$25000 budget (NZ) for short film...

lordybob

lordybob

Well-known member
Just been approached to shoot a short film in New Zealand (where I live) and as this will be my first budgeted shoot I am curious as to how others would go about utilizing this money. Its around $12000 US.

Briefly:

Drama based short shot mainly in a park during summer/autumn with flashbacks to prison cell, bedroom, house etc. No hard night shots. Output for independent festivals.


Isaac
 
I assume he's the director of photography and not the director. So I don't think asking to spend money on the actors is exactly his call...Maybe I'm wrong though, are you shooting or directing?

If directing, yeah, of course actors, but if you're shooting I stand by my production design suggestion. You can light all you want, but you aren't going to turn a bad location into a good one with that 18k HMI.
 
Prodigi Pictures said:
Spend your money on great actors. Limit your screenplay to 1-2 locations, 3-4 actors and 8-9 pages.

Festivals don't like long short films. If your movie is under ten minutes it is easier to program and therefore stands a greater chance of getting into festivals. I decided to ignore this advice and was emailed multiple times by festival directors telling me they loved my short film but at 14 minutes it was too difficult to program.

Spend your money on storytelling and performances. That's real production value...if you write a story set in several locations you'll spend all your time doing company moves. That's expensive and none of that time and money shows up on the screen. Also, it usually implies the story isn't focused on characters as much as it should be.

If you follow these principles you'll only need a small crew and you can shoot your film in about four days. Therefore, you have more than enough money to pay for good actors. Don't be tempted to get free actors. Don't do it. I mean it man...don't make the mistake so many DVXusers make. Yes, there are TONS of free actors on this planet...but, you will get a higher caliber of actor if you post in your audition notice "Paid Position...$100.00 per day. Estimated shooting schedule is four days."

I'll never understand why filmmakers think they're doing actors a favor and therefore actors should work for free or almost free. You and the actor have a symbiotic relationship. Yes, you're giving them an opportunity...but, if they're good at their craft they'll make your movie shine. If a P.A. is late with morning donuts it won't hurt the film in any way (other than annoying your crew...but, they're already annoyed). Bad actors will ruin your movie. Mediocre actors will make your movie like most of the low budget short films of the world...forgettable. Great actors will immediately elevate you, the director, to a small cadre of filmmakers. I'd estimate that less than 10% of all independent films have good acting.

A bunch of DVXusers will begin to tell you all the technical stuff you need to focus on. They're right. You need good sound. You need good lighting. You need good music. You need good costumes, good sets, good props, good vehicles...

...but, most importantly, you need a great script and great acting. That's where your money should be spent.

As an example, I used to jog with this kid who was Spielberg's protege. He had everything handed to him. His senior thesis film at USC was a massive budget with tons of donated items...he had three-ton grip trucks, he had panther cranes, he had huge HMI packages and he had Spielberg to help get him even more. He shut down city blocks in Los Angeles. He edited is movie at Warner Bros. He mixed it in Warner Bros' top mixing facility. It was shot on 35mm (back when that meant something...now, who cares?)

The writing and performances sucked. And, that is why you've never heard of him. He has spent his entire life strictly focusing on the technical aspects of filmmaking.

If you have 25,000 NZD then you have enough money to completely change your life...but, only if you make the right choices. If I were you, I'd spend a year on this short film. A year. Because, in the end, that will save you time and get you to the next step much faster...making a feature film. And, that's the real goal isn't it?
Click to expand...

This was a dope post :-)
 
lordybob said:
Just been approached to shoot a short film in New Zealand (where I live) and as this will be my first budgeted shoot I am curious as to how others would go about utilizing this money. Its around $12000 US.

Briefly:

Drama based short shot mainly in a park during summer/autumn with flashbacks to prison cell, bedroom, house etc. No hard night shots. Output for independent festivals.


Isaac
Click to expand...

Nice score!!
That's a decent amount given our current economic state :)

Where abouts are you planning on shooting this? Locally or out of town?

I'm assuming that the script is already decided on though - right?
 
Its an 11 page script with all the dialogue done in a park. Still in the very early stages but yes there is a full script written and storyboard. Its written based on a stage play but has a kiwi twist. I see you are based in Wellyville. Good to see a Kiwi on DVX!

At the moment I am thinking yes, ACTORS (I am shooting not directing) and probably an EX3 w Macbookpro. Cam assist, foley sound...

What other crew would you nab>?
 
I would have a make up/hair person, an assistant director, an AC, sound recordist with his gear as well as a gaffer and probably a grip/electric. A PA would be pretty good to have as well, just to send on runs if you forget anything and maybe take care of craft services.

I mean, that would really be ideal. A script super. would be nice, but I feel like those are the things you'd need to keep your production really moving. Like, without an AC you'd be building the camera while you're trying to figure out the shots with the director, without an AD, you won't have anybody to get things going when they need to get going, without make up...yeah, bad. Depending on what you get, you could possibly get away with hiring a grip/electric. And a PA you should just always have, no reason not to.
 
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Prodigy, that was an amazing tid bit of info that has helped me. Love this forum and all of its wealth of fellow INDI filmakers.
 
lordybob said:
Its an 11 page script with all the dialogue done in a park. Still in the very early stages but yes there is a full script written and storyboard. Its written based on a stage play but has a kiwi twist. I see you are based in Wellyville. Good to see a Kiwi on DVX!

At the moment I am thinking yes, ACTORS (I am shooting not directing) and probably an EX3 w Macbookpro. Cam assist, foley sound...

What other crew would you nab>?
Click to expand...

If you are just shooting and that money is for camera dept. I would say go with something like the RED since its a lot of outside shooting (the RED is a daylight balanced sensor) with a few ND, polarizor, hot mirror IR filters. Especially the IR filters if you use a lot of ND in hot weather.
Then I would get a bunch of big silks and reflectors with enough grip and people to make it work. Accent that with a few HMIs for shaping the light and don't forget a generator large enough for whatever wattage you go with. I would also go with some type of crane and dolly setup. Get experienced crew working with you.

If that money is not for camera only then you can still do most of this AND spend for really good actors through the SAG indy contracts.
 
you say you've storyboarded already, which is good, I'd go even further and make a temp version of the film, using the storyboard stills and temp voices. It really helps with shot selection and timing later.

And go out and shoot stills of potential locations - you may discover almost perfect locations which need some dressing, and that dressing may not be cheap or easy - I'm particularly thinking of the prison cell, which could be anywhere from easy (borrow a real one) to real hard (build one). And other locations may be a pain to light, which may not be obvious to anyone but you - your producer needs to be told stuff like this.

And yeah, make sure some of that money goes to crew and actors, especially those who've done you a lot of freeby favours in the past
 
You can have all the money in the world and the best technical skill around but a film is nothing without the story. How is the script? Is it festival worthy?
 
The story is dark and very different from my usuall MTV styled work. I will be shooting and effects creation. I think he wants a bit of guidance as to preperation too. Thanks for the feedback! AWESOME!
 
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