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OK, you feel you've acquired or just written the world's greatest screenplay. Now you need to figure out just how much this incredible production is likely to cost and if you can get your hands on enough money to actually complete it. There are many factors that need to be considered. I'll go over two important ones.
This will not only affect the budget but the overall look and mood as well. Video has a very different feel from film. Chances are you won't be able to afford 35mm so the film choices will either be 16mm or Super 8. Super 8 used to be the best way to shoot a no-budget film but the times have changed. It's getting almost as expensive as 16mm and a lot harder to find labs and equipment. Unless you already own a Super 8 camera and editing equipment you'd be better off using 16mm. To keep the budget under $20,000., go with video. Video is cheaper and easier to work with. If you'd be satisfied just selling a dozen copies from your own web-site, you can use VHS Super VHS or Hi8, but remember, distributors won't touch anything shot on those formats. To make something you can actually get distributed, your choices are Beta SP or Digital video. Before making that all-important format decision, you should look into what equipment may be available to you. If it's not a camera you already own or can borrow, you'll end up spending a good part of your budget renting or buying one. 2. How long of a shoot will it need? Generally, the more locations and dialog your screenplay has, the longer it will take to get in the can (finish). A lot of shooting time is lost during set-ups (moving the props & camera around). You lose even more time when you have to change locations and re-dress sets. So why does it take longer to shoot dialog scenes? Sound is a major problem on location. You often have no control over the noises in the background. It's also harder to get voice levels right in these situations. Remember, you can't always "fix it in the mix" and even when you can, it takes time & money to do so. If you shoot MOS (without sound) or even with sound but no dialog, it's easier & faster to correct sound problems with some foley (sound effects) work later. Another reason to avoid too much dialog is the fact that chances are, you'll be working with novice actors who may not always get their lines right the first time. Sometimes even if they get them right, the camera move may not be, so expect to spend more time in these situations. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article How To Make an Ultra-Low Budget Feature "The Budget" in B-Movies is owned by Lory-Michael Ringuette. Permission to republish How To Make an Ultra-Low Budget Feature "The Budget" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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