True Indie: Life and Death In Filmmaking Non-Fiction Book Review
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 four-thousand-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 book. 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.
Non-Fiction Book Review – True Indie: Life and Death In Filmmaking
Don Coscarelli is a name that many in the horror community are familiar with. He garnered notoriety after his small indie production was a success. That film is the 1979 Cult classic film, Phantasm. While the film holds a special place in my heart for its nostalgia, great visuals, and killer soundtrack, I can’t say it is great. Good, yes, but not great. I will say, however, that it is pretty iconic with deadly silver, floating spheres, and the creepy and intimidating Tall Man that was given life, and a place in horror history, by the late Angus Scrimm. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Scrimm at one of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors Conventions in NYC in the late 90s.
In True Indie, Don Coscarelli lays out, in grueling detail, his rise from a young boy growing up in California to a man who has had some success, and hits, in Hollywood. His story is fascinating and details the many ups and downs of Hollywood life – more woes than anything else. While Coscarelli certainly had opportunities, especially when he managed to land a deal with Universal Studios, this was in no way ever a “sure thing.” It was certainly belittling and unfortunate that the powers that be kept putting up hurdles and roadblocks that prevented Coscarelli from making it further with his career. This path, however, is what made True Indie shine.
Did he let these roadblocks stop him? Absolutely not. Phantasm was a passion project and a labor of love that was funded, for the most part, by the help of his dad who believed in his son and through good old-fashioned fundraising. The insights into the making of Phantasm, the behind-the-scenes tidbits, and the relationships developed were an absolute pleasure to read about and invaluable. Reading about the experiences through the making of Phantasm got me giddy and helped me to relive my brief time in my foray into indie filmmaking.
Aside from Phantasm, Coscarelli discussed his other projects such as The Beastmaster, an all-time favorite of mine as a kid, and Bubba Ho-Tep starring cult favorite, Bruce Campbell of the Evil Dead series. Again, Coscarelli provides some insights as to the work he put into getting these projects off the ground and the grueling process of trying to get distributors to purchase the rights, let alone watch his films.
I was enamored with this book. Do I consider him one of the greats? No, I do not. That being said, having read True Indie I have an immense respect for the man and only wish he was given more chances to display his work. True Indie is a fantastic and inspiring book that any aspiring filmmaker needs to read, or, if you are a fan of Phantasm and Coscarelli’s films. I had a hard time putting this one down and wanted more of his experiences in the industry.