How not to write a how not to book

How not to make a short film by Roberta Munroe

Munroe's book is at its best when it lives up to its title and talks about how NOT to make a short film. I especially liked the chapters on short film plots we've seen a million times and the list of 50 short film cliches (who knew that opening with a Japanese tea ceremony was a cliche?). The material on what festival programmers are looking for (and not looking for) is also valuable.

However, most of the book is actually devoted to "how TO" make a short film citing the author's experience making two short films. Don't expect anything out of the ordinary here. There's some good information spliced into sections on directing, producing, budgeting and marketing. But Munroe's approach to filmmaking is strictly top-down, old-school, hire the best crew you can stuff with a heavy emphasis on production value. Here, Munroe doesn't have much new to offer. This title is a worthwhile read if you can accept it for what it is--a couple of great chapters and a catchy title padded with vanilla material on professionalism and following the traditional filmmaking process.