ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years ago - Stephen Quinn

I made 2 short films at low cost by shooting with an iPhone and editing on an iPad. Happy to talk to you about the process.

4 years ago - Michael Brand

From various sources in the industry that I’ve spoken to, a 20 grand film won’t deliver on the expectations of the producers and judges. Normally a good number is around 50 to 70 grand. Over that, and you need to start looking at around 1-1.5 mill starter budget for a low-budget film. There are plenty of examples of really low-budget films doing okay, like tangerine or El Mariachi. You are welcome to take a look at a blog I wrote for Raindance last week with regards to shooting ridiculously low budget features on your own;

https://raindance.org/how-to-make-a-feature-when-you-are-the-only-person-involved/?fbclid=IwAR2hZYY4JP-YLiDgUVFzA9vJlx4Xh2CpSFdX1VZKUYclUbc7LUhWLIcy34U

See if you can get any ideas there

4 years ago - davina brown

Michael Brand is totally right.

4 years ago - Alex Bieraugel

Anything is possible Michael. Don't get caught up with how much finance you think you need. It's like getting a pay increase. You can always spend what you earn.
Working to a budget is all in the planning.
You can crowdfund to add a bit more to the budget or possibly look at private, public and charity sectors if the story is pertinent. Or you can massage the message into something pertinent. An investor will always want to see a return from the product. Be that monetary or eyes on their business. Anything that might be able to create a revenue stream or raise their profile.
Build a great creative booklet that will be able to sell the product to an investor. Or indeed anyone involved on the project.
You can find a lot of pretty great talent out there, that will be able to pre and produce the feature for you for next to nothing. So long as you cover their expenses and keep them well fed and watered.
You can offer a percentage of any profit if you manage to find any. Although this is less likely but you never know. Offering a percentage though can up the game of everyone involved.
Surround yourself with good people and people that are invested in the project.
Find a DoP that owns a reasonable amount of kit and can really help shave costs down to the minimum in hire costs. That will go for other departments.
Difficult roles to fill for gratis/expenses/promise of profit would be, Gaffer, Sound, Colourist (and other quality post production). You may be able to find help with post production from companies like the Digital Orchard. Who have a foundation for up and coming directors etc.. https://digitalorchardgroup.com/HOME/FOUNDATION/.
Sound like the locations are down to a minimum so that can be a great cost saving. Ask around, you might be surprised by what you can get for cheap.
Look at actors that are interested in making a great showreel instead of expecting an industry rate.
A £20k film is unlikely to generate any real money though. What it can generate though, is contacts a network a profile for you. Think about what it is you want to get out of it and concentrate on solidifying that. It can be a feature, it can be a short.
I'm guessing this is probably more about a calling card to show what you and others can do?. If that's the case, £20k can make you a pretty decent short film.
So do you want to make a feature that is going to be full of people starting out?
Or maybe a really good short full of people that have climbed the ladder a little?.
Find a decent mentor that can tell you what you can do and not what you can't.
Network, network and network.
Cash isn't necessarily king in this situation....It's all about the story.

4 years ago - Marlom Tander

Funding - £20K

That's really you and 3 mates punting 5K each. It's not really external investor territory, (unless ticks boxes for grants).

And as to commercial return, what channel are you making it for?

A Streaming pick up sorts you out.

But realistically, you have to be prepared for a total write off, that, if you do it well, wins prizes and opens doors.

4 years ago - Michael Peace

Thank you so much for these responses. Wasn't expecting such detailed and vital advice. Genuinely appreciated

4 years ago - John Lubran

How long is a piece of string ?

Yes, a feature film can be made for £20k. It's not actually money that makes a film; it's people on either side of the camera; it's cameras and equipment; it's locations, catering, props, transport and accomodation that makes the film.

All of those things can be obtained for little or nothing. Ability and creative management go a long way. Obviously it comes down to the scale and ambition of the project.

Better cameras than an iPhone are available for as little as around £2k if not borrowed or hired, that provide more control and qualitative latitude without the need for special devices to make a smart phone actually usable. Post production tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro and others, including free ones, are enough to cut, finish and polish sound and picture.

We're continuing to develop 'alternative' production, business and distribution techniques. That can enable and 'force multiply'.

The great and the good ought not take their own cases to be a generality.

4 years ago - Alison Rayner

We've just shot our first feature for £3.3K... because our actors and tiny crew were so generous with their time and skills. We had second hand equipment as our director/DOP owns his own kit (less that £2.5K worth) and we borrowed extra lights, hazer, etc from filmmaking friends. We begged and borrowed for locations, vehicles, props, wardrobe, etc. We're in the edit now and it actually looks as good as any £20-50K film (plus!), to be fair. The main thing was to consider the quality of the story/writing, acting and sound (but our director is a music producer so had his own kit for that, too). We paid a daily expense to cast and crew, food, etc and we kept the filming days down to 16 total (so it was a tight schedule but we only had 4 lates - most days we shot from 8.30-6.30pm as it's fairer when people are working for free). Obviously, everything has to be meticulously planned and there's a balance between creativity and compromise when there's limited time to shoot each scene. Fortunately, we've made plenty of shorts and are used to low budgets!

4 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Rather than reverse budgeting £20k, work out how much a day of shooting will cost you, plus locations and fixed costs, etc, then you can cut your cloth accordingly. Your shooting schedule will need to be brutal to get mates rates (people will do a freebie or mates rates for a weekend, but you need to start paying more than shelf stacking in Sainsbury's pretty quickly or people won't turn up). Let's say you have fixed costs of £5k (legals, bank fees, post, etc) and your daily costs come to £1500/day (maybe 10 people at £100/day, plus locations, stock, batteries and consumables, catering, fuel, rentals, etc) then you have a 10-day schedule. You don't get a lot for £1500 a day, but run your own sums and see how many shooting days you can afford. Now you can tailor the script and plan your shots, and see if it feels "doable" in that time.

I would suggest it's going to be somewhat tight and the result may require you to be a bit rushed and you may find the result disappointing - but that's what £20k can afford. Keep it *super simple* - hate to bring up the Blair Witch Project, but that's the level of simple that cost $20k in direct shooting costs around 30 years ago. It can be done, but you need to make every second count and script knowing you'll be framing fast, shooting fast.

4 years ago - Peter Spencer

We made a feature where everyone donated their talents for free (well, pizzas and drinks) and of course the shortcomings can be seen, but it's a great learning process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaIH2jcKU1A

4 years ago - François Evans

Hi Michael,

There's a handy list of potential funding sources here:

https://www.lampfilmusic.com/?id=196

Best wishes,


François.

4 years ago - Yen Rickeard

EVERYTHING that has been said above, especially Paddy and John Lubran.
PLUS It all lies with the people, Michael. And planning. You need to make a shooting schedule first, locations, people present, props if location is used at different stages of the film. Then build a team. If you can find a DOP, or a camera man wanting to make that leap, who has their own equipment, and needs more evidence of their work, s/he will help you sort through that schedule with lighting, number of takes from different angles, with a view to cutting it down to a minimum. Someone looking to 1st AD will help with getting high speed set ups, with continuity, props and logging taken care of. A goffer is essential. Cut out anything that is not essential - but don't forget to grab the gifts like morning mist as you set up outside, the perfect background noise off set, etc. Your team must be tight and get on well, so hone your people skills and they will give you more. Make sure they all get something out of the shoot. I have found people incredibly generous with their time and effort once they are on board. No-one wants to work on something that looks bad in the end.
Use all the links given above, and go for it.
Mind you, I got a few shorts made first, and learned a lot, as well as building up a team and connections who willing helped with future work. Good luck!

4 years ago - Art Thomas

Great advise and suggestions have been offered, do I will simply say, "it can be done", but start with your 'Why'. Here's an example: https://www.stage32.com/blog/KATAKATA-A-Nigerian-and-U-S-Collaboration-was-Born-on-Stage-32

4 years ago - Art Thomas

Hello Michael,

Here's some information on 'Starting with Why' that maybe helpful,
https://youtu.be/u4ZoJKF_VuA.

3 years, 11 months ago - Richard Harrison

Might be worth a read for anyone interested........feature film made for £25,000 becomes one of the biggest films on the internet:
press links and podcast: Online - https://www.britflicks.com/blog/post/9375/Indie-Filmmaker-Richard-Harrison-Talks-About-The-Amazing-Journey-Of-His-Debut-Feature-THE-HONEY-KILLER/ U.S Podcast interview: https://anchor.fm/chris-hadley/episodes/Episode-035---WriterDirector-Richard-Harrison---THE-HONEY-KILLER-eecej1/a-a28q9vn

3 years, 8 months ago - Hugo Santa Cruz

Hello Michael,
It can be done for less than that. Six months ago I finished post on a 13K feature (67 minutes) shot in 15 days in London between Aug and Nov 2020; no budget, no crew, no permits. Everyone got paid. I pretty much did everything myself though (along with a DOP, a MUA, and the lead actress). All together we had 22 day players (actors) all the locations were done guerilla style, that includes Heathrow Terminal 5.

The film turned out good and we've just had a great run of European film festivals going on to win the Special Jury award at the prestigious Efebo D'Oro Film festival in Italy. Happy to have a chat if you need tips or encouragement. I'm on: money@antikino.co.uk

3 years, 8 months ago - PHIL WEST

Because it's so bloody hard to at least break-even and I've had distributors rip me off in the past...
We've just made a feature collectively covering expenses and good catering... We self distribute and the cast and crew takes a percentage on all sales including all merchandise etc. The cast and crew can see the back end of the sales sites for total transparency.
We'd get paid this way and it's on going if the film keeps ticking over...
Of course this method doesn't work for everyone but we have a lovely group of like-minded folks who were happy to give up a few weekends and be active in helping it's distribution and promotion.
We've just made a horror feature shot in 3D for around £1k and filmed in under 10 days. It's not easy but a lot of fun. I just can't bring myself to spend £20k on a movie that is more than likely not going to recoup that investment, and we want to make one or two films per year.
I've only mentioned this as you've said it'll be your first feature, which maybe a route to go down first. I'd have a hard time losing someone elses 20k, or mine. Hopefully you'll be the minority and do well. All the best.

3 years, 8 months ago - Ray Brady

Hi Michael,
Excellent contributions and advice have already been given but here are my two cents...
I have made over a dozen low budget features over thirty years of indie filmmaking and managed to sell and distribute them all over the world. My last no-budget short "Dieabolical" has already won over forty film festival awards internationally, so I have little experience I guess so...
Raise first what you can afford between you and a small group of collaborators, this will prove that you have skin in the game.
Do not bother to crowdfund, you would only be paying fees from what you could raise from family and friends by simply asking them to support you, you can show that you have already gathered as much money yourselves for the project, which will show that you really believe in your project so much so that you are putting your money where your mouth is.
Keep your core team small and made up of people that are multi-skilled, if not already multi-skilled then start doing YouTube teaching tutorials to increase your skill base. The fewer people in your team the easier you will be able to agree on shooting dates and times, whilst keeping to a minimum any expenditure necessary for food and travel expenses.
Do not rush into production, plan as if your life depended on it. Keep rewriting (improving) right to the very last minute, be very flexible with your scripts locations to accommodate anything which would add high production value i.e. your mates dad's uncle who is a keen film buff who's flat has a twentieth-floor balcony with incredible views over the city, river etc
You do not have to shoot your whole film in one shooting block, spreading out the shoot over five or six weekends, might enable your shoot to work when some who would have loved to be involved couldn't because of their Monday to Friday day jobs.
Do not worry about shooting with expensive kit and equipment. Identify an inexpensive camera that can shoot 4K onto internal cards and then do your research and buy one-second hand on eBay or wherever, why, importantly because it will allow you the time to familiarise yourself (or designated cameraperson) with the camera so that when you shoot, even under adverse and stressful circumstances they will be prepared to handle the pressure and get the very best footage that could have been captured. When you finish filming then sell the camera to raise money for post, including any other film kit you purchased to make your film.Sorry more anon Raygards

3 years, 8 months ago - Ray Brady

Thinking of an arbitrary amount to make a film isn't the way to start when making a low-budget film as some will think you are mad for trying whilst overs will think that need an awful amount more money than you suggested to ever possibly make anything worth watching. I believe you can but you have to be both incredibly talented and skillful with a huge amount of luck!
Speed more time trying not to speed money on your film than just paying what you think a professional production would, collaboration is your friend, so find others as passionate as you are who are happy to work with you.
Do not promise or even think to offer profit shares from future sales. The reality is that the money, the one in a thousand, low-budget films that recoup its budget and actually gets professional pick-up and distribution, is now less than a tenth of what buyers would pay back when I first started making and selling films. It's a cut-throat business, the bottom feeders will lie and cheat you out of any promised future income so whatever you get upfront from a sale will be very likely all you will ever see. Wide distribution, even if you don't make any money is a lot more important for you at this stage of your career than a little bit of money with tiny viewing figures. So make your film for as little as possible and put it up on YouTube for free, as if it does high numbers you may then find someone willing to put money into your next film project. I met the guys that made Man Bites Dog at Cannes when it won. The next year I ran into André Bonzel again who told me that their film had sold all over the world but they hadn't made a penny, the friend they picked to represent them in selling their film had signed a deal with a guy that then sold it everywhere but the money agreed wasn't passed back to their friend or them, it was so bad that after making their film they were completely skint, he couldn't go out anywhere without people expecting him to buy the drinks since he was so renowned, they all expected he was rolling in it when he could barely even pay his rent, and everyone just thought that he was a miserable miserly skinflint! anon

3 years, 8 months ago - Ray Brady

Spend not speed...sorry

3 years, 8 months ago - Ray Brady

Avoid night shoots, as they are far more expensive to shoot, even horror films can be shot in daylight, ref: 28 Days Later. Use natural light whenever you can, bounce it using walls, boars, or pop open disc ones, dirt cheap but always my number one suggestion for anyone starting a lighting kit
Use the countryside and landscape as a backdrop to create visual depth to your shoots. Buy (second hand) tiny Tascam or Rode recorder units with lav mics. Put one on each speaking actor so that they can rmove and perform without limitation in public places, try to shoot with shallow depth of field lenses and then mimic your distance of the camera from your actors (if you can't afford a remote follow focus unit), or acquire a gimbal with one and teach yourself how to pull focus at the same time as filming.
Watch the dozens of YouTube tutorials on how to do various filmmaking jobs, just do a relevant search and watch the highly-rated ones. There are hundreds of incredibly generous filmmakers out there who have shared wonderful "how-to" tutorials on there, take the time to learn from the people that are doing it well. i.e.David F. Sandberg

3 years, 6 months ago - Richard Harrison

Hey mate, forget most of these comments on here. I've done it on £25,000. Won three international festivals, attracted the attention of Warner bros and it became a cult-movie on Amazon Prime. I'm now looking at a £3-5m remake and a spin-off TV series. Email me if you want and I'll talk you through some essentials so you get it right....Richard@razorfilms.co.uk