Hi Friends. I wanted to know incase if you have a small budget of some where $ 50,000 to $ 100,000 and you have to make a film. Which Genre will you prefer?

A low budget seems to work with best with Horror and/or comedy, but I could be absolutely wrong about that.

A low budget seems to work with best with Horror and/or comedy, but I could be absolutely wrong about that.

No you're right. It's a good mix. We usually do horror/comedy, but our last feature was action/comedy and it worked quite well.

Of course...the OP's idea of low budget is way above what I consider low budget. I do agree that it's still a true 'indie', but 100K is a BUTT load of money. I guess you would have to call our features 'micro' budget...

:)

We specifically try and keep out features below 20K--in fact our last action/comedy cost just under 8K, and it looks huge.

Good luck.

M1chae1 your point is valid when you said
We specifically try and keep out features below 20K--in fact our last action/comedy cost just under 8K, and it looks huge.
The reason to give this money range was that i dont know how much inflation is in US or any other country. As we all know this site has 1000s of members from many countries so the money range can be small or a huge one for any of them. For example in Pakistani Currency 100,000 US dollar is 80,00,000 PKR so it is a very big amount and we can easily make 2 big budget films in Pakistan with casting the most expensive actors of Pakistan but the same amount might be less for any one living in Europe or any other part of the world.

But any one here is allowed to select a genre with micro budget. I will love to see the facts.


By the way i personally will love to make a comedy.

Wow, OK. Ya, I apologize for not thinking about the massive exchange difference. If 100K USD can put together 2 big budget features in Pakistan...then our idea of micro, low, and big budget is very different.

So basically your question to us may have been worded differently. Because 100K USD in your terms would be like 10-20 million USD in our terms. Big difference. I couldn't even touch our big name actors unless I had over 10 million USD (at least I wouldn't try).

Of course, America has a big problem with what they consider 'independent' now'a days. Movies costing over a million are considered indie...and the real indie production companies know that's bullshit. I blame Robert Redford and Sundance...lol. If a movie costs over 1 million USD...it's not a 'true' indie film. True indie films in the US (in my eyes) are under 100k. The term 'low budget' would--to me--refer to anything under 50K. These are just my opinions. Basically, as long as a film is under 100K...I don't mind calling it independent...maybe even low budget. But then where does that leave 'micro budget'? Under 20K?

I didn't mean to hijack the topic. Sorry.

M1chae1
I didn't mean to hijack the topic. Sorry.

First of all you dont need to say that. We are here to share our views and knowledge.
Well yes there is a big currency difference. I believe and have plans after working on few projects i can try to raise 20 to 25k US dolalrs from here and there and i can make a great indie (or low/no budget) movie which will actually not be an indie (or low/no budget) movie because $ 25k means 20,00,000 Pakistani Rupees in which an HD movie can easily be made and edited with good actors. SO over all we have a great advantege in filmmaking if we can convince the Western countries to invest a small portion here :)

This may seem relevant to the topic, but I'm interested in what you do to raise the money for your low budget film. Like you said, around $50,000 - $100,000, but how do you make money like that? Is it fundraised?

And when you make the money, you spend it on the necessary materials to make the movie?

SquaretheJon I think the question has been asked to me ?
Am i right?

I would make an action film. I already do visual effects so that would be covered. I would use the rest of the budget to hire a good screen writer and a few good main actors. I wouldn't spend any money on high end cameras, but I do think it's important to have good actors and a story (this was on another Thread as well). special effects are great and that's my chosen specialty, but in the end if you don't have good acting and a good story, you have a film full of unneccssary explosions, gunplay, etc. In other words you have the next Steven Segal movie or Timothy Dalton as James Bond again.

Well i think the answer was asked by me.
The main question is how will i raise finance for my money.

Well simple. I need a marketing plan along with a great synopsis to convince the investers that their invesment is safe.

A part from a good movie (which we always need to sell) i will focus on Self Distribution + distribution. In Pakistan it is easy to hire cinemas (as there are no lot of movies coming in the market, infact nearly no films coming in the market will be a better statment) and i will attract the young generation by contacting Universities, Colleges, fast food shops. I think instead of making huge bill boards, Tv ADS the better way is to make great film Posters and place it in the above mentioned Venues. As i already have mentioned in one thread that demography of Pakistan shows majority of Pakistani population is based on youngsters. Apart from this there are more then 100 public listed companies in Pakistan Stock market. I can search out few which make products targeting youngsters, like Pepsi , Coccola etc.
There are many PVT LTD companies too like Mobile companies (and they are at the top these days in Pakistan for investing in advertising). SO even they can also contribute some funds for the sake of positive publicity. Example we can show the positive charachter always having Pepsi as he is in love with this drink (this is just an example).
Other then that there are 192 countries in the whole world with 1000s of satelite tv channels , cable Tv channels, DVDs, Direct Downloading from the Site.

Just need to have a good script + a perfect marketing plan with the help of probability and statistics to convince the investors.

So, you're saying you can just ask agencies/random companies for money, for your film? And collect money until you have $100,000? I'm still confused...

If so, why would they be so willing to help a group of people trying to shoot a film? I assume there are contracts involved...?

SquaretheJon Yes Contracts will be involved. More ever i will never be targeting $ 100,000 thats a very big amount. I have mentioned $ 20K is a big amount if converted to PKR.

And as SquaretheJon said
why would they be so willing to help a group of people trying to shoot a film?
I will suggest you to read the last message again where i said it will be a sort of advertising campain for them. If i have a good script, then few companies will be willing give money and in return there Brand will be some how used in the film. And we can give their names under the category of special thanks too at the end of the begining . and in Posters we can also mention media partners or sponsors.

Am i clear now?

Regards

companies will be willing give money and in return there Brand will be some how used in the film.

That's called "product placement". :)

I think a $100,000 is not enough for an action movie.

I think a $100,000 is not enough for an action movie.

If you want your film to look like a Hollywood movie...then no, it's not. However, we just did our last feature (action/comedy) for under 8K, and it looks like a helluva lot more. We've got solid makeup, quality CG composite work, 56 locations and 45 speaking roles. It's all about what you use your money on. Keep in mind we were non-union as well...so most people did it for free, and most locations were free. We also shot on HD.

If you are going union, and you want things to look like True Lies...then 100K won't be enough.

you can make a decent action movie for 100,000k but only if you have alot of contacts and people willing to help you out for next to nothing or free. you could rent a hdcam for about 5,000k including post maybe im not sure, anyway these days with the internet you should easily be able to make a decent action movie as long as your not hiring brad pitt but then again the sucess of the movie should depend on the script to be honest

Ya, 100K can do it...just don't expect big name actors. But you can afford actors like Ken Foree (original Dawn of the Dead) and such.

Plus, why not rent the RED ONE and some adapters and lenses--which will up the production value big time.

And don't expect tanks or helicopters, unless your CG artist is super talented.

Zensteve :
That's called "product placement".

Exactly. I have read this term in marketing but i just forgot to use this word specifially here.

By the way i am surprised to see more votes for action movie. Even i think $ 100,000 is a big amount (in US senario). Though in Pakistan we cane asily make agreat movie in Pakistan. I hope you all know the currency difference.


M1chae1 can we have a link to the trailer of your above mentioned action film? and few more?


Regards

oh of course you mean $100,000, maybe with a £100,000 maybe but $100k is pushing although i wouldnt have cg helicopters if i had that kind of money, i would spend it on filming real stuff but motorbikes and cars rather then tanks

just out of interest michael how far did your 8k movie go? can we view it online

just out of interest michael how far did your 8k movie go? can we view it online

Sure. You can view the official trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5yBfouKhXw

I was saying before, we have over 50 locations, 40 speaking roles, tons of makeup and special effects, and two name actors (Debbie Rochon and Lloyd Kaufman).

It's all about how creative your team is. And it helps that practically no one was paid (even Lloyd Kaufman--owner of Troma Pictures--did it as a favor because he likes Richard's films).

And what really makes the film too is the cast...we are so lucky to have such solid indie actors working for free, who can really act! We are all close friends. It also really helps to have a team where no one has an ego, and everyone knows their job (even though many of us work together on duties). I mean, I'm an actor, but I ran boom for the majority of this shoot, and did most of the makeup effects as well.

It also helps to have a director that worked for 15 years in television (he also runs camera). So when you watch him on set, it's amazing how fluid and confident he is with the camera, and his knowledge of needed coverage is amazing. He doesn't write anything down, and he doesn't refer to a 'legitimate' shot list...the script supervisor (if we have one that day) will call out the next bit, and he just shoots. That really helps speed things along. We can run through 10 pages a day if we absolutely need to. I hear other local directors talk about Scorpio Film Releasing's crack team of editors...which is funny, because Richard writes, shoots, and edits all of his own pictures...really there is only 5 of us that are the main crew...and we only shoot on weekends. :)

Another great thing is the majority of our locations were free. Whether it's a strip club or a bar...knowing people helps. It's a shame that far too many places think they can charge indie productions so much for a location because so and so big Hollywood film came to town and gave them 5K a day...pshhh...hommie don't play that. Be creative. Be friendly. Location, location, location.

Plus I love our lighting designer. He really creates some depth and flair--keep in mind, this film is suppose to be shot in the style of '70's action cinema (with a squozen of grindhouse).

I honestly am not bragging here, though it may seem I am. I'm simply proud of what we have, and I think sharing this with some of you may inspire you, and help you understand you don't need 100K to make a film that looks like 100K. The key is finding great talent who wear multiple hats, become good friends, and keep making films. We've managed to kick out 8 features in 5 years--all of which have seen distribution. And be sure you don't skimp on lighting, sound, or acting--a sure fire way to make your film look low budget backyard-indie is horrible lighting, sound, and acting.

Take care, and good luck.


ps. BTW, if you're interested. This whole thing was inspired by a short we shot in two days for the 48hr Film Festival. You can see the original concept here (which we won Best Editing for): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5cdoEqsOWc

M1chael, I mean this in a good way, how old are you?

M1chael, I mean this in a good way, how old are you?

32. :) Why do you ask?

32. :) Why do you ask?

You seem quite experienced and I just was curious. BTW, what camera did you use for your NUN OF THAT?

You seem quite experienced and I just was curious. BTW, what camera did you use for your NUN OF THAT?

Well thank you. I've been acting for a while now...and the past few years I have been lucky enough to befriend some very talented folks who have taken me under their wing. I've learned a lot about the filmmaking side of things...

The camera we shoot with is the JVC 3-CCD ProHD CAMCORDER w/16:1 FUJINON LENS GY-HD110U

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/1764/jvchdcamk.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jvchdcamk.jpg)

http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101642

It produces some nice images, especially if you have a quality lighting designer (duh right...lol). I've been trying to get our fearless leader to buy a new HD camera that can sport adapters and lenses...but he refuses. Says he doesn't need them...lol. Ah well...maybe when they go down in price he'll have no choice. :)

Take it easy.

Comedy or drama (or a dramedy :)

Given a limited budget, I'd rather put my money into some good acting and a solid crew than VFX, props, and/or stunt work.

-CG

Comedy or drama (or a dramedy :)

Given a limited budget, I'd rather put my money into some good acting and a solid crew than VFX, props, and/or stunt work.

-CG

If you're shooting non-union, you probably won't be putting money into your cast or crew. The majority of indie productions I've worked for don't pay anybody (regardless their reputation)--which isn't necessarily a bad thing...that's just how it is. If you want to toss a couple hundred to each of your leads and main crew...that's fine, but for the most part indie films don't require a budget that reflects cast or crew. If you can't find quality non-union actors and crew without paying them...you're either in LA, or you're talking to the wrong people.

You will, or should however, factor in catering costs. The least an indie film can do is feed their cast and crew on every shoot.

And of course if the production is SAG...then you will be needing a pretty decent budget that reflects actors and crew.

At least this is in my experience.

The CAM pic is great M1chae1.

By the way i felt good that atleast comedy genre got some votes. Otherwise i was thingking everyone is going for action :D

The CAM pic is great M1chae1.

By the way i felt good that atleast comedy genre got some votes. Otherwise i was thingking everyone is going for action :D

Thanks.

Ya, comedy is always fun to go with--and you don't need a lot of money either. What you DO need are good actors--as they always say, comedy is the hardest thing to do, and do right.

The director I work with the most loves comedy...he injects it into pretty much every film he does. In fact, he does it so much that on our feature before last (BEYOND THE DUNWICH HORROR), which was a straight up horror film, it became an inside joke on set to say, 'We're not shooting a comedy Richard...'

I think mixing genres is a good thing. There's always comedy in tragedy, and visa-versa. There needs to be a balance...even in Shindler's List, they had elements of comedy. You have to give your audience a breather from time to time.

M1chae1comedy is always fun to go with--and you don't need a lot of money either. What you DO need are good actors--as they always say, comedy is the hardest thing to do, and do right.

No doubt actors are the most important thing in comedy. They can even make a normal sentence laughable. I can say this because i always try to do standing comedy with friends and and cath there lines to say something which can make them laugh. And my timing most of the time is good (i dont mean from the acting point of view but i am talking abut my real life experience). So i believe that timing, tone etc make things great.
And i personally believe that flavour of comedy enhance the movie no matter the movie actually is a horror, action, tragedy or any other genre.