?If you're a filmmaker who dreams of making
it big, the best way to do that is by producing a movie. Independent films are
popular, and the rise of festivals that show them mean that if yours is
produced to a high quality, there’s no reason why it won’t be the first step to
something bigger. Not everyone has a large budget to spend however, so if you’re
looking to shoot a movie and have a festival that you want to submit it to, you’ll
need to keep some budget friendly tips in mind.
Know What Your Budget Is
You won’t be able to film anything to a
budget if you don’t know what you have to spend. You need to have a detailed
budget plan that includes everything you have available to you, and the limit
that your spending will reach on certain things. There are loads of films out
there that are produced for practically nothing, but when you do have a budget,
you need to spend it wisely. Even the smallest amount of money, used wisely,
can really change what the final product looks like. Just don’t blow it all on
one thing, plan carefully before any cameras start rolling. The majority of
independent films don’t have the same money to burn as a Hollywood blockbuster,
but you should still have enough to create a great film.
Have a Budget-Friendly Script
The script for a film really is everything.
It’s the story that you’re trying to tell, and it’s your job to do it justice.
That being said, if you have a limited budget, you’re going to be limited on
what script you use. You’re not going to be able to produce and eight-way
gunfights or anything that involves too many fancy costumes. There won’t be any
stunt doubles or special effects, so you’ll need to choose a clean script that
works well alongside your budget constraints instead of fighting them at every
turn. If there are any areas of worry, sit down with your team, and the writer,
in advance. You can discuss how you might either produce it in a way that does
the scene justice or can change it to something that has the same affect on the
audience, but it less challenging to produce.
Think Carefully About Venue
Where you’re actually shooting your film
will have a big impact on your budget. While it’s always best to have some
variety, there’s no reason why a large part of your film can’t be set in the
same place. This can create a really great atmosphere the draws the reader in.
The versatility of some venues means that if you get the correct space, it can
seem as if you are in two or more different settings without moving location at
all. One way of doing this is by hiring out an industrial location. There is a
huge variety of industrial spaces for hire in London so finding one that fits the
bill shouldn’t be a problem. These spaces are hugely popular because of their versatility,
which makes them the ideal filming location.
Get an Experienced Cast
Hiring the friend of a friend who once took
a drama class is definitely not the way to save on budget. You should still
have a casting director who can help you to find the perfect actors and actresses
for your various roles. They should be experienced and know what they’re doing
on set to enable everything to go as smoothly as possible. Try and get names
that are known as this will help you enormously when it comes to selling your
film and for publicity purposes. Your cast should also be used to working on films
with a lower budget. When they know what to expect from the set, they’re going
to be relaxed, and can share their experience of other movies they’ve starred
in with similar constraints.
Make Sure it Looks Good
This might seem a bit obvious, but a
low-budget is no excuse for a film to look
low-budget anymore. The cheapest cameras now are still amazing, and so if you’re
film comes out looking like it was shot by someone who’d never been to a cinema
before, you’re not going to get it accepted to any festivals. Yes, the editing
and post-production will take a lot of time, longer even than you might think
at first, but it needs to happen to make sure that your film is big-screen
ready. Work with your camera men and women to get the best shots possible and
be patient. With independent films, there’s no longer any leeway when it comes
to quality, so you need to make sure that yours hits the mark.
Don’t Forget About Marketing
It’s always a good idea to leave some money
aside for marketing purposes. Sending your completed film to a festival isn’t
free either, so if that’s your end goal, then you need to make sure that you
have the funds to do it. While you might think that marketing isn’t important
for an independent movie, you’ll be surprised by what a little budget in this
area can do. Organise a film premiere for your cast and crew, advertise its release
well, and you might even get your movie shown in your local theatre for a few
days. Your work isn’t done when the final edits are made, and no one will hear about
the film you’ve created unless you market it to them.
Creating an independent film is a long and
difficult process, but it can also be massively rewarding. Whether you want to
submit it to a film festival or just have a local release, it is absolutely possible
to do so under budget constrains so long as you plan out everything carefully
and hire the correct venue. Next stop, Hollywood!
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