FEATURE: DEUCE OF SPADES - How I made a period full feature film all by myself on ZERO budget

mattlj25 said:
I only ask because I'm a rookie myself... and If you have or get (which you probably will) distribution, then it's that much more inspiring because you literally took an idea to the screen, without spending a dime. Your film is guaranteed to make money, which is something not a lot of rookies, or any filmmakers for that matter, can say. This is inspiring, which fuels my interest, which brings on more questions. ; )

When you get distribution, you will have defeated the giant!
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Corrections:

My film did not cost me nothing. I mean it was "nothing" per any filmmaking standards, but for one person with no big check book, it cost plenty (ouch)... yes it is a no budget and yes EVERYTHING (or just about) was donated but still, feeding actors (try feeding 60 young 20 year old actors! They can eat their weight in Gold LOL), feeding the truck and Deuce, plus buying the gear to film and the filming insurance (I'm still bleeding from that one) and also some props and wardrobe did add up fast. In fact I am completely broke right now.

:crybaby:

but well worth it :beer:

Also the film is not guarantied to make money. if it does make money (sells DVDs) I will recoup fast because I did not spend a HUGE amount of money (just my own money) and don't have to pay investors back. So in that regard, maybe it will make money. I don't expect it to. And if it never did, I would be 100% OKk with that cause that's not why I made it.

I made it because of LOVE...

That said if it did make some money, hey! that would be way cool cause then I can make my sequel :thumbup: and follow JOHNNY CALLAWAY's tracks for a little longer...
 
Faith:

Not including paying crew and actors, just for expenses you have outlined and your gear, would you say you are in the neighborhood of $40-$50k? Just curious if you have added it up.

I did a "no budget" documentary for most of 2004 and when all was said and done, my no budget doc cost me $26k out of pocket. Definitely have never even came close to breaking even although we did sell a few thousand DVDs.

As we all know, there is really no such thing as a making a film for nothing. I think you have to be at, what, $100k to even be at SAG's ultra low budget agreement? Something like that. Oh yeah, were any of your actors SAG?

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
Faith:

Not including paying crew and actors, just for expenses you have outlined and your gear, would you say you are in the neighborhood of $40-$50k? Just curious if you have added it up.

I did a "no budget" documentary for most of 2004 and when all was said and done, my no budget doc cost me $26k out of pocket. Definitely have never even came close to breaking even although we did sell a few thousand DVDs.

As we all know, there is really no such thing as a making a film for nothing. I think you have to be at, what, $100k to even be at SAG's ultra low budget agreement? Something like that. Oh yeah, were any of your actors SAG?

Dan
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Pure, not meaning any disrespect, but in hopes of making a deal, she should 'Never' talk in public about how much she actually spent. Distributors will use the info against her to drive the price down.
 
zeke said:
Pure, not meaning any disrespect, but in hopes of making a deal, she should 'Never' talk in public about how much she actually spent. Distributors will use the info against her to drive the price down.
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Not true.

In all fairness the mistake you made is actually quite common.


They don't give a **** if she spent $25,000,000,000,000.00 on the film!

They want to pay the least amount possible.

The price will be driven simply and purely by competition for it among potential distributors.

This is fundamental economics 101! :beer:
 
zeke said:
Pure, not meaning any disrespect, but in hopes of making a deal, she should 'Never' talk in public about how much she actually spent. Distributors will use the info against her to drive the price down.
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Oh, OK then I spent FOUR MILLION DOLLARS MAKING THIS FILM :dankk2:
 
ESTEBEVERDE said:
Not true.

In all fairness the mistake you made is actually quite common.


They don't give a shi* if she spent $25,000,000,000,000.00 on the film!

They want to pay the least amount possible.

The price will be driven simply and purely by competition for it among potential distributors.

This is fundamental economics 101! :beer:
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Oh OK. Then in this case I made it for nothing :dankk2:
 
Well, the cool thing is that I am not DESPERATE for distribution. I already have my own ideas on how to distribute it myself if it comes to that. I am in a unique position because of the subject matter of the film and my extensive contacts in the hotrod world. I might sell less that way but I'll make a lot more per sale so it might actually work out to my advantage in the end...

That said, I'd love to have distribution offers as an option to consider so if they happen that would be tres very cool.

And taking a short break from working 24/7 for 3 years sure would be nice. :beer:
 
No worries, I understand. Knowing what you used for gear and how much of your shooting resources were donated, I have a rough idea.

Good luck,

Dan
 
puredrifting said:
No worries, I understand. Knowing what you used for gear and how much of your shooting resources were donated, I have a rough idea.

Good luck,

Dan
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NO, no, really... I am not trying to evade the question, I REALLY don't know (yet) what the price tag is. Once I am done with everything I will sit down and have some time to spare to go through all my receipts, bills, credit cards statement and sort it all out. I'll have by then three years worth of stuff to add up.

Oye.
 
Today I celebrate having ONLY ONE MORE FLASHBACK SCENE TO EDIT. So by the end of this week, I'll have all the period footage edited and will be able to get teh runtime total of the flashback sections. And see how much time I can devote to the rest of the film (modern day scenes).

My adapter, who was fedexed for some needed maintenance, is on its way back to me :)... My camera sure look funky without it attached to it LOL (yes I leave my adapter permanently attached to my camera and it is stored / transported that way in my Porta Brace hard case)...

I miss it :(

When I get it back I have to go out and film a few pick shots for my crash scene. then we roll on modern day stuff :) - back to the grind - PRODUCTION phase again...

Meanwhile, I got more press in europe (Northern europe) and just heard word today that the U.K might be next :).

Cool cool.
 
How soon do you think until you've wrapped principal?

Edit: Yeah, for serious. This is the real deal, right here. Period Piece on the sweat and grind. I think watching that Video of Faith doing make-up put it in perspective. Dang...
 
Justin Kuhn said:
Some El Mariachi stuff going on here...
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Heh? Mexican's with machine guns and guitars are now in the movie? I guess I could live with it if they were period correct guns and guitars? LOL:)

This is THE most under rated thread on the board!

Go Faith!
 
ChipG said:
Heh? Mexican's with machine guns and guitars are now in the movie? I guess I could live with it if they were period correct guns and guitars? LOL:)

This is THE most under rated thread on the board!

Go Faith!
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Ditto. I just told someone else that exact same thing. LoL
 
Wow. Thick thread. Awesome stuff...

Did anyone ask what camera is being used? Looked like a RED in the pics...
 
Yup. Original Letus Extreme at that. Although I think it might have the opti kit now. Faith can tell.

The footage looks pretty good, as well.
 
Justin Kuhn said:
Some El Mariachi stuff going on here...
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention LOL, Visugeek was just telling me about how that guy made "El Mariachi" and I was laughing cause it reminded me so much of what goes on on my set, and me doing everything, and I mean EVERYTHING...

I hope I am walking in his foosteps, cause that'd be a GOOD PLACE TO BE :).

I haven't seen the film though. (wow, how many of you guys just passed out when I typed that?). I hate gratuitis violence, so I avoid film with people running around with guns shooting in every which direction at all cost. That said, at the light of the "tour de force" he pullled to make the film himself, I think I will rent it on netflix and watch it now :). Cause he has earned my RESPECT.
 
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