$10,000.00 Feature Film : Lay out the rules

[Kholi]

And get a good producer...

Haha! What!? You mean ONE less hat!? But I like looking like a baseball cap mall kiosk!

To be fair, I bought many hats from there in my mall days.

[Gary Huff]

I think a producer is overkill for a $10k film. A good produced is absolutely a benefit, but not in this case.

Director/DP/Grip
Sound
Makeup
Perhaps a PA.

[Chris Adler]

Are you saying one person is Director, DP, and grip? Since you slapped all three of those positions on one line I can't tell.

If that is what you're saying I think it depends on the person, but I find it really hard to worry about composition, focus, and watch performances, etc. I'd never combine DP and director, but maybe I'm just lacking that skill.

[Kholi]

Are you saying one person is Director, DP, and grip? Since you slapped all three of those positions on one line I can't tell.

If that is what you're saying I think it depends on the person, but I find it really hard to worry about composition, focus, and watch performances, etc. I'd never combine DP and director, but maybe I'm just lacking that skill.

It definitely takes a certain brand. I've worked under about three director/dps as a DIT or AC and they always have a pretty strong gaffer around. The work they turn out is a-grade, but of course since they're constantly hired and work with massive budgets.

[Kholi]

P.S. Erich you've got a PM thingy~

[Shawn Philip Nelson]

Good thread! I could do it, even have a feature almost ready to go that I could shoot for $10k this summer, but frankly I don't know where to get $10k. I'm already leveraged into debt waayyyy too far (my house in underwater so no 2nd mortage, my cards are almost all maxed, even my Epic/Red setup is still partially in debt and I have no assets that I could part with that wouldnt be needed to shoot a feature). But if I managed to get $10k I could shoot a feature this summer. Here's how...
-I have a script I can shoot in Oregon using my siblings (who live in LA as professional actors but come home for two months in July-August)
-I'd shoot all (or almost all) of the movie with the $10k. I'd then do a $15-$20k Kickstarter for completion and post that would have real oomph because I'd be able to show a trailer for a finished or almost finished feature, the EP credit would have deep value.
-It would be a feature aimed at the children's/family market so selling it would be a slam dunk.
-I already own a full Epic kit, 1 or 2 ton G&E setup and audio, so my need for rental is either none or maybe a few small day play things.

[Gary Huff]

Yes, Rodriquez does it a lot. It just seems easier to be at least mildly competent then trying to schedule people for no pay. You could try to do those 2-3 year schedules shooting only on weekends, but I would say a fifteen day schedule could be doable.

Shawn: I think the goal is to do the whole thing for $10k.

[Kholi]

Good thread! I could do it, even have a feature almost ready to go that I could shoot for $10k this summer, but frankly I don't know where to get $10k. I'm already leveraged into debt waayyyy too far (my house in underwater so no 2nd mortage, my cards are almost all maxed, even my Epic/Red setup is still partially in debt and I have no assets that I could part with that wouldnt be needed to shoot a feature). But if I managed to get $10k I could shoot a feature this summer. Here's how...
-I have a script I can shoot in Oregon using my siblings (who live in LA as professional actors but come home for two months in July-August)
-I'd shoot 80% of the movie with the $10k and incidentally, this would be the tough parts. I'd then do a $15-$20k Kickstarter for completion and post that would have real oomph because I'd be able to show a trailer for a finished or almost finished feature, the EP credit would have deep value.
-It would be a feature aimed at the children's/family market so selling it would be a slam dunk.
-I already own a full Epic kit, 1 or 2 ton G&E setup and audio, so my need for rental is either none or maybe a few small day play things.

That makes it a 25K to 30K feature, though. Breakin' the rules, Nelson!

10K, all in.

[Shawn Philip Nelson]

lol, just edited my original post to say all of the movie :-).

The only rule is 'make a good movie, advance 3 places' :-D

[Chris Adler]

Shawn, have you seen any precedent for success in "finishing funds" via crowd sourcing? I can't say that I have but I'd like to be wrong.