John Gaspard - Fast, Cheap & Under Control: Lessons Learned from the Greatest Low-Budget Movies of All Time

A fun, user-friendly handbook for wannabe filmmakers with big visions but few funds.
Publishers Weekly
We never put out an actual textbook for the Corman School of Filmmaking, but if we did, it would be Fast, Cheap and Under Control.
Roger Corman, Producer, New Horizons
This book proves again and again the best lesson that Orson Welles taught me: The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.
Henry Jaglom, director (Hollywood Dreams, Going Shopping, Festival in Cannes, Deja Vu)
This book is as good as film school, and a lot less expensive. It is required reading in Tromaville!
Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment, creator of The Toxic Avenger

Theres something to be learned from every film in here even those you might hate and thats no small feat. By turns illuminating, hilarious, insightful, instructive and, oh yes, a little bit terrifying, Fast Cheap and Under Control should be must reading for anyone who is serious about making the best sort of film a picture driven not by money but by passion, ingenuity and an original idea.

Mark Gill, President, Warner Independent Pictures

Just when you thought the low-budget film topic had been strip-mined to death, John Gaspard and his merry crew of subjects hit a whole new mother lode. His book spans the years, but in an intelligently structured way, and avoids whitewashing.

John Pierson, author of Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema and star of Reel Paradise

If this book doesnt get you making movies enthusiastically, on your own terms with your own low-budget inventions, nothing will!
Rick Schmidt, filmmaker/author of Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices, Extreme DV, and MovieMaker columnist Extreme Indie
I wish Id read this book before I made Re-Animator. Stuart Gordon, director, Re-Animator

A richly-detailed, highly readable and inspiring book jam-packed with information that will keep low-budget independent filmmakers from making costly mistakes. Filled with a ton-full (not a spoonful) of fascinating, insightful interviews, with a you-can-do-it approach.

Dr. Linda Seger, script consultant, author, Making a Good Script GreatFilmmakers have always been devising new and creative ways to get their films made. Gaspard puts many of these stories in wonderful context that not only provides for entertaining reading, but gives the emerging filmmaker a valuable reference to live by. An insightful and enlightening read that reaffirms the old saying, Where theres a will, theres a way.

Daniel Myrick, co-director, The Blair Witch Project
An invaluable guide to maneuvering though the obstacles of storytelling for the next wave of filmmakers.
Griffin Dunne, director/producer/actor

An entertaining and very informative read. Its just the ticket for beginning filmmakers, demonstrating how cleverness can count more than money in filmmaking.

John Badham, director, Saturday Night Fever, Wargames, Dracula, Isnt It Shocking

A perfect companion for the aspiring filmmaker, filled with filmmaking anecdotes by some of the most respected independent filmmakers around. Reading this book is like having a conversation with your favorite directors, with firsthand, practical examples of what it takes to be a filmmaker.

Josef Steiff, author, The Complete Idiots Guide to Independent Filmmaking

John Gaspard has brought it all together, extracting lessons learned the hard way by successful indie filmmakers. Fast, Cheap and Under Control is an indispensable manual for those about to go into the trenches. It tells you most of what you need to know to succeed in the very risky business of putting your vision on tape or film. Write a good script, read this book, add guts and stir and youll be halfway there. (The other half will be in the hands of the film gods.)

William Bayer, author, Breaking Through, Selling Out, Dropping Dead and Other Notes on Filmmaking

Indie filmmakers at all levels would benefit greatly by reading this incredible collection of filmmaker war stories. Part history, part instructional guide, part confessional, this is a must read for indie film fanatics.

Chris Gore

Johns book is a valuable contribution to the growing legions of would-bes, wannabes, and should-bes of low-cost filmmaking. It teaches the best way, through example and anecdote, and is at once funny, wise, instructive and insightful. If anyone wants to turn a movie dream into a movie reality, this is one hell of a good place to start.

Tom Pope, screenwriter, Hammett, Lords of Discipline; author, Good Scripts, Bad Scripts: Learning the Craft of Screenwriting Through 25 of the Best and Worst Films in History

Dont even think about making a film until you have read this book! William Martell, screenwriter of 18 films, www.scriptsecrets.net

This book is a fascinating look at the practical, behind-the-scenes knowledge required in the making of low-budget films; but most important, its an inspiration for filmmakers and filmmakers-to-be to continue the struggle to achieve their dreams.

Mark Borchardt, American Movie: The Making of Northwestern

Fast, Cheap and Under Control is not only a wonderfully written presentation of the essential rules for making low-budget films; its also a book filled with riveting stories of how a wildly diverse group of filmmakers, with very little money and an abundance of passion, determination and courage, got their movies on the screen.

Michael Hauge, Hollywood script consultant and author of Writing Screenplays That Sell
Every year I see hundreds of films that make mistakes that could have been avoided if the filmmaker had only read this book.
Hopwood DePree, co-founder, Waterfront Film Festival
Before you even think about picking up a camera, pick up this book. Better to know the pitfalls than fall into them yourself.
Sheryl Mousley, curator of film/video, Walker Art Center

In Fast, Cheap and Under Control, John Gaspard provides a guided tour through the jungle of low-budget filmmaking, helping the reader see where avoidable mistakes are lurking in the tall grass, and helping them evade the myriad whirlpools and eddies that can destroy budgets. Its full of first-hand perspectives and on-point case studies that illuminate a mystical process and make it seem almost logical. Almost. Any budget-conscious filmmaker would be well advised to read this very valuable book.

Thomas F. Lieberman, executive producer, Sweet Land

The only thing more fun than being on one of John Gaspards indie film sets is reading one of John Gaspards indie filmmaking books. Fast, Cheap and Under Control, his best to date, contains anecdotes from indies that are fonts of information, equal parts funny, frightening and fascinating. I will read this book during preproduction of every film I ever make from now on. Indispensable.

Patrick Coyle, writer/director, Detective Fiction

Fast, Cheap and Under Control is a worthy addition to MWPs invaluable line of how-to guides for the independent filmmaker. Author Gaspards assemblage of successful filmmaking talent and the lessons they share will save you time, money and headaches.

Barbara Peterson, editor and publisher of The Thunder Child: The Journal of Science Fiction web magazine, non-fiction book reviewer for Associated Content
Part reference book, part how-to guide, Mr. Gaspards book gets to the heart of independent guerilla film-making. It has something for everyone from the casual film fan to the next great film director. An amazing book and an amazing look into the world of low-budget filmmaking. If you have camera in hand, read this book first. It will save you a lot of time, energy and heart-ache.