Contents -- Introduction -- Praise for Michael W. Dean and 30 Film School -- Chapter 1 Writing -- Working with an Outline -- The Argument for Three-Act Format in Screenwriting -- Storytelling -- Action and Dialogue -- Editing Your Script -- Brads -- Writer's Block -- Deadlines -- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome -- Summary -- Chapter 2 Fundraising -- Ask and Ye Shall Get -- Nonprofit Status -- Mission Statements -- Getting People to Work on Spec (Speculation) -- Getting Fiscal Sponsorship -- Actual Budget for D.I.Y. or DIE -- So… -- Chapter 3 Producing -- Free Help -- But if You Must… -- Location Producing -- People Skills, Drive, and Adversity -- Overcoming Adversity -- Punk Rock Drop Ship -- Getting Things for Free -- Getting Paid -- Paying People -- Getting Groovy People in Your Film -- How I Produced My Film -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4 Crew, Cameras, and Medium -- Film Crew -- Cameras -- Medium -- Mini-DV Versus Film -- Tapes -- High-Definition Video -- Film Look -- Using Actual Film -- Summary -- Chapter 5 Directing -- Study Films -- Making an Effective Film -- Table Reading -- Controlling the Shoot -- Release Forms -- Sample Release Forms -- Summary -- Chapter 6 Filming and Recording Techniques -- Filming Techniques -- Shooting Basics -- Camera Basics -- Shots -- Lighting -- Make-Up, Costumes, Props, and Scenery -- Camera Techniques and Effects -- The Rule of 180 -- Framing -- Zoom -- Filters -- Blue Screen -- Filming Computer Monitors -- Film Grain -- Publicity Stills -- Recording Techniques -- Recording Sound on Location -- Slating for Synch Sound -- Homework -- So… -- Chapter 7 Computers -- How Much Computer Do You Need? -- PC Versus Mac -- FireWire -- Internal and External DVD Burners -- External FireWire Drives -- Software -- Editing -- Writing -- Compositing -- Page Layout -- Handheld Hardware and Software -- Screen Shots -- Web Export.

PDF Export -- Making Zip Files -- Troubleshooting -- Protecting Your Computer -- SpamAssassin -- Virus Protection -- Service Packs -- Firewall -- Spyware -- Maintenance -- Conclusion -- Chapter 8 Editing Images -- Basic Editing -- Working in an Editing Program -- Capture -- Troubleshooting -- Timecode -- Working with Video Clips -- Adding Transitions and Effects -- Adding Text -- Rendering and Mixdown -- Mixdown -- Advanced Editing -- More on Transitions -- Sync Sound -- Sound -- Slow and Fast Motion -- Slish Editing -- Whip Edits -- Picture in Picture -- Pan -- Mood -- Blue Screen -- Subliminals -- Film Look -- Backup -- Plug-Ins -- Taking Frame Captures -- Trailers -- Encoding for DVDs -- Editing Theory -- Editing Advice and History -- No-Budget Focus Groups -- Making Mistakes Work -- Collaborating -- Conclusion -- Chapter 9 Editing Audio -- Basic Sound Program Use -- Using Acid -- Using Sound Forge -- Soundtrack and Music -- Background Music -- Foley -- Advanced Sound Program Use -- Tweaking Audio in Post -- Noise Reduction -- Changing Sampling Rate -- Making Audio Loops in Sound Forge -- Video in Sound Forge -- Quicktime Pro -- Multitracking and ADR in Vegas -- Conclusion -- Chapter 10 Your Own DVD -- Basic DVD Authoring -- Other Cool Things MyDVD Does -- Advanced DVD Authoring -- Subtitles -- Menus -- DVD (and VHS) Replication -- Conclusion -- Chapter 11 Telling the World -- Using the Internet for Promotion -- E-Mail Promotion -- Rough Cuts -- Four-Point Plan for Effective Promotion -- Conclusion -- Chapter 12 Selling Your Film -- Having Someone Else Sell It -- Pitching Your Project -- Negotiation -- The Problem(s) with Contracts -- Money Versus Art, and Keeping Your Day Job -- Selling It Yourself -- In Person -- Online -- Consignment -- An Elegant Concession -- Negotiation, Continued -- Let the Company Do Its Job -- Conclusion.

Chapter 13 Touring -- Rock Bad, Flick Good -- Getting Gigs -- How I Got Gigs for My Film -- Following Up on Bookings -- Film Festivals, Museums, and Universities -- Why I Do Booking Contracts -- Why I Would Rather Do Shows at Commercial Theaters and Bars than at Squats Run by Well-Meaning Anarchists -- Let's Go… -- Etiquette -- Crossing Borders -- Question and Answer Period -- Accommodations -- Never Rest -- Conclusion -- Chapter 14 Copy Protection and Rights -- Tinseltown Trademarked -- Why It's Okay to Copy My Movie -- Why the World Needed Napster and Kazaa -- Adding Copy Protection -- Removing Copy Protection -- Rights -- Slander/Libel -- Copyright, Trademark, Service Mark, Patent -- Bootleg, Counterfeit, and Pirate -- Ratings -- Conclusion -- Chapter 15 Closing Arguments -- Integrity -- Dealing with Criticism -- Dealing with Resentment -- Hollywood: Ignoring the Call -- Don't Hustle People -- Work Versus Selling Out -- Huh? -- I Answer to No One -- Sell What You Love -- More Ignoring the Call -- Humility -- Focus -- Priorities -- Chapter 16 Interviews and Advice from Cool Film Folk -- Appendix A: Recommended Reading, Surfing, Viewing, and Listening -- Recommended Reading -- Unrelated, but Maybe Not -- Recommended Surfing -- Recommended Viewing -- Recommended Listening -- Appendix B: Stops on Michael Dean's D.I.Y. or DIE Movie Tours -- 2002 Showings -- 2003 Showings -- 2003 Springtime in Texas tour -- Television -- Appendix C: What's on the CD-ROM -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z.