This is a short basic overview for people who want to make films for a cause. The book is targeted to self-confident people who are passionate about a subject and want to produce and market a film about it. Such beginners to film should either expect to hire a creative team or also have in-depth books focused on cinematography, sound, interviewing, story, and editing; this book's strength is in encouraging readers to think about fundraising, marketing, and distribution from the moment they start to think about making a film. Though his can-do boosterism is unusual for a form so difficult and financially risky as documentary film, author Jon Fitzgerald (Slamdance film festival, CineCause) makes a case that with Internet fundraising and home computer programs like FinalCut Pro, skilled entrepreneurs with energy, passion, and good business sense can succeed in producing a film. The book is divided into three sections: development, production, and distribution. The first covers story development by making a quick recap of Joseph Campbell and naming some Hollywood film genres. The second briefly covers pre-production, production, and post-production. The third covers marketing, the film festival circuit, and distribution platforms. The book traces five specific films through each section, showing how they made it through each part of the process. There is a rear section of resources, including links to CineCause, a glossary, sample budget, fundraising campaign, press kit, and do-it-yourself screening promotional packet, and delivery requirements for digital platforms, international sales, and US theatrical and ancillary rights. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)