Between giving my 2-Day Film School around the world, I hope to blog info that is helpful to filmmakers, screenwriters, aspiring producers and directors and just about anyone interested in making a film.
This Blog: MAKING YOUR LOW-BUDGET FILM - “$5,000 to $500,000”
HOW LOW IS LOW?
When producing your first feature it is important to be not just realistic but ultra-realistic. You perceive yourself as being realistic when saying that your first feature will be low-budget. Then you instantly lose reality when assuming low-buget to be $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Get real! Do you think anyone is going to give you access to that amount of money when you don’t even know how to buy unexposed film.
POINT OF INTEREST: Major studios think of "low-budget" as a film with no box office stars (Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, etc.), and a high concept story. The film is shot over six to eight weeks with a guild cast and union crew, a decent producer's fee, five-seven licensed songs, a completion bond, and a 500-750 print release. These films (i.e. “The Big Chill,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Heathers,” “Mortal Kombat,” “Groundhog Day,” etc) are made with a budget of $5,0000-$10,000,000.
Independent distributors think of "low-budget" as a dialogue-oriented film (black comedy, coming-of-age, or heist-gone-bad) with two or three TV actors), but not big name movie stars, working for guild minimums. The shoot takes four to six weeks. The budget allows for two-three songs, a 300-500 print release (“The Big Easy,” “Body Heat,” “The Crying Game,” “Dirty Dancing,” “American Pie,” “Footloose,” etc) and is financed by foreign, cable and video pre-sales at $3,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Small distributors think of "low-budget" as a genre-oriented feature (horror, action, T&A), starring one or two over-the-hill actors (names spared to protect anyone found in 12-step meetings). Shot on a three- to five-week schedule (“Reservoir Dogs,” “Halloween,” “Scream” etc) with one union, SAG, being used. Minimal digital effects and a limited release of 50-100 prints are included in the budget of $1,000,000-$3,000,000.
Foreign sales agents and video distributors think of "low-budget" as a 90-minute movie with the words "Blood," "Zombie," "Slime," "Nightmare," "Warlord," "Massacre," "Revenge," Warrior," (pick two and add a noun) in the title. It has SAG actors (Lorenzo Lamas, Andrew Stevens, Jeff Fahey, Eric Roberts, etc.), but is shot non-union, in 13-18 days (2-3 weeks), with no US theatrical release, on a budget of $500,000 to $700,000.
$10 million is not low-budget. Neither is $5 million or even $1 million. For you, low-budget is anything between $5,000 to $500,000 -- with $5,000-$75,000 classified as “no-budget”; $75,000-$150,000 classified as “ultra-low-budget”; and only $250,000-$500,000 being called “low-budget”.
And, cutting-to-the-chase, with the following amounts, here’s what you can produce:
1. $5,000-$75,000 --You can make a digital video feature (“Blair Witch Project,” “Cruise,” “Chuck & Buck,” etc) shot in 1-2 weeks with a 3-chip Mini-DV camera and a 5-8 person crew.
2. $75,000-$150,000 --You can produce a 16mm feature film (“She’s Gotta Have It,” “Stranger Than Paradise,” “Return of the Secaucus 7,” etc) shot in 9 days with an Arriflex SR2 camera and a 12-15 person crew.
3. $150,000-$250,000 --You can make a 16mm film shooting for 2-3 weeks with a small name or a 35mm film shooting for 2-3 weeks with no names.
4. $250,000-$500,000 --You can produce a 35mm feature film on a 3-week shoot with a name and a 15-20 person crew that you will market as a “just under” $1,000,000 Feature Film
WHAT IS A LOW-BUDGET SCRIPT
What is the script that all independent filmmakers like John Sayles, Spike Lee, Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarrantino used to launch their careers when all they had was enough money to be a “true” no-, ultra-low or low-budget shoot?
First, you must realize that either the present idea you have or script you have for your first feature film, although possibly great, is either going to be to expensive for you to make and, even if you could get the cash, to difficult for you to make when you truthfully don’t know what you’re doing.
Thus, put this idea or script, that you presently have, aside for your second project. Now, come up with an idea and script that you can handle when you don't know what you're doing (you don't) and you don't have a lot of money (you won't). The answer is KISS…Keep It Simple, Stupid. Let me explain.
Almost all movies are 90-120 minutes in running time. The rule of thumb is that one page of properly typed script will become one minute of running time. Therefore, when applying the rule that one page of script typed (formatted) properly becomes one-minute of running time then you'll want a 90-page script. Why?
All movies have the same ticket price. The price of admission has nothing to do with the film’s budget or running time and (SECRET) theater owners are in the business of renting seats and selling sugar. Give a theater owner a 90-minute movie and he rents the seat at 12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30--eight times in a day. Give the owner breaks between shows to clean the theater, admit another audience and sell candy, and he'll screen the film (rent the seat) five-six times a day.
Now, give the theater owner a 120-minute movie. Watch what happens to his revenues. He can screen that film at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00--six times in a day. Then allow the theater owner breaks between shows, and he'll show the film only four times. A 90-minute film screens five-six times/day, while a 120-minute film screens four times/day and the price of admission is always the same, no matter what the film’s budget is. This is not rocket science.
Common sense (Hollywood, believe it or not, is based on common sense) tells you that theater owners prefer 90-minute movies. They have more profit potential. And if theater owners like it, distributors like it. And if distributors like it, you should produce for it.
Thus, for your first feature film project get a great 90-page script. Plus, a 90-page script has 25% fewer problems than a 120-page script. –25% fewer pages.
Now, what do you write in those 90 pages? What’s the magic formula that launched hundreds of careers from John Carpenter to John Sayles to Steve Soderberg to Quentin Tarantino to the kids that made Blair Witch Project. The script that everyone uses to launch their career is --(SECRET) In 90 pages, take 12 kids to a house and chop them up.
Stop! I'm not suggesting you make a slasher film. I'm just using it as an example, but think about "Halloween," "Suddenly Last Summer," "Scream," "Friday the 13th," “Blair Witch,” etc. They all made money and launched careers. What I am really saying is take 12 actors to one location—a house, an apartment building, a courtroom, a restraunt, a police station--and shoot a stage play. (SECRET) Hollywood loves courtroom dramas –they’re one room, cheap to shoot dramas.
Spike Lee started his career with "She's Gotta Have It," shot in an apartment building. John Sayles first feature, "Return of the Secaucus 7," was shot at a friend's house in the country. Henry Jaglom shot "Always" at his house in the Hollywood Hills, and "New Year's Day" was shot in a two-bedroom apartment. Kevin Smith's "Clerks" used a convenience store. Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" was shot in a warehouse. Roger Corman (the king of B movies) has shot and produced hundreds of low-budget features using very few locations, often at isolated motels. Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies and videotape" used three houses, a restraunt and an office as locations.
Even Kevin Spacey. An Oscar™ winning actor, who has been on many shoots knew the magic formula when he decided to launch his career as a director. His first project became “The Big Kahuna”, starring himself, Danny Devito and an unknown which was a stageplay that took place in literally one room. Ethan Hawke launched his directing career with “Tape” a no-budget digital feature shot in one-week, in one room, with three actors.
Get the point! Your first feature film, when you have limited funds, is going to be a dressed-up, dialogue-oriented stage play. Alfred Hitchcock, the directing genius, should also be known as the first King of Low-Budget. Think of “Rope” (shot in one take in a small apartment), "Rear Window" (two sets with James Stewart in a wheelchair) or "Lifeboat," a mini-mini-budgeted "Titanic" with more drama.
Ninety pages, one room, a stage play. Keep It Simple Stupid!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:
1. Rent and view "She's Gotta Have It," "Return of the Secaucus 7," "Always," "New Year's Day," "Metropolitan," "Clerks," "Reservoir Dogs," "Bound," "2 Girls & A Guy", “Blair Witch Project,” “The Big Kahuna,” “Anniversary Party” or any video with the words "Blood," "Zombie," "Slime," “Horror,” “Hell,” "Nightmare," or “Haunted” in the title.
This Blog: MAKING YOUR LOW-BUDGET FILM - “$5,000 to $500,000”
HOW LOW IS LOW?
When producing your first feature it is important to be not just realistic but ultra-realistic. You perceive yourself as being realistic when saying that your first feature will be low-budget. Then you instantly lose reality when assuming low-buget to be $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Get real! Do you think anyone is going to give you access to that amount of money when you don’t even know how to buy unexposed film.
POINT OF INTEREST: Major studios think of "low-budget" as a film with no box office stars (Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, etc.), and a high concept story. The film is shot over six to eight weeks with a guild cast and union crew, a decent producer's fee, five-seven licensed songs, a completion bond, and a 500-750 print release. These films (i.e. “The Big Chill,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Heathers,” “Mortal Kombat,” “Groundhog Day,” etc) are made with a budget of $5,0000-$10,000,000.
Independent distributors think of "low-budget" as a dialogue-oriented film (black comedy, coming-of-age, or heist-gone-bad) with two or three TV actors), but not big name movie stars, working for guild minimums. The shoot takes four to six weeks. The budget allows for two-three songs, a 300-500 print release (“The Big Easy,” “Body Heat,” “The Crying Game,” “Dirty Dancing,” “American Pie,” “Footloose,” etc) and is financed by foreign, cable and video pre-sales at $3,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Small distributors think of "low-budget" as a genre-oriented feature (horror, action, T&A), starring one or two over-the-hill actors (names spared to protect anyone found in 12-step meetings). Shot on a three- to five-week schedule (“Reservoir Dogs,” “Halloween,” “Scream” etc) with one union, SAG, being used. Minimal digital effects and a limited release of 50-100 prints are included in the budget of $1,000,000-$3,000,000.
Foreign sales agents and video distributors think of "low-budget" as a 90-minute movie with the words "Blood," "Zombie," "Slime," "Nightmare," "Warlord," "Massacre," "Revenge," Warrior," (pick two and add a noun) in the title. It has SAG actors (Lorenzo Lamas, Andrew Stevens, Jeff Fahey, Eric Roberts, etc.), but is shot non-union, in 13-18 days (2-3 weeks), with no US theatrical release, on a budget of $500,000 to $700,000.
$10 million is not low-budget. Neither is $5 million or even $1 million. For you, low-budget is anything between $5,000 to $500,000 -- with $5,000-$75,000 classified as “no-budget”; $75,000-$150,000 classified as “ultra-low-budget”; and only $250,000-$500,000 being called “low-budget”.
And, cutting-to-the-chase, with the following amounts, here’s what you can produce:
1. $5,000-$75,000 --You can make a digital video feature (“Blair Witch Project,” “Cruise,” “Chuck & Buck,” etc) shot in 1-2 weeks with a 3-chip Mini-DV camera and a 5-8 person crew.
2. $75,000-$150,000 --You can produce a 16mm feature film (“She’s Gotta Have It,” “Stranger Than Paradise,” “Return of the Secaucus 7,” etc) shot in 9 days with an Arriflex SR2 camera and a 12-15 person crew.
3. $150,000-$250,000 --You can make a 16mm film shooting for 2-3 weeks with a small name or a 35mm film shooting for 2-3 weeks with no names.
4. $250,000-$500,000 --You can produce a 35mm feature film on a 3-week shoot with a name and a 15-20 person crew that you will market as a “just under” $1,000,000 Feature Film
WHAT IS A LOW-BUDGET SCRIPT
What is the script that all independent filmmakers like John Sayles, Spike Lee, Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarrantino used to launch their careers when all they had was enough money to be a “true” no-, ultra-low or low-budget shoot?
First, you must realize that either the present idea you have or script you have for your first feature film, although possibly great, is either going to be to expensive for you to make and, even if you could get the cash, to difficult for you to make when you truthfully don’t know what you’re doing.
Thus, put this idea or script, that you presently have, aside for your second project. Now, come up with an idea and script that you can handle when you don't know what you're doing (you don't) and you don't have a lot of money (you won't). The answer is KISS…Keep It Simple, Stupid. Let me explain.
Almost all movies are 90-120 minutes in running time. The rule of thumb is that one page of properly typed script will become one minute of running time. Therefore, when applying the rule that one page of script typed (formatted) properly becomes one-minute of running time then you'll want a 90-page script. Why?
All movies have the same ticket price. The price of admission has nothing to do with the film’s budget or running time and (SECRET) theater owners are in the business of renting seats and selling sugar. Give a theater owner a 90-minute movie and he rents the seat at 12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30--eight times in a day. Give the owner breaks between shows to clean the theater, admit another audience and sell candy, and he'll screen the film (rent the seat) five-six times a day.
Now, give the theater owner a 120-minute movie. Watch what happens to his revenues. He can screen that film at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 and 10:00--six times in a day. Then allow the theater owner breaks between shows, and he'll show the film only four times. A 90-minute film screens five-six times/day, while a 120-minute film screens four times/day and the price of admission is always the same, no matter what the film’s budget is. This is not rocket science.
Common sense (Hollywood, believe it or not, is based on common sense) tells you that theater owners prefer 90-minute movies. They have more profit potential. And if theater owners like it, distributors like it. And if distributors like it, you should produce for it.
Thus, for your first feature film project get a great 90-page script. Plus, a 90-page script has 25% fewer problems than a 120-page script. –25% fewer pages.
Now, what do you write in those 90 pages? What’s the magic formula that launched hundreds of careers from John Carpenter to John Sayles to Steve Soderberg to Quentin Tarantino to the kids that made Blair Witch Project. The script that everyone uses to launch their career is --(SECRET) In 90 pages, take 12 kids to a house and chop them up.
Stop! I'm not suggesting you make a slasher film. I'm just using it as an example, but think about "Halloween," "Suddenly Last Summer," "Scream," "Friday the 13th," “Blair Witch,” etc. They all made money and launched careers. What I am really saying is take 12 actors to one location—a house, an apartment building, a courtroom, a restraunt, a police station--and shoot a stage play. (SECRET) Hollywood loves courtroom dramas –they’re one room, cheap to shoot dramas.
Spike Lee started his career with "She's Gotta Have It," shot in an apartment building. John Sayles first feature, "Return of the Secaucus 7," was shot at a friend's house in the country. Henry Jaglom shot "Always" at his house in the Hollywood Hills, and "New Year's Day" was shot in a two-bedroom apartment. Kevin Smith's "Clerks" used a convenience store. Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" was shot in a warehouse. Roger Corman (the king of B movies) has shot and produced hundreds of low-budget features using very few locations, often at isolated motels. Steven Soderbergh's "sex, lies and videotape" used three houses, a restraunt and an office as locations.
Even Kevin Spacey. An Oscar™ winning actor, who has been on many shoots knew the magic formula when he decided to launch his career as a director. His first project became “The Big Kahuna”, starring himself, Danny Devito and an unknown which was a stageplay that took place in literally one room. Ethan Hawke launched his directing career with “Tape” a no-budget digital feature shot in one-week, in one room, with three actors.
Get the point! Your first feature film, when you have limited funds, is going to be a dressed-up, dialogue-oriented stage play. Alfred Hitchcock, the directing genius, should also be known as the first King of Low-Budget. Think of “Rope” (shot in one take in a small apartment), "Rear Window" (two sets with James Stewart in a wheelchair) or "Lifeboat," a mini-mini-budgeted "Titanic" with more drama.
Ninety pages, one room, a stage play. Keep It Simple Stupid!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:
1. Rent and view "She's Gotta Have It," "Return of the Secaucus 7," "Always," "New Year's Day," "Metropolitan," "Clerks," "Reservoir Dogs," "Bound," "2 Girls & A Guy", “Blair Witch Project,” “The Big Kahuna,” “Anniversary Party” or any video with the words "Blood," "Zombie," "Slime," “Horror,” “Hell,” "Nightmare," or “Haunted” in the title.
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/dovsimens
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