A Movie Making Nerd

By: James Rolfe

Narrated by: James Rolfe

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

James Rolfe is an independent filmmaker and creator of the Angry Video Game Nerd web series and feature film. A Movie Making Nerd is a personal account of his origins, starting with an early love of making home movies before the rise of the internet and digital video. Rolfe candidly details moments of triumph and failure in both life and filmmaking—from his time in special education school and struggles during adolescence and college, to personal relationships, finding employment, and raising children. Every recollection in A Movie Making Nerd, whether happy, funny, or painful, shows how one might turn a childhood hobby into a life-long calling.

©2022 Screenwave Media Inc. (P)2022 Screenwave Media Inc.

Very Little About the AVGN Series

James Rolfe is known worldwide for his portrayal through internet videos of the Angry Video Game Nerd. His videos were highly influential and set a standard early on for a high quality episodic YouTube video series, inspiring many young fans to go on to create successful YouTube channels of their own. The AVGN video series was arguably a pioneering achievement in internet history, and definitely of enough public interest to having a book dedicated to giving fans an inside look.

As a fan myself, when I heard that James was finally releasing his autobiography, I couldn't wait to find out the details of how he came up with ideas for the AVGN, how he collaborated with his long time friends, as well as some of the various guest stars early on, to make it all happen. I was hoping to find some funny inside stories or even inspiring challenges that might have come with the rise of the series. Sadly, there is very little discussion of the AVGN series or its production at all.

James starts the book by speaking at length about his formative years up through high school, creating and editing home movies with his video camera from the 80s on through the 90s. From there, he goes on to describe college shenanigans, and briefly mentions how he met future fellow AVGN collaborators, Kyle, Bootsy and Mike. Most discussion around them is limited to their college years, however. Save for a sentence or two about how Mike (who he continually refers to just as "Matei") ran the channel, told James he was going to make him famous, and even managed the website while James was off making the feature film, there is little mention of important contributions he or any of the rest of them may have made to the AVGN, or the work they put in to help it succeed.

Instead, he skips ahead into production of the AVGN movie and how important his wife and cats were in the making of it. Most of the rest of the book is about various production woes and how much they stressed him out. There are a few sentences about his musical project, Rex Viper, toward the end. This book really reads more like a mundane personal journal than a book full of important or valuable insight that would serve as an inspiration to an aspiring film-maker or even just enlightening behind-the-scenes trivia for a devoted fan.

In the absence of information about the AVGN series to comment on, if I had any major takeaway from this book, it's that starting a family too early is a good way to stop your desire to create dead in its tracks. For some reason, James let his wife "talk him into" having their first baby while still in post-production on the AVGN movie, and after the traumatizing birth of his daughter (which was described in graphic detail), he even says, while slowly but surely making his way through the grueling last steps of post-production, "Why am I doing this?" He describes completing the movie as a trap which did nothing but steal time from him and his baby, whereas before he'd happily obsessed over every last detail, relishing the experience of video and movie making. He further laments how he could suddenly understand why his old coworkers in the liquor store he once worked at preferred to live normal, simple lives, which, to James, amounted to having "no ambition". It might make you wonder whether he's planning to retire, only making whatever sort of videos will keep him afloat financially, while his heart remains solely in being a family man. All we're really left with is, "'Til next time".

In the end, it's a bit puzzling why a man who, toward the end, seems to hint that we ain't seen nothin' yet, even felt it would be a good time to publish an autobiography. This is something that is normally done in one's twilight years, as they look back on the trials, tribulations, joys and successes of a full life, well-lived. Is this only a Part 1? If he ever gets back into film-making, will there be a sequel to come? Unfortunately in this book, the most important contribution James has made to modern film-making - his internet video content - was only glossed over, reduced to a few paragraphs at best, so it seems unlikely that we'll ever get any real insight into the thing that made James so beloved and successful in the first place. It just seems a terrible missed opportunity.

Have been a fan for many years

James is a great story teller and narrator. I listen to this in one day. Kept me engaged start to finish. I would recommend to anyone who loves James's other work. I really hopes he continues to write and narrate

Good, with some missed opportunities

What you get out of this will depend on what you're expecting.

If you want a true autobiography of James Rolfe, from his childhood to his high school and college experiences, to a few horrible-sounding day jobs before he created the Angry Video Game Nerd, you'll get it.

If you want to hear how James learned how to make short movies and videos on a microscopic budget, you'll get it.

If you want to hear about his band Rex Viper, you'll get (way too much about) it.

If you want to hear how James created the Angry Video Game Nerd and eventually made the feature film of the same name, you'll get it.

If you want to hear how James met his frequent collaborators Mike, Bootsy, and Kyle, you'll get it.

If you want to hear James talk about the very public termination of his friendship with Bootsy and Kyle, or the controversial and tone-deaf actions that Mike took on behalf of the Cinemassacre channel while James was away shooting the AVGN movie, or to finally hear James address the fan outrage of Screenwave taking over most of the AVGN production duties, you'll be very disappointed. James has never spoken publicly about these events, and this book remains silent. (Screenwave gets maybe three sentences.)

A pity, since these are the events I most wanted to hear about. It's as if James thinks controversy doesn't exist if he ignores it. This is a huge omission, especially since Bootsy and Kyle just vanish toward the end of the book with no explanation. Also, James refers to Mike by his last name, Matei, almost exclusively. It's weird. That doesn't like something you do to a friend.

I liked most of the book, though. It's nice to have James doing his own narration, although he does mispronounce the same words he regularly mispronounces in his Cinemassacre videos (for example, things get "burryed" in the desert, not "buried.")

Loved it!

I absolutely loved this! It was everything I’d hope it’d be. James has a great narration voice and storyteller. I kinda wish it were longer, but it was a great message and helps fuel my creative side!

I love this book, listened multiple times!

I absolutely love this book. I have been a cinemassacre fan since 2009 and I was so excited to learn about James's history. I love the narration style! The tone reminds me of old cinemassacre movie reviews, The stories are funny and charming and inspirational. I will listen to it many more times.

From one need to another

James Rolfe has always been one of my hero’s so it’s great to hear his story and to hear about all the highs and lows of his life.

Was a fun listen with lots of nostalgia...

I've been an AVGN fan for years and born in the 80s. Your work has always been an inspiration throughout the years and loved listening to the other side of the nerd. Great work and thank you for everything you've done so far .

Great work as always James.

You will get so much more out of this by hearing James' own words a must listen to any fan of Mr. Rolfe.

Mandatory listening for James fans

Finished all of it in a couple of days. I would listen to James read me the bible :) He has a very soothing voice.
I would be interested in a second book focusing solely on the nerd.

An amazing life story on James Rolfe

I've always known James as the nerd, and know he likes to keep his private life, well... private. But getting a glimpse into it is really inspiring. I don't share the experience of him going after what he's always loved as a kid, but James leaves you with a powerful message that no matter how old you are, it's never too late to live like that kid and find that spark in your life---regardless of your hurdles.

Overall, a great listen if you want to know a bit more about James' story and how he got into filmmaking. I think this was narrated well. I always enjoy his commentary on a variety of topics and just hearing his ups and downs was both captivating and hilarious at times! Thanks James.

The Need Succeeds.

I bought the physical paperback the second it released and now I've enjoyed James's own voice recount his life's ups and downs a second time.
Rolfe shows how the the smallest of fortunes can have a very moving impact on your life (The college roommate stories especially), having started watching his content in 2015, I became very attached to James's humble nature and hilarious content.
If you're a fan of AVGN and all things Cinemassacre, then this is for you.

Nerdtastic!

loved this book, James's journey is gripping and heart warmingly relatable. l could easily listen to this book multiple times and still want to go back. well done.

A pure treat to listen to!

I was very eager to listen to this ever since it came out and believe me, it's well worth it. Very engaging, kept me on edge at some points and it was enlightening to hear more about James' life. It was even better to hear James himself narrate it, he has a very natural way of speaking and it's very comforting to listen to. I'm not sure if he'll ever read this, but I do wanna say thanks to James for sharing these stories and I'm sure there's a lot more waiting for you in the future

Perfect for any AVGN fan

a treat for an avgn fan. especially one who has been watching for years.

An interesting story of James the Angry Video Game

I've listened to this publication basically from start to finish in my free time.

James's story is nicely narrated by himself. I like his voice, it was a pleasure to listen to.

The story is divided into several chapters relating to James's education and life "stages".
The most interesting parts to me were the author's childhood, teenage life, crazy college shenanigans and Nerd period.
Surprisingly to me I was rather bored by the author's adventures with making his own movie, although I must admit he had one crazy journey he had embarked upon.

Also I did not know that the author was rather emotional.

So all in all story 4/5 but hey, it's a semi-autobiography and life creates the wackiest scenarios.

For fans of AVGN and James's work it's basically an instant classic.
If you don't know AVGN or James's work then it's an entertaining story full of toilet humor, lots of crazy shenanigans and some emotional parts.

After watching all his videos there was still new things

I had watched so much on James. Been following him for years so wondered if this is worth my time. It totally is. There is so much new stuff he discusses that even if you think you won’t learn anything new about Hames or his journey you most likely will.

A MUST for any AVGN fan

Endearing, intimate and entertaining from start to finish! At first, I'll admit I had full respect for, but never really took enough interest into James' old cinema works to be sure if I wanted to buy the book (especially being on a tight budget). I was more than pleasantly surprised though at how engaging and fun it was to hear about it all. It truly gives you an insight on everything James has been through and his all too relatable struggles of everyday life as a kid into his teenage years and adulthood, as well as his battles with depression. I was already a big fan of the AVGN stuff for years now, and now I'm even more of a fan and will be checking out his old projects! Thanks for all your hard work, James! Lots of love.

A nice capstone to the Nerd

James Rolfe has had a huge impact on my interests when it's come to the internet, I've watched his AVGN videos since I was a child, and his trajectory as a filmmaker has served as a great inspiration for me.

This audiobook feels like a nice send off and tribute to that era, highly recommended for anyone who's even remotely familiar with his work. His thoughts on nostalgia especially I found almost profound, at the very least they resonated with me...

I only give 4 stars for performance as at times it's clear when the narration has stopped and a new session has begun, it's no big deal but I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice.

The Nerd speaks and not angry 🤣

Good book and well read by James, if you like Cinemassacre productions and of course the AVGN this a very good listen.

Narration is great

The nerd is very good at getting that vibe brought through his words . What a legend !