Christine Vachon

In this book, the author—one of the most distinctive producers in independent film—offers a behind-the-scenes view of what a producer does. The text is peppered with anecdotes from films by Todd Haynes, Todd Solondz, and some directors not named Todd, and is interrupted by insets from others she works with about specific aspects of the process. The book even includes detailed sample budgets, which would be more useful to readers contemplating their own film than it was to me; I confess I skimmed them. Besides, they were based on technology twenty years ago. I wonder how the digital revolution has affected the economics, not only in the shooting stage but even more so in editing.
The style is chatty and informal, with just the right amount of humor and sass. It left me with a mixed message: you’d have to be out of your mind to live your life this way, but isn’t it wonderful? I’m convinced that both halves of that statement are true.… (more)