An entertaining and inspirational memoir by one of the most prominent practitioners and evangelists of independent filmmaking, and the acclaimed writer, director, and actor (Saving Private Ryan, Friends with Kids, Entourage) whose first film—The Brothers McMullen—has become an indie classic.At the age of twenty-five, Ed Burns directed and produced his first film on a tiny $25,000 budget. The Brothers McMullen went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995, and established the working-class Irish American filmmaker as a talent to watch. In the twenty years since, Burns has made ten more films (She's the One, Sidewalks of New York, and The Fitzgerald Family Christmas), while also acting in big budget Hollywood movies (Saving Private Ryan), hit television shows (Entourage and Mob City), and pioneering a new distribution network for indie filmmakers online and with TV's On Demand service (“why open a film in twenty art houses when you can open in twenty million homes?”).Inspired by Burns's uncompromising success both behind and in front of the camera, students and aspiring filmmakers are always asking Burns for advice. In Independent Ed, Burns shares the story of his two remarkable decades in a fickle business where heat and box office receipts are often all that matter. He recounts stories of the lengths he has gone to to secure financing for his films, starting with The Brothers McMullen (he told his father: “Shooting was the twelve best days of my life”). How he found stars on their way up—including Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz—to work in his films, and how he's adhered religiously to the dictum of writing what you know, working as if he was just starting out, and always “looking for the next twelve best days of my life.”Chronicling the struggles and the long hours as well as the heady moments when months of planning and writing come to fruition, Independent Ed is a must-read for movie fans, film students, and everyone who loves a gripping tale about what it takes to forge your own path in work and life.

Burns, Edward, 1968- author; Gold, Todd, author

New York: Gotham Books

United States, United States of America

First Edition ~1st Printing, PT, 2015

New York State, 2015

obscured text back cover

An entertaining and inspirational memoir by one of the most prominent practitioners and evangelists of independent filmmaking, and the acclaimed writer, director, and actor ( Saving Private Ryan, Friends with Kids, Entourage ) whose first film The Brothers McMullen has become an indie classic.
At the age of twenty-five, Ed Burns directed and produced his first film on a tiny $25,000 budget. The Brothers McMullen went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995, and established the working-class Irish American filmmaker as a talent to watch. In the twenty years since, Burns has made ten more films ( Shes the One, Sidewalks of New York, and The Fitzgerald Family Christmas ), while also acting in big budget Hollywood movies ( Saving Private Ryan ), hit television shows ( Entourage and Mob City ), and pioneering a new distribution network for indie filmmakers online and with TVs On Demand service (why open a film in twenty art houses when you can open in twenty million homes?).
Inspired by Burnss uncompromising success both behind and in front of the camera, students and aspiring filmmakers are always asking Burns for advice. In Independent Ed , Burns shares the story of his two remarkable decades in a fickle business where heat and box office receipts are often all that matter. He recounts stories of the lengths he has gone to to secure financing for his films, starting with The Brothers McMullen (he told his Shooting was the twelve best days of my life). How he found stars on their way upincluding Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diazto work in his films, and how hes adhered religiously to the dictum of writing what you know, working as if he was just starting out, and always looking for the next twelve best days of my life.
Chronicling the struggles and the long hours as well as the heady moments when months of planning and writing come to fruition, Independent Ed is a must-read for movie fans, film students, and everyone who loves a gripping tale about what it takes to forge your own path in work and life.

A Memoir By One Of The Most Prominent Practitioners And Evangelists Of Independent Filmmaking, And The ... Writer, Director, And Actor (saving Private Ryan, Friends With Kids, Entourage) Whose First Film--the Brothers Mcmullen--has Become An Indie Classic--amazon.com. Thank You, Mrs. Maxwell -- Becoming A Writer -- The Brothers Mcmullen -- The Twelve Greatest Days Of My Life -- She's The One -- No Looking Back -- Saving Private Ryan -- Sidewalks Of New York -- Ash Wednesday -- Confidence -- Looking For Kitty -- The Groomsmen -- Purple Violets -- Time To Change Things Up -- How The Hell Did This Happen? -- Nice Guy Johnny -- Newlyweds -- The Fitzgerald Family Christmas -- Mob City -- Putting Together The Pitch -- Twelve More Days -- Public Morals -- Independent Ed. Edward Burns ; With Todd Gold.

x, 259 pages : 24 cm
A "memoir by one of the most prominent practitioners and evangelists of independent filmmaking, and the ... writer, director, and actor (Saving Private Ryan, Friends with Kids, Entourage) whose first film--The Brothers McMullen--has become an indie classic"--Amazon.com

The independent filmmaker and Hollywood actor traces his two decades in the movie industry and his professional collaborations with such fellow celebrities as Robert Redford, Angelina Jolie, and Cameron Diaz

2023-06-28