This is the first book to address future informal settlements at the global scale. It argues that to foster favourable conditions for the sustainable evolution of future informal cities; planners must consider the same issues that are paramount in formal urban developments; such as provision of:balanced land usesenergy efficiency and mobility water management and food sufficiencygovernance and community participation productivity and competitiveness identity and sense of place Planning and Design for Future Informal Settlements makes a call for responsible action to address the urban challenges of the developing world; suggesting that the vitality of informality; coupled with spatial design and good management; can support the efficient use of resources in better places to live.The book analyses the strengths and weaknesses of informal urbanism and the challenges faced by the fast growing cities of the developing world. Through case studies; it demonstrates the contributions and limitations of different attempts to plan ahead for urban growth; from the creation of formal housing and urban infrastructures for self-built dwellings to the improvement of existing informal settlements. It provides a robust framework for planners and designers; policy-makers; NGOs and local governments working to improve living conditions in developing cities.
#4006342 in eBooks 2014-07-31 2014-07-31File Name: B00MNEE0AW
Review
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful. WITHOUT QUESTION THE BEST BOOK EVER PUBLISHED ON INDIE FILMMAKINGBy MikeReed Martins "The Reel Truth" is without question the best book on the subject of Indie Filmmaking ever published. It reads like a well-written and fast paced novel and yet gets down in the weeds of the actual pitfalls (ex: forming an LLC to avoid being vulnerable in the future to lawsuits; the mishandling of data cards in a rush to see the dailies which leads to digital drop-outs; and the always overlooked importance of good sound recording - as Danny Boyle points out in the book; good sound is probably the most important aspect of indie filmmaking) and details brilliantly all the aspects of creating; funding; releasing; and marketing an independent film.Without this book I have no idea how much more painful the experience would have been - as I have just completed an indie film and am taking it to film festivals. I have used it like a roadmap; and it was the best twenty dollars I could have spent. A tool as essential as any piece of film equipment (even the appendixes in the back of the book which contain sample in-depth budgets and contracts are great). It was required reading for each producer and the director because we felt there was so much to digest reading it that we would all be better off have gone through the book individually and highlighted it. Although I enjoyed the other known works on the subject ("I Wake Up Screening"; "Spike; Mike; Slackers; Dykes"; and "Down and Dirty Pictures"); I felt none compared; or - more importantly - were as relevant as the recently published "The Reel Truth". Nor did the other books really elucidate with clarity all the overwhelming aspects an indie film producer; director; or screenwriter faces. Really no comparasion. This book stresses Strategy; which I have found out personally is of vital importance when marketing your finished film(no coincidence that the author also taught at some of the best business schools in the country). There is even a seperate chapter on documentary films and the newly emerging markets and strategy that are now available for a doc filmmaker to make a great film - and a profit. The chapter on legal issues in "The Reel Truth" is alone worth the price of the book; for example; dont just have your college buddy who is a lawyer to look over the contract; rather hire a professional who knows all the deal points and ways to structure the contract that protects the filmmakers in the event of either failure or succuess. Which is not to mention the other fine legal points of knowing what you can and cant shoot - because there is nothing worse as the book points out as having to cut your favorite scene in post because you didnt legally clear something. Nor have I encountered a book yet that has dived into the horribly prevalent state of screenplay theft; example being: How attending screenplay pitch-fests where you tell your ideas and script beats to a room full of professional producers and fellow screenwriters undercuts any claim you might have since you are freely disclosing your ideas without any expectation of compensation. Indeed; my one worry before reading the book was that since the book was published in 2009; it might not be relevant to making a film in 2011/2012. I couldnt have been more wrong. The book feels like the author wrote it for the 2012 indie film market. For example; he especially examines with a microscope the ever-changing world of Indie film and the new ways to market and distribute your film on s CreateSpace and Youtube. Do yourself a favor: pay $16 dollars and save yourself a lifetime of heartache and suffering while making your first or second indie film! As the book points out -if there is one constant theme: IT CANT BE FIXED IN POST-PRODUCTION. So if you already have the talent and love of film; this book will be more important to you than any MFA a film school could ever provide you.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Reel Truth is a very comprehensive and helpful guide to the novice and more experienced filmmaker.By Jennifer DubowThe Reel Truth is a very comprehensive and helpful guide to the novice and more experienced filmmaker. The book is well written and well researched; offering expert insights into common pitfalls that filmmakers make; and useful tips on how to avoid those mistakes. The reader will need to take some of the fundraising and distribution suggestions in the context of the time in which they were written; as technology and distribution platforms have changed since the book was first published. That being said; the recommendations and suggested resources are still timely and relevant; as are the other suggestions; for ex; around building a compelling narrative and preparing / protecting oneself through the legal system. As someone who is brand new to the filmmaking world; I found the book to be incredibly helpful.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great for Those New to FilmmakingBy KimberlySo far this seems to be a really informative book for someone completely new to the film making process. Im not sure how it holds up for someone who has foundational knowledge; but since Im less than a year into reading about the actual making of films; this is a good addition to my knowledge base.
