I Know that some of you care about the story and artistic merit of your upcoming film project and that is great. You should think about that but you are also running a small business for a few months.
Many people think that making a film is something that they can only do only after they win the lottery. Money isn't something that you acquire, it's more liquid. You can't hold on to it. By it's nature it changes hands. It comes and goes. The best you can do is direct its flow to your project.
It's hard to save money. That's why people offer payment plans. It's easier to pay $100 dollars a month then $400 every four months. Why? You get paid by your employer and you direct that pay to your financial obligations. People hold on to a small amount from what they actually get from their job.
I know, you know all this. It's hard to save money. So, how are you going to make your film? Financial responsibility! Exciting huh? The least appealing part of film making but probably the most important. If the dollars add up that's when "Big Mama's House" gets made.
Most of you don't want to make b or c-movies but they are always being made. Why? Financially they make sense. They work at the most basic level. They make money.
Most people don't get into films for the money but that doesn't mean you have to starve either. Evey production is different but there is a few things you can do to help your success.
Make a budget and stick to it- this is the most important part. This budget is what you will have to pay or payback. Don't lose your car for your film. You need that car to get to your job (that pays).
Find a Credit Card - get a new credit card at 0%. This most likely will last a year. You will not have to pay an interest and this will spread out your payments. Remember it's easier then paying it all up front.
Get people to believe in your project - It's hard to get people to believe in your project but it will be worth it. Not only will theses people donate (time, money, food, etc.) they will be a small marketing team.
Remember if you make the film for $2,500. You only need 250 people to see your film and spend $10 to break even. Sound like a lot, but it's not. If you get 25 people involved in your film and they get 10 people each, your set. (It's all about the numbers).
Oh yeah, Stick to your budget. Good Luck.
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget. Show all posts
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Don't Make A Short, Make A Feature for $2,500
Why make a short film? If your answer is cost you are actually spending more money. What? Yes.
First the day of shorts is gone to showcase your talent. With the advent of digital tech you can make a feature for no-budget. $2,500 is all you need. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Lets get back to why NOT to make a short.
There are some reasons to make a short but these should be limited to story alone. If you have a small idea, a one trick pony, make a digital short (Like SNL). Other then that, make a feature. Unlike shorts, you can sell a feature. People buy features. Studios want to see that you can tell a story. The best reason to make a feature, you can make your money back.
Making a short you are throwing your money away. So, unlike a feature you are waisting money, costing you more. Even if you don't sell your film or a studio can't see how wonderful and creative your are, you still have a product to sell.
I know, I'm a downer. It took me a long time to realize that no money is made in making a film. That is right. NO MONEY IN MAKING FILMS. The money comes from marketing a film.
Movies themselves are a huge money suck. Cast, crew, props, sets, craft services, location agreements, lights, cameras, film (video) stock, etc., etc. With no guarantee a profit will be turned.
So, what do you do? Give yourself a budget. Lets say $2500 and forget about making the sweeping drama about a towns Mesothelioma lawsuit. Cancer from asbestos may play well come Oscar time but for now aim small.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). Small cast, 3 locations, and a simple story. Think, teens lost in the woods or dinner party. The subject will limit itself. Then hold yourself to that budget. Most likely you will not be paying your actors or crew, so feed them well. Spend a little extra cash to keep them well fed, pizza gets old after three days. Also, ask some local restaurants to donate food for a credit. Once we gave a guy a walk on for some beef sandwiches.
Next, pre-produce then pre-produce some more. The more you have your act together the more the cast and crew will respect you and be willing to go long into the night. Do not have the cast sitting around, you will not get the best performances. Schedule them so that have as little time on set as possible. Also, have the crew do the next set up while your shooting, this will move things along.
Keep your shoot to 12 days. That is 3 days a week for one month. Do nights an interiors on Friday after work and days and exteriors Saturday and Sunday. Budget about $100 a shooting day for food. That is $1200, just for food! That leaves you with $1,300.
Don't worry about about HD or any of the new wiz bang tech. If you don't already have one get a solid 3 chip camera by begging or borrowing, don't steal. If you want someone else to shoot your film get a student, most likely they have one are are eager to use it.
Spend most your time with the story and script, people can overlook bad lighting, no one can overlook a bad story.
Buy your MiniDV tapes online You can get 10 60-min tapes for about $25. Get 20 and shoot like you are on film. Buy a shotgun mic with a boom. Of course you can spend a lot here but I have got good results from $200 mics. Toss in another $50 for the boom pole.
So assuming you have a computer you can buy editing software and cut your film yourself. I suggest, if you don't already have a program, and older version of Adobe Premiere (Possibly 6.5). Buying older versions will save you cash. You can pick up this perfectly fine program for $150.
After that, you are left with $850. I know a lot of you are going to criticize me for not including lights or dolly or a half dozen other things but this is no budget film making. (If David Lynch doesn't need them, you don't need them.) There is no sense maxing out your credit cards, taking out loans, using other peoples money and most likely straining your relationships with friends and family. If the film story is good the film will be good.
The the remaining $850 on miscellaneous production cost, DVD's, film fest submissions, and small viral marketing for your film. After you went the fest route, you can publish the film yourself (see http://www.filmbaby.com/). From there you can possibly get it on Netflix.
So, get out there and start doing. Good Luck.
First the day of shorts is gone to showcase your talent. With the advent of digital tech you can make a feature for no-budget. $2,500 is all you need. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Lets get back to why NOT to make a short.
There are some reasons to make a short but these should be limited to story alone. If you have a small idea, a one trick pony, make a digital short (Like SNL). Other then that, make a feature. Unlike shorts, you can sell a feature. People buy features. Studios want to see that you can tell a story. The best reason to make a feature, you can make your money back.
Making a short you are throwing your money away. So, unlike a feature you are waisting money, costing you more. Even if you don't sell your film or a studio can't see how wonderful and creative your are, you still have a product to sell.
I know, I'm a downer. It took me a long time to realize that no money is made in making a film. That is right. NO MONEY IN MAKING FILMS. The money comes from marketing a film.
Movies themselves are a huge money suck. Cast, crew, props, sets, craft services, location agreements, lights, cameras, film (video) stock, etc., etc. With no guarantee a profit will be turned.
So, what do you do? Give yourself a budget. Lets say $2500 and forget about making the sweeping drama about a towns Mesothelioma lawsuit. Cancer from asbestos may play well come Oscar time but for now aim small.
K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid). Small cast, 3 locations, and a simple story. Think, teens lost in the woods or dinner party. The subject will limit itself. Then hold yourself to that budget. Most likely you will not be paying your actors or crew, so feed them well. Spend a little extra cash to keep them well fed, pizza gets old after three days. Also, ask some local restaurants to donate food for a credit. Once we gave a guy a walk on for some beef sandwiches.
Next, pre-produce then pre-produce some more. The more you have your act together the more the cast and crew will respect you and be willing to go long into the night. Do not have the cast sitting around, you will not get the best performances. Schedule them so that have as little time on set as possible. Also, have the crew do the next set up while your shooting, this will move things along.
Keep your shoot to 12 days. That is 3 days a week for one month. Do nights an interiors on Friday after work and days and exteriors Saturday and Sunday. Budget about $100 a shooting day for food. That is $1200, just for food! That leaves you with $1,300.
Don't worry about about HD or any of the new wiz bang tech. If you don't already have one get a solid 3 chip camera by begging or borrowing, don't steal. If you want someone else to shoot your film get a student, most likely they have one are are eager to use it.
Spend most your time with the story and script, people can overlook bad lighting, no one can overlook a bad story.
Buy your MiniDV tapes online You can get 10 60-min tapes for about $25. Get 20 and shoot like you are on film. Buy a shotgun mic with a boom. Of course you can spend a lot here but I have got good results from $200 mics. Toss in another $50 for the boom pole.
So assuming you have a computer you can buy editing software and cut your film yourself. I suggest, if you don't already have a program, and older version of Adobe Premiere (Possibly 6.5). Buying older versions will save you cash. You can pick up this perfectly fine program for $150.
After that, you are left with $850. I know a lot of you are going to criticize me for not including lights or dolly or a half dozen other things but this is no budget film making. (If David Lynch doesn't need them, you don't need them.) There is no sense maxing out your credit cards, taking out loans, using other peoples money and most likely straining your relationships with friends and family. If the film story is good the film will be good.
The the remaining $850 on miscellaneous production cost, DVD's, film fest submissions, and small viral marketing for your film. After you went the fest route, you can publish the film yourself (see http://www.filmbaby.com/). From there you can possibly get it on Netflix.
So, get out there and start doing. Good Luck.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Why Your Film Will Fail
You will fail a hundred times, hopefully not thousands. But, you will fail. This is not a bad thing. I have never really learned anything from getting it right the first time. In fact I find myself looking back at what I did right more often then what I did wrong. I'm sure you have done the same. The best we can do is learn from others and their mistakes.
But, your film will not fail because a lack of creativity of production value. (A note to all the film schoolers, a film will not succeed because of a kick ass long take). The foundation of a good film is a solid story. Period. Lets say you have an awesome script. The story boards are all set. You have ties to a cast a crew. Guess what? You need money.
Most of us are strapped Federal student loans, or other financial loans. Some people get so behind that they need to consolidate their loans. We are a nation of living beyond our means getting in credit card debt and financing that new LCD television or even refinancing our mortgage for that stereo. We are not good with money.
Money is the reason your film will fail. You can have a great idea but without cash that is all it will be, an idea. The hard fact is you, as an independent filmmaker, need to be business savvy and budget conscience.
You need to do sales. Raise the income. Look at all the crap movies out there. They did not get made by hopes and dreams. Someone said I'm going to make this movie and they did. That's it. The film community is great. We are some of the most supportive, collaborative, good natured and most taken advantage of group. Can you see someone say "Hey, I'm gonna build a house. Who wants to help?" and they actually get a crew to work for free on Sundays? No way.
We can make great works but at the core we need at least some cash. (Hell, even people working for free need to eat). Get creative, after all you are, right? Get some cash. There is a joke in "Bowfinger" saying that any film can be made for $2,000. Nowadays that isn't so ridiculous, you just need a good script with limitations for the budget minded filmmaker. I can show you how. Stay tuned.
But, your film will not fail because a lack of creativity of production value. (A note to all the film schoolers, a film will not succeed because of a kick ass long take). The foundation of a good film is a solid story. Period. Lets say you have an awesome script. The story boards are all set. You have ties to a cast a crew. Guess what? You need money.
Most of us are strapped Federal student loans, or other financial loans. Some people get so behind that they need to consolidate their loans. We are a nation of living beyond our means getting in credit card debt and financing that new LCD television or even refinancing our mortgage for that stereo. We are not good with money.
Money is the reason your film will fail. You can have a great idea but without cash that is all it will be, an idea. The hard fact is you, as an independent filmmaker, need to be business savvy and budget conscience.
You need to do sales. Raise the income. Look at all the crap movies out there. They did not get made by hopes and dreams. Someone said I'm going to make this movie and they did. That's it. The film community is great. We are some of the most supportive, collaborative, good natured and most taken advantage of group. Can you see someone say "Hey, I'm gonna build a house. Who wants to help?" and they actually get a crew to work for free on Sundays? No way.
We can make great works but at the core we need at least some cash. (Hell, even people working for free need to eat). Get creative, after all you are, right? Get some cash. There is a joke in "Bowfinger" saying that any film can be made for $2,000. Nowadays that isn't so ridiculous, you just need a good script with limitations for the budget minded filmmaker. I can show you how. Stay tuned.
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