Otterpine is delighted to announce the release of Yes You Can by indie filmmaker, Courtney Daniels. This practical guide is our first book release focused on movie production, and we’re excited to share Courtney’s knowledge with the world!
There are a lot of books out there about how to make movies, but this unique resource highlights the entire process of making a movie with a small (or even non-existent) budget, written by a low-budget filmmaker who has been successfully working outside the Hollywood system for years on her own terms. Yes You Can makes indie filmmaking accessible to anyone with an interest in making a movie, no matter their experience or funding.
While the prospect of making a film, especially with a limited budget, might feel like a daunting undertaking, Courtney encourages the reader to take the plunge without waiting for permission from anyone. As the writer, director, and producer of indie films including What Other Couples Do, Bedroom Story, and This Fucking Town, Courtney builds off of her own experience to help the reader gain confidence in their skills.
Yes You Can guides the reader through every step of the process: screenwriting, casting, pre-production, lighting, camerawork, directing, production, post-production, and distribution. With helpful visuals, checklists, useful tips, and illuminating stories from her own productions, this holistic guide is a tool that filmmakers can use before, during, and after they pick up the camera. This book not only offers practical tools for filmmaking but also creates a space for filmmakers to explore and create their own movie-making philosophy and vision.
Courtney makes it clear that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to shooting a film. The traditional way of making movies can be daunting and restrictive, especially when it comes to funding. Yes You Can illuminates the freedom that comes with recognizing that movies don’t have to be expensive or large-scale productions. With a camera and confidence, Courtney assures the reader that, yes, they can make a movie, and this book is there to help them from beginning to end.
