Author: William Dickerson
MSRP: $13.49 (Paperback) $7.99 (Kindle)
Do you have a great idea for a film but aren’t sure where to start in order to make your story a reality? Are you a budding cinephile who craves some inside information in the process of creating a feature-length indie?
If you answered yes to either of these questions and can’t currently afford to attend an expensive film school, William Dickerson’s book Detour Hollywood may be a good starting point. Structured more like a how-to guide than something designed to be read cover to cover, Dickerson walks readers through the entire process of making a low-budget indie from start to finish using his own real-world experience of making his 2013 thriller Detour.
The book, clocking in at a manageable 165 pages, walks new filmmakers through every step of directing a professional movie, from simple ideas like what defines a director, to more complex ones like how to establish your own vision and how to work with actors.
New filmmakers should keep in mind that this book acts more like a guide, containing helpful tips and tricks to keep one organized and educated when creating a commercial film, and shouldn’t be looked at as the one and only thing one reads in order to become the next Paul Thomas Anderson.
Anyone who dives into this should already have a robust knowledge in film theory and screenwriting and be ready to put forth the effort, time and finances required to embark on creating a professional moving image.
Dickerson’s Film ‘Detour’
Dickerson structures the book in easily digestible sections, bolding and highlighting key concepts, making it easy to go back and reference specific items later and even encouraging readers to write on, tear up and abuse the book as needed to better hone their craft.
Over the years, I’ve read and referenced countless guides and text books on a varying array of film related topics, and this one, while not as comprehensive and in depth as some of the bible-sized others I own, is one of the easiest to follow. This can be attributed to Dickerson’s anecdotal discussions of his time working on Detour, a film that had a healthy theatrical run and a major distributor.
Again, Detour Hollywood is not a book designed to be read start to finish that, upon completion, would transform you into a master director. But for the price, it’s an excellent starting-off point for people to begin understanding all the hard work involved in creating a micro-budget film. Even for those like myself with no current ambitions on becoming a director, it’s terribly interesting to learn more about the craft itself and to gain a better understanding of what goes on behind the camera.
