Hope for Film by Ted Hope ****

What is a film producer? Who is a film producer?

You understand actors. Can you name 3? Easy! Jolie, Willis, Bullock,  and on and on...

How about directors? No problem! Tarantino, Kurosawa, Scott.

Now what about producers? What do they do anyway? Ted Hope is a producer. His book Hope for Film by Ted Hope is a manifesto for producers and an inspiration for aspiring producers.

What does a producer do?

... creative guidance and management ... sourcing the material--script, book, idea ... acquiring the participants and talent ... put together the money, find the distribution partners ... financial modeling and marketing plans ... being a community organizer ...

No wonder no one has a clear idea of what a producer is/does!

Hope illustrates the myriad producer roles with examples from his extensive filmograghy, interspersed with his wry observations...

No one ever says, "I wish it had been longer," when they leave the theater.

I had to fire Kurosawa ... which was akin to firing God.

But flies are living creatures ... you have to work with the [ASPCA] ... require flies go unharmed and returned to their prior habitat

For the [NY] indie-file scene, if you're not wearing a black T-shirt, you're dressed professionally.

if your spouse consistently chastises you for not putting the toothpaste cap back on, you know the relationship is over.

Anyone with an interest in film, and especially the changes brought about by the Internet, social networking, and streaming, should read this book.

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway on August 27, 2014. I received my copy on September 9, 2014.