MY BOOK DEAL How a C- English Student Wrote a Filmmaking Book that Helped Launch Kevin Smith & Vin Diesel

When you desperately need to survive by selling a book to a publisher, and deny every bit of logic why you can't (Rule #1-DON'T TELL ANYONE about this cockeyed dream!) it CAN happen...Read on.

“THIS POST, about getting a publishing deal for “Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices,” is excerpted from,“NEW DARK AGES—How a Punk Movie EMERALD CITIES Got Its IMPROV” (©2020 Light Video Books, Page 54, Chapter Six): <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FZRB93P>.

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MY BOOK DEAL How a C- English Student Wrote a Filmmaking Book that Helped Launch Kevin Smith & Vin Diesel

At the completion of Emerald Cities, early in 1984, my feature was invited by programmer Linda Blackaby of Philadelphia’s International House showcase, to screen in their large 400+ seat theatre (she later became Director of Programming for the San Francisco International Film Festival). I would receive a good rental fee and an in-person salary, so the paid gig was greatly welcome. When on the phone with her, she asked me if I’d like to earn an additional $100 by conducting a workshop. Of course, was my answer. 

“OK,” Linda responded. “What title should we use for it?” 

Um… I had no immediate answer. “Let me call you back in five minutes,” I said. After hanging up, my mind for some reason turned to the sale of my old ’39 Dodge pickup. Obviously, that had been a somewhat emotional event for me. The truck had magically come into my life, in 1969,* when I was roaming around Berkeley one day with no address to my name following the breakup of my first marriage. The truck, bought for $25 from a total stranger, had been a faithful ride right up until the day I sold it. *There’s more about acquiring my truck in my memoir, “TWELVE DEAD FROGS AND OTHER STORIES––A Filmmaker’s Memoir,” (Section, “Energy From the Ground”).  <https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0777FHXX2>.

In a moment, a phrase to advertise the proposed workshop came to mind. What it would be about was, feature filmmaking at used-car prices. After all, my transportation for ten years had been my dear truck, and that was my car. I called Linda back and gave her my title. Because of completing my movie on the back of selling my used “car,” it helped create the title for my as-yet-unwritten book.