How many $$$ are you spending on your MonsterFest short? [Archive] - DVXuser.com -- The online community for filmmaking

TMerry

08-17-2009, 02:37 PM

What is the YOUR budget for MonsterFest on DVXUser?

My last short, Number 19, was 15 minutes and had a $6000. budget.
[trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNeu2UD9Vso ]

This time out because of my current employment situation I'm
on a $0 budget. I will be trying to raise a little money for the actors
because I think you get what you pay for. But the rest of the film
from, shooting, sound, editing, vfx, composition is all going to be done
by myself with the crew of two friends and tons of creativity.

BUT I see lots of people on the board with HUGE special effects plans, and lists of
IMDB crew and actors.. etc... It's got me wondering:

WHow much is your budget for MonsterFest short on DVXUser?

Larry Rutledge

08-17-2009, 02:39 PM

I am on a "wing and a prayer" budget ... which is much smaller than a shoestring budget. I haven't found a way to truly shoot a film for $0 ... but I will be striving for that mark this go around.

But I'm sure it'll come in around $500 when all is said and done.

Joshua Brown

08-17-2009, 02:40 PM

Including food to keep crew happy on a 14hr work day? Hehe.

TMerry

08-17-2009, 02:47 PM

Including food to keep crew happy on a 14hr work day? Hehe.
My wife's a chef so the craft services will be donated for my two day of shooting.
But as Larry mentions, when all is said and done expenses creep up.

Joshua Brown

08-17-2009, 02:49 PM

My wife's a chef so the craft services will be donated for my two day of shooting.
But as Larry mentions, when all is said and done expenses creep up.

Yeah, Shawn Nelson will have to pipe up here for the actual costs. But I'm pretty Sure it was done VERY minimally excluding food costs and expendable supplies used.

Larry Rutledge

08-17-2009, 02:50 PM

That's the real trick ... food on the cheap that isn't sugar and carb loaded. Nothing worse than getting an hour into shooting after a meal and then everyone losing steam as they hit that sugar low. :)

My last short we did lasagna's one night and pizza another ... they are carb loads, but we mixed in salads and veggies, so hopefully that helped offset the carbs. I don't know what I'm going to do this time ... I need a chef in the family

Rodney V. Smith

08-17-2009, 03:12 PM

Food is the least of our concerns this time around. The crew just turned into a platoon with the makeup artists and additional grips, so while we're feeding about 15 people, it's still easy to do with the aid of Costco.

Make-Up alone is eating up a huge chunk of the budget with the numerous people needed to first apply and THEN to maintain the makeup as the day continues.

Plus I'll be paying the crew and the cast... so...

Ow.

Richard J. Johnson

08-17-2009, 03:17 PM

Make-up and food will kill me. I have over 50 people on this one. and I need About 3 wrecked cars brought to the set.

Joshua Brown

08-17-2009, 03:22 PM

Make-up and food will kill me. I have over 50 people on this one. and I need About 3 wrecked cars brought to the set.

Yowsah!

Richard J. Johnson

08-17-2009, 03:23 PM

you're telling me. And to top it off, I'm not even sure I can pull this off correctly. But if I don't try I will absolutely hate myself.

TMerry

08-17-2009, 03:46 PM

......I'm not even sure I can pull this off correctly. But if I don't try I will absolutely hate myself.

Love the attitude Richard, Love it!

Rodney V. Smith

08-17-2009, 03:49 PM

you're telling me. And to top it off, I'm not even sure I can pull this off correctly. But if I don't try I will absolutely hate myself.

You win both ways then: if you pull it off I'll hate you as much . Sound fair to you?

Seriously though: 3 wrecked cars? Wow. Now I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you pull out. Sounds like the new Summer blockbuster movies just got moved to Monsterfest!

Nektonic

08-17-2009, 04:53 PM

I originally meant to only spend about $500, but that just isn't gonna cut it. I think I'll end up spending around $800 in the end.

I think that even if you go over budget, having an initial low figure helps to keep things in check a bit.

Jeff Anderson

08-17-2009, 05:46 PM

I'm guessing I'll be close to 400-500 actual cost after food, props, and all that stuff I havent thought of yet... Cast and crew are working deferred or we would be closer to 1000 I would imagine...

TMerry

08-17-2009, 08:33 PM

I'm guessing I'll be close to 400-500 actual cost after food, props, and all that stuff I havent thought of yet... Cast and crew are working deferred or we would be closer to 1000 I would imagine...

Jeff, how do you estimate deferred pay on a short film?

MrFluffy

08-18-2009, 01:43 AM

Jeff Anderson

08-18-2009, 07:02 AM

Jeff, how do you estimate deferred pay on a short film?

In the case of crew I either use their rate or go with whatever the current going rate for their position is getting in the area. Cast, I go with 100/day.

pauly_the_hitman

08-18-2009, 09:21 AM

I think we have proven time and time again that a budget would be swell but isn't as necessary as everyone believes. Most of you have spent more on one short then we have on all of ours put together...I am gonna say this time I might have to buy a couple things but still I will come out well under $250...
Pauly

Brandon Rice

08-18-2009, 10:04 AM

Though I am not doing a short... usually I spend anywhere from 300-900 dollars on a short... I try to keep it under 1k... and have been able to thus far.

Larry Rutledge

08-18-2009, 11:24 AM

And why aren't you doing a short?

DarkElastic

08-18-2009, 11:28 AM

And why aren't you doing a short?

He only likes tall people????

I'll get my coat...

Larry Rutledge

08-18-2009, 11:30 AM

He only likes tall people????

I'll get my coat...

You do realize I have the power to ban you ... right? :banned:

:evil: :grin:

TMerry

08-18-2009, 11:31 AM

What would you actually include in the budget?

Obviously any cast/crew pay and location fees (nil for me)

How about software used, should that be included? I bought Mudbox for this and future films, so should it be included. Would I include an estimate of the VFX work involved and a proportion of the cost. How about my new PC for running the renders.

It seems that there is no form of benchmark for this as two people could use say a Red camera, but one hires it and the other borrows it, so they have vastly different budgets but the same kit.

Are we measuring expendature or resourcefulness :)

MrFluffly,
I think that anything you buy for a film, that you can use again for other films or projects does not qualify as part of the budget for that particular film for me.
I try to buy a new piece of gear for each film I do.

My question in this post was referring to
post prod. and principal photography on the film, actors, meals, locations, vfx..
whatever it takes to get it shot and edited.

(and yes I acknowledge there needs to be a budget in place for DVDs art promo etc) :-)

DarkElastic

08-18-2009, 11:56 AM

You do realize I have the power to ban you ... right? :banned:

:evil: :grin:

You Mods and abusing your powers :crybaby:

Brian P. McQuilkin

08-18-2009, 12:01 PM

We have food left over from our last short, so that's taken care of. And with a pair of pliers and a hammer there's no need for expensive make up. I think I can pull this one off without spending a dime.

MrFluffy

08-18-2009, 12:56 PM

MrFluffly,
I think that anything you buy for a film, that you can use again for other films or projects does not qualify as part of the budget for that particular film for me.
I try to buy a new piece of gear for each film I do.

My question in this post was referring to
post prod. and principal photography on the film, actors, meals, locations, vfx..
whatever it takes to get it shot and edited.

(and yes I acknowledge there needs to be a budget in place for DVDs art promo etc) :-)
Thats what I thought. So thats zip, $0.00, nil, nada , nothing for me then.
Of course my films are fuill of VFX and I do it for free.

ZazaCast

08-18-2009, 01:20 PM

I may not even enter and I've already spent a $100.00 on booze for this one....Fat Monster....MOVIE MASTER...Tom Marshall....and Puck, humm...I mean Victor...hummm...I mean Rodney (or whatever name he's going by today)...and "Black Hare Lawrie"...Madness I tell you...MADNESS!!!

This is going to be one 'off-the hook' fest. With all these entries, it will take weeks to watch!

majikfraug

09-05-2009, 02:44 AM

I'm hoping to keep it under $10 million, but we'll see...

Chris_Keaton

09-09-2009, 01:02 PM

MrFluffly,
I think that anything you buy for a film, that you can use again for other films or projects does not qualify as part of the budget for that particular film for me....

I think this is opposite for H-town. I mean how else can a super smash hit turn no profit.:grin:

TMerry

09-09-2009, 11:20 PM

Well, I'm might have to re-vote my original estimate of $0 - I think I've moved to category 2 $100-$500. I may be single man if it moves up from category 2 to 3 LOL!!

Is it God, or the Devil who's in the details?? :-)

snowleopard

09-26-2009, 11:25 PM

I will be trying to raise a little money for the actors because I think you get what you pay for.Thanks for saying that, and doing it TMerry. I rarely post on forums these days, but it bugs me to see filmmakers spend tens of thousands of dollars on gear and such, and nary a penny on their talent, or crew.

TMerry

09-28-2009, 03:48 AM

Thanks for saying that, and doing it TMerry. I rarely post on forums these days, but it bugs me to see filmmakers spend tens of thousands of dollars on gear and such, and nary a penny on their talent, or crew.

Hey SnowLeopard, I gotcha. When I have it, i put it in front of the lens. My last short (15 min) had a 6k budget, 4.5k of which went to the actors, and is why I believe it was a success.

"Cast well.. direct less" ;-)

EditPhish

10-04-2009, 10:09 AM

We might be over $500 but I'm not sure by how much... we're definitely lower than $1000. Luckily, as far as software and equipment goes, we spent all that money right before and right after SciFest (to help us raise our game for the next one... and yes, it's taken us THIS long to be able to do that... hopefully!)

Makeup and props were our biggest expense. Luckily, the people that own our location felt indebted to me for some reason and offered to buy the food!

TMerry

10-04-2009, 11:12 PM

ZazaCast

10-04-2009, 11:14 PM

What are you talking After effects, Shake Cinema 4D etc??

Microsoft Word...:happy:

EditPhish

10-05-2009, 08:32 AM

EditPhish I feel ya on the software learning curve, maybe by 2010, I will know the software I bought this time :-)
What are you talking After effects, Shake Cinema 4D etc??

I wish! LOL!
I was just saying to JTyner last night that I really need to take a class on After Effects. There just aren't enough hours in the day to get efficient with it and I need a kick-start. I do have a friend who teaches it at a university, but he lives about 8 hours away, so I may need to pay him to get him here for a weekend to give me some help!

Luckily, with this project, we're doing more practical effects and even though that's been a learning experience, I feel we did a good job... luckily my professional background is as an art director!

:)

TMerry

10-05-2009, 11:45 PM

I wish! LOL!
I was just saying to JTyner last night that I really need to take a class on After Effects. There just aren't enough hours in the day to get efficient with it and I need a kick-start. I do have a friend who teaches it at a university, but he lives about 8 hours away, so I may need to pay him to get him here for a weekend to give me some help!

Luckily, with this project, we're doing more practical effects and even though that's been a learning experience, I feel we did a good job... luckily my professional background is as an art director!

:)

Cool! Well if you are ever in the Bay Area I highly recommend the AE training classes at BAVC. I'm taking my Intermediate AE tomorrow and the next day. Your brains swells from information overload, but then the next week it all comes back to you.

> Kind of like the Krell machine in Forbidden Planet LOL! <

I've also watched some of the courses from Lynda dot com, and they seem to be pretty rich as well.

best of luck!

jpsheets

10-07-2009, 11:59 AM

I'm spending right at 2K on this one. Although my short won't be an official MonsterFest entry anymore. It's morphed into a bigger 15 minute production. I'll start a new thread in the user films category.

cheers,
Jon

Nitsuj

10-07-2009, 12:36 PM

So far about $80. I will probably hit $90 shortly.

TMerry

10-09-2009, 09:39 PM

So far about $80. I will probably hit $90 shortly.
LOL! Don't break the bank :2vrolijk_08:

Nitsuj

10-11-2009, 10:01 AM

LOL! Don't break the bank :2vrolijk_08:

Hehe bank? What bank? I'm trying my best to make that $80 look like $150 at least. :happy:

Pocusproductions

10-13-2009, 01:39 PM

Trying to do it for as little as possible:

Equipment $0 , all owned and borrowed

Props $120 , includes the costumes, makeup, small items and such.

Cast and Crew $0 , all dedicated friends who just want to make a film.

Food and Nourishment $30 , Munchies and coffee make the shoot go smoothly.

$150 Total... lets see if I can keep it that low.