Make Your Own Damn Movie! Secrets of a Renegade Director

Make Your Own Damn Movie! Secrets of a Renegade Director
by Lloyd Kaufman, with Adam Jahnke and Trent Haaga
(published by St. Martin’s Press)


Sick of all the cookie-cutter plots in Hollywood films? 

Do you walk out of a movie theater and say, I can do better than that, but have no idea how?

Lloyd Kaufman, president of Troma Entertainment and creator of the The Toxic Avenger, says, Make Your Own Damn Movie!

Make Your Own Damn Movie! packs three decades of cinematic know-how into one fantastic book that shows how to take your truly independent vision form conception to completion! Make Your Own Damn Movie! is a hilarious yet informative crash course in filmmaking, written for anyone who has ever wanted to make movies but didnt know how! Using real-life examples from Kaufmans own thirty years in the business, Make Your Own Damn Movie! illustrates step by step:

  • Financing! (getting the money)
  • Scriptwriting!
  • Budgeting!
  • Getting cast and crew for no money!
  • Pre-production!
  • Production!
  • Post-production! (Finishing the movie… see, you are learning already!)
  • Marketing your own damn movie!

Using the world-famous Troma System of filmmaking and marketing-which has brought you films like , Trey Parker’s Cannibal! The Musical, and Kevin Costner in Sizzle Beach USA, you will be making your own damn movie in no time.

In typical Troma fashion, Make Your Own Damn Movie! is both informative and entertaining. So whether you want to learn how to make movies or read about how Lloyd Kaufman convinces actors and actresses to get naked for little or no money, Make Your Own Damn Movie! is the book for you!

There are currently 8 responses to “Make Your Own Damn Movie! Secrets of a Renegade Director”

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  1. 1 On June 22nd, 2007, Jennifer said:

    Hi,Lloyd…How’s your morning?Hope all is well to do for you-do you have a myspace address,or email that I can write to?Really interested in reading your book,”How To Make Your Own Damn Movie”…my bf has a copy of the book and has asked me to write a screenplay,but I can’t afford the book,and he lives far away,so I was wondering if there were any free versions floating around on the net…Please let me know asap….Thank you so much for your time,and consideration for the efforts I am attempting to make….I really do appreciate any advice you may be able to give to me….

  2. 2 On February 17th, 2008, Tattooed Steve said:

    Lloyd,

    I love this book and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to write it.

    There are so many people that email and ask me “How do I get started in making a movie?” So I tell them, “Buy a copy of Make your own damn movie! It has any and all of the information you will ever need. Then once your done with that and still want to follow through, buy the DVD set then take your chances.
    It’s amazing the reactions and looks that I get half the time, but I tell them that you give a no bullshit “This is how the process and business works” step by step explanation. But if they want to buy some pipe dream piece of shit that tells you “(A) Buy a HD camera. (B) Point it at your asshole friends. (C) Make a Gazillion dollars from your movie and get your Oscar.” go right ahead, but don’t cry to me that you went through all of your money and you can’t get it sold.
    I can’t express enough how important this book can be to a first time filmmaker!

    And I also wanted to thank you for making it possible for my Mother, Wife and Myself to see me in a horror movie on the big screen. That had to be one of the coolest times of my life.

    Keep the gore pumping out of Tromaville!
    Tattooed Steve

  3. 3 On January 29th, 2010, Josephine david said:

    Dear Mr. Llyod,

    For the first time i have come tohear of some thing as wonderful like this. I am just in the processing of finding out how to make Short film. I am sure your DVD is going to be of great help.

    Thank you. Just keep up this up and going always…
    Josephine David

  4. 4 On March 21st, 2010, Einar said:

    Just finished the book -thanks! Guess I’ll buy DVD box next -are the DVD’s locked for zone 1(USA) or can I play them in European DVD players?

    I also wondered if Lloyd had changed his mind about digital video, now that you can get 1080i HD video cameras for cheap?

  5. 5 On August 24th, 2010, The Lord of Troma : Critical Hits said:

    […] Things actually started here a bit before my phone interview. I had the privilege of attending Mr.Kaufman’s “Make Your Own Damn Movie” masterclass at Gen Con a few weeks ago, and he was very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions audience had, but the answers were sometimes surprising. Several people asked what sort of equipment to use, and he would always fire back with some variation on “Depends! How much money do you have? You can get by with consumer-grade equipment.” Then everyone would discuss their shoestring budget success stories and we’d move on. It’s how Troma works. Make your movie the best way you can with what you have. (You can find out way more by buying Lloyd’s book, Make Your Own Damn Movie, Secrets of a Renegade Director!) It was inspiring to see so much enthusiasm and resourcefulness surrounding the making of so called “schlock” movies. I’d find out a little more as to why when I spoke to Lloyd this week. […]

  6. 6 On December 28th, 2011, Kalika said:

    Hey, Larry! Can’t wait to read your book. Wanted to buy it off your site but you don’t have it in Nook or Kindle format. I like instant gratification and don’t like to wait to receive it in the mail. I want to buy it NOW! So, I’m going to mosey on over to Barnes and Noble and buy me a nook book of “Make Your Own Damn Movie!”

  7. 7 On February 12th, 2012, Jeremy said:

    Lloyd! I read “Make Your Own Damn Movie” three times and now I’m going on a spree and buying all your books! Unfortunately I read the book when I was sitting on 2 days of abandon footage I shot on digital video after my first feature went bust. If only I had read this book first! It’s a must! I look forward to reading the rest of your work and learning from the best! Keep up the great work, and keep an eye out for my film when I send it your way… AFTER I read the rest of your collection!

  8. 8 On October 17th, 2018, Sam Buitrago said:

    Dear Mr. asshole
    this book has inspired me and many friends to make our own damn movie. all of your career has been an inspiration for me, without your crazy independent movies, I would have been a successful physician, but because I watched your movies and read your books, I want to be a independent film director. my biggest dream is to meet you Mr asshole, and be the new Mr. asshole
    Thank Lloyd

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