convinced we need as a culture to find a way to preserve the art of film in an increasingly commercialized business. Fortunately it appears that here is the man to make it happen.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Nathan R Proctor
on July 31, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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This book epitomizes the heart and soul of every film Ted Hope has produced. It's so much more than a book about the past. It's an urgent call-to-action. What can we learn about the great indie filmmakers? And how can we use that knowledge to create a more creative and sustainable future for cinema? Such an enjoyable read. So many great life lessons learned.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
KR
on September 11, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Hope for Film is one of the most phenomenal books you can read about the independent film scene -- its past, its present, and musings on its future. The stories inside are personal, and yet also universal filmmaker life lessons, hard-earned. Ted Hope documents the ever-changing rules of the marketplace and the impact that technological changes have wrought on low-budget films, both inside and outside of the studios.
With each year that passes, the opportunities for independent filmmaking expand due to advances in technology, yet the possibility of monetizing any of these films -- or even getting them seen -- shrinks. Ted Hope explores all of the angles of this conundrum, first as a producer, then from inside a festival organization, and finally as part of the brave new world of digital distribution.
After you've followed his journey, and taken in all of the knowledge gained from his experiences, he sets down a list of challenges that the indie film world now faces. They're problems that the film community as a whole must solve, but you'll see issues here articulated for the first time --- and in such a way that it inspires you to start finding solutions. An incredible read, profoundly inspirational.
With each year that passes, the opportunities for independent filmmaking expand due to advances in technology, yet the possibility of monetizing any of these films -- or even getting them seen -- shrinks. Ted Hope explores all of the angles of this conundrum, first as a producer, then from inside a festival organization, and finally as part of the brave new world of digital distribution.
After you've followed his journey, and taken in all of the knowledge gained from his experiences, he sets down a list of challenges that the indie film world now faces. They're problems that the film community as a whole must solve, but you'll see issues here articulated for the first time --- and in such a way that it inspires you to start finding solutions. An incredible read, profoundly inspirational.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
Jacob M. Kornbluth
on September 15, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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The title is "from the frontline of the independent cinema revolutions", and as a lover of film myself, part of what makes it such a great read is how clearly the POV of the book is from the front lines. We get accounts of great independent directors, the incredible collections of people that make up the collaborative film process, and valuable information about what a great producer actually DOES. It has those great "tell all" facts about wacky and passionate artists that you look for from a book about making movies from the inside, but this isn't an bitter book... it is (sorry!) "hope"ful. It has a spirit about it that kind of revels in what makes art by people different than what a machine can do. And it also has an enormous amount of deep thinking about the future of film -- the challenges and the opportunities. This is a must read for anyone who loves movies.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
Salvatore
on September 5, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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If there were more than five stars to give, Hope for Film would get them all. Mr. Hope's book is a sublimely addictive read. Having been at the front line of the independent film movement from its Wild West days in the early 90s, Mr. Hope is perfectly suited to recount how some of the finest indie films were made. I'm talking the likes of The Ice Storm, In the Bedroom, and The Savages, all of which he produced. And there are many more. Indeed, this is a producer whose films have earned twelve Oscar nominations. Mr. Hope pulls the curtain aside and reveals the sweat, blood, and frayed nerves that went into bringing these films to the big screen. This is the behind-the-scenes stuff that movie lore is made of. Hope for Film is a book for film fans, for filmmakers, and, quite simply, for anyone who loves a superbly told story.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
Benny Max
on September 1, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Everybody who loves and/or makes independent films needs to read veteran producer Ted Hope's new book, HOPE FOR FILM, right away. I finished it 20 minutes ago. To my mind, it's now the best resource documenting and explaining the economic-technological swerve that indie films have undergone since their 80s-90s heyday. And it comes from a deep insider who shares his production stories with great insight, transparency, and humor. Moreover, unlike entertaining film industry chronicles like EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS and KILLER INSTINCT, Mr. Hope's book runs on clean energy: HOPE FOR FILM is positive, impassioned, and forward-thinking. It plunges way-deep into the crash, but it left me feeling great. A must-have for every indie filmmaker and/or indie film lover's shelf.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
eleanor mccarthy
on August 24, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Reading Hope for Film, I felt as though I were in the same room with Ted Hope, and he would tell me everything I had always wanted to know about producing independent films and about 25 years of independent film production in general, c. 1980-2005. The vital voice of this dedicated producer sounds throughout—passionate, knowledgeable, and, not the least of it, appreciative of his good luck to have entered the independent film scene when he did.
He had good people to collaborate with, among them Hal Hartley, Ang Lee, James Schamus, Ed Burns, Moises Kaufman, Tamara Jenkins, Nicole Holofcener, Todd Solondz, Christine Vachon. His chapters devoted to his work with them are very lively, encompassing a history of significant film that otherwise might be lost.
He had good people to collaborate with, among them Hal Hartley, Ang Lee, James Schamus, Ed Burns, Moises Kaufman, Tamara Jenkins, Nicole Holofcener, Todd Solondz, Christine Vachon. His chapters devoted to his work with them are very lively, encompassing a history of significant film that otherwise might be lost.
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