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True Indie
- Life and Death in Filmmaking
- Narrated by: Don Coscarelli
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
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Publisher's Summary
This program is read by the author.
From Don Coscarelli, the celebrated filmmaker behind many cherished cult classics, comes a memoir that's both revealing autobiography and indie film crash course.
Best known for his horror/sci-fi/fantasy films including Phantasm, The Beastmaster, Bubba Ho-tep, and John Dies at the End, now Don Coscarelli’s taking you on a white-knuckle ride through the rough and tumble world of indie film.
Join Coscarelli as he sells his first feature film to Universal Pictures and gets his own office on the studio lot while still in his teens. Travel with him as he chaperones three out-of-control child actors as they barnstorm Japan, almost drowns actress Catherine Keener in her first film role, and transforms a short story about Elvis Presley battling a 4,000-year-old Egyptian mummy into a beloved cult classic film.
Witness the incredible cast of characters he meets along the way from heavy metal god Ronnie James Dio to first-time filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary. Learn how breaking bread with genre icons Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, and Guillermo Del Toro leads to a major cable series and watch as he and zombie king George A. Romero together take over an unprepared national network television show with their tales of blood and horror.
This memoir fits an entire film school education into a single audiobook. It’s loaded with behind-the-scenes stories: like setting his face on fire during the making of Phantasm, hearing Bruce Campbell’s most important question before agreeing to star in Bubba Ho-tep, and crafting a horror thriller into a franchise phenomenon spanning four decades. Find out how Coscarelli managed to retain creative and financial control of his artistic works in an industry ruled by power-hungry predators, and all without going insane or bankrupt.
True Indie will prove indispensable for fans of Coscarelli’s movies, aspiring filmmakers, and anyone who loves a story of an underdog who prevails while not betraying what he believes.
What the critics say
"A smart, insightful, and entertaining look at the bizarre roller coaster life of an indie director. If you don’t love this book...you’re already dead.” (Rob Zombie)
“A must-read for fans of horror, lovers of independent cinema, and people who respect tenacity, determination, and perseverance. True Indie is a charming, entertaining, and insightful look at the life and work of a bold and brazen filmmaker. It hits the mark like a speeding, double-spiked chrome ball.” (J.J. Abrams)
What listeners say about True Indie
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Thomas Lacroix
- 2022-09-19
Glad I found this.
I wasn’t sure who Don was, but now for sure he’s on my list forever. I feel like he was my friend giving me advice. I loved jt.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kyle McMurray
- 2019-04-26
Read this if you wanna get inspired!!
Loved it. Very inspiring. As soon as it was finished I restarted it. That good.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Kilgore Trout
- 2021-01-02
True Delusion
True Ego is another good title. 70+ chapters of discourse on making movies with studio backing all while touting indie status. Then truly groan worthy chest thumping about how he inadvertently created EBay and Nightmare on Elm Street. I would recommend this book to no one. Try Bruce Campbell's memoirs instead. They are better in every way and far more informative about filmmaking and the industry. Here you learn how to get a $250,000 loan from your dad at 19 to make your first feature film. Then take it through post production with the help of Universal Pictures. A painful waste of almost twelve hours.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tony Crumpton
- 2018-10-21
FIVE OUT OF FIVE SILVER BALLS
If you have any interest in indipendent filmmaking, you can't go wrong with this inspiring and emotional memoir by one of our most original filmmakers. Loved it.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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- Giovanni
- 2019-12-29
Not worth the read
All this is, is a long blah blah about how they made a film almost 40 years ago and were famous on a studio lot. I wanted a book on how an indie film maker today can get a film done. Save your time and money on this one.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sheela
- 2019-03-01
Amazing!
Whether a Phantasm phan, a film nerd, or someone who likes a motivational story...True Indie is for you. This is a great story by a talented, determined and accomplished filmmaker. I couldn’t stop listening but was sad when it was over. Being a biography, hearing the author read it made the story feel real and authentic. You can feel the passion and heartache as Don Coscarelli revisits his the highs and lows of his fascinating career.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- CMR
- 2021-11-02
essential for aspiring filmmakers
coscarelli charms you consistently throughout it's runtime, and offers up some valuable advice and insightful anecdotes to those trying to make it on their own.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- A. Castro
- 2021-10-06
Good insight from a humble filmmaker
Don Coscarelli doesn’t have the best voice for audio books, but that’s the only strike I can give this book. That being said, his genuine nature and and calm demeanor are definitely on display as he recounts his many stories and anecdotes from his past. He shares some good insight for filmmakers and provides a keen perspective from the indie film maker perspective.
I can’t say for sure that non-fans will find this very appealing, but if you are a fan of any of his films, I would recommend this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- K. McNichols
- 2021-05-21
Amazing!
Simply amazing! An absolute gem of a book that gives insight to longtime fans, and genuine wisdom for aspiring filmmakers. A must read for film fans and filmmakers everywhere!
R.I.P. Angus Scrimm!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-04-08
Every Horror and Movie Fan Will Love This Book
Don Coscarelli does an amazing job telling the story of his film career directing off the beaten path films. Really makes you feel like you are right there in the trenches with him during his journeys in film and struggles getting his pictures made. A must listen!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ernest Curci
- 2021-02-05
an unecpected great experience
this was not what I expected but a truly great story. I learned much more than I expected and it was really helpful before me
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David J. Newton
- 2021-02-04
My favorite audiobook of all time!
I discovered this audiobook while searching for books on independent filmmaking. I listened to the sample and knew I would enjoy this selection so I bought it. From the very beginning I was hooked. I had never heard of Don Coscarelli, had never watched any of his movies as the horror genre had never really been my thing. I should mention that I’m almost 55 years old so most of his movies were available to me at the time they were new releases. As I listened to the book outlining the production of all the films I just had to see them and have been doing so one by one. I’m now a huge fan! Don’s storytelling in the book is just wonderful and listening to his read of the book is perfect. His warmth and genuine character come through from the first words. It’s my hope that he writes another book and does the reading as I just enjoyed this so much. It is easily my favorite audiobook ever! If you have an interest in filmmaking or just love the films of Don Coscarelli you will really enjoy this book. On a side note: I bought the hardcover too!
