Do you think it's possible to shoot an AMAZING feature for under $10,000?

Do you think it's possible to shoot an AMAZING feature for under $10,000?


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So, what I'm getting from this is -- a lot of people saying you "can" do it, but not a whole lot of evidence. And a lot of people saying you can't do it, which the "can" folks think is negativity.

So let's take some of the "can's" - Hudson, Hicks, and Callaghan. Gentlemen, start your engines. Callaghan, pen a brilliant script that takes place in one location. Hudson will direct it, Hicks will shoot it, I'll exec-produce, and I'll bring the ten grand and a vanload of camera, lighting, and sound gear. Not a 10-ton truck, maybe 1/4-ton, but enough to get it shot.

Just has to be do-able on the budget, and I'm not gonna want to work that hard, so -- one location. Lots and lots of things can be done in one location. Just make it a location they can't get out of, for some reason -- like "Cube". Or, they're quarantined because of a medical outbreak - either they've got it, or everyone else in the world has it so they're quarantined inside a lockdown to keep from getting it. Or they're trapped on a spaceship (let's re-use the "O2" set). Or, they're chained up in the basement of some place. Or, it's a courtroom drama. Or, they're locked up in prison. Or, they're some dumb kids who decided to go into a house that's gonna be fumigated, and the fumigators started while they were still inside. Or... they're human trafficking victims and it takes place inside the cargo shipping container they're stuck in. Or... they're lost at sea and sharks are circling them (wait, that's been done... on a VX2000... and made it to international theatrical release). Or... they're trapped in a Night of the Living Dead house, and whatever the heck is going on outside, we can't see, but we know it's bad, and maybe one of them has already been infected or possessed or whatever but we don't know who, so it's a paranoia thriller... or... well, there's a million different scenarios. Just takes some brilliant writing to craft a screenplay that would hold the viewer's attention while we can't get out of wherever it is we're trapped.

Offer on the table.
 
I'd be willing to help too. I'm on the fence about the entire thing...not sure if I agree one way or the other yet. Maybe it'll tip my opinion.

Kegan
 
So let's take some of the "can's" - Hudson, Hicks, and Callaghan. Gentlemen, start your engines. Callaghan, pen a brilliant script that takes place in one location. Hudson will direct it, Hicks will shoot it, I'll exec-produce, and I'll bring the ten grand and a vanload of camera, lighting, and sound gear. Not a 10-ton truck, maybe 1/4-ton, but enough to get it shot.
You're forgetting post production.

Who's going to edit the film?
Who's going to color correct it?
Who's going to write the full length score?
Who's going to be the sound editor/designer (and sound technician on set)?

By the way, I know Hicks and Hudson are in Aliens, but I don't' remember Callaghan.
 
Hudson will do all the post. And Kegan will write the score. And we don't need sound design, that's for folks who have a budget. We'll just use "freesoundeffects.org".

Callaghan was the guy with the cigar.
 
So, what I'm getting from this is -- a lot of people saying you "can" do it, but not a whole lot of evidence. And a lot of people saying you can't do it, which the "can" folks think is negativity.

So let's take some of the "can's" - Hudson, Hicks, and Callaghan. Gentlemen, start your engines. Callaghan, pen a brilliant script that takes place in one location. Hudson will direct it, Hicks will shoot it, I'll exec-produce, and I'll bring the ten grand and a vanload of camera, lighting, and sound gear. Not a 10-ton truck, maybe 1/4-ton, but enough to get it shot.

Just has to be do-able on the budget, and I'm not gonna want to work that hard, so -- one location. Lots and lots of things can be done in one location. Just make it a location they can't get out of, for some reason -- like "Cube". Or, they're quarantined because of a medical outbreak - either they've got it, or everyone else in the world has it so they're quarantined inside a lockdown to keep from getting it. Or they're trapped on a spaceship (let's re-use the "O2" set). Or, they're chained up in the basement of some place. Or, it's a courtroom drama. Or, they're locked up in prison. Or, they're some dumb kids who decided to go into a house that's gonna be fumigated, and the fumigators started while they were still inside. Or... they're human trafficking victims and it takes place inside the cargo shipping container they're stuck in. Or... they're lost at sea and sharks are circling them (wait, that's been done... on a VX2000... and made it to international theatrical release). Or... they're trapped in a Night of the Living Dead house, and whatever the heck is going on outside, we can't see, but we know it's bad, and maybe one of them has already been infected or possessed or whatever but we don't know who, so it's a paranoia thriller... or... well, there's a million different scenarios. Just takes some brilliant writing to craft a screenplay that would hold the viewer's attention while we can't get out of wherever it is we're trapped.

Offer on the table.

LoL! Hey! I already said I wouldn't try to do it below 30-50K. I am just saying that some little filmmaking team out there, with skills in all areas, could probably make a decent or good little feature if they had ten grand in spending cash.

I personally would not do it.

Besides... I've got a better one location script that I've been working on... I'll send it over. >:]
 
Oh, and here's a recipe for the ultimate low budget grip and lighting kit:

2 x Chimera Pancake Lanterns w/fixtures and 1000 Watt Light Bulbs (got this from Matty_G)
3 x Litepanel Mini's with batteries and AC Adapters
1 x Arri Interview Kit (1K, 650, 350, 150)
2 x 500w Daylight Bulbs w/Mogul Adapter
1 x 4 x 2 Flag
1 x Sunbounce
4 x C-Stands with Gobo Heads
4 x Sandbags
6 x 50ft Stingers
2 x 10 x 10 Stretches of Duvetyne

Clamps, Cube Taps, Tape, etc (as desired)

This will all fit inside of a 1992 Honda Civic Sedan if you fold down the backseat. You can also fit a Six Foot Skater Dolly (Dana Dolly preferred) if you push the passenger side seat forward, along with two apple boxes and a camera package in the front passenger seat.

Just saying.
 
Hudson will do all the post. And Kegan will write the score. And we don't need sound design, that's for folks who have a budget. We'll just use "freesoundeffects.org".

Callaghan was the guy with the cigar.
You're gonna make an AMAZING film too, or just a film?

If so, what's the definition of AMAZING?

I'd love to help you guys out as a script analyst or something, but I'm completely over swamped with my own film and I just can't take any more time away from that.
 
You're gonna make an AMAZING film too, or just a film?

If so, what's the definition of AMAZING?

I'd love to help you guys out as a script analyst or something, but I'm completely over swamped with my own film and I just can't take any more time away from that.

What's your definition of Amazing? And, what's your definition of Decent?
 
What's your definition of Amazing? And, what's your definition of Decent?
I would say, since it started in this thread, why not go with the OP's definition?

Seems like filmmakers are always referencing El Mariachi, Clerks and Primer as being some of the better low budget movies ever made. However they are, in my opinion, good but not great. And I would certainly not call any of them AMAZING. So I'm curious, if that is where the bar is, as far as ultra low budget indies, do you think we'll ever see a feature that is shot under $10,000 that is amazing?

i.e. AMAZING meaning "better than El Mariachi, Clerks and Primer".
 
What's your definition of Amazing? And, what's your definition of Decent?
My definition of Decent would be... if you get into a major festival and find distribution, that's decent. If you win a couple of major festival awards and make your money back, that's great.
 
i.e. AMAZING meaning "better than El Mariachi, Clerks and Primer".

My definition of Decent would be... if you get into a major festival and find distribution, that's decent. If you win a couple of major festival awards and make your money back, that's great.


Primer doesn't fit with El Mariachi or Clerks to me: it's above and beyond both of those features, in my opinion. I've never watched either El Mariachi or Clerks more than once, I have seen primer in excess of twenty times clean through. In comparison to those I'd say Primer is amazing.

If you compared Primer to a headliner (and fave of my own) like Gladiator, then I'd say no. Primer is not amazing.


By your terms of decent, can a decent feature be made for 50K or lower? Adding money to the budget since I know that you said 150K is the lowest it should be done for.
 
To make an amazing $10K feature you'd need a perfect storm, which I don't think any mortal could ever pull off. Look at it this way: If it were even remotely possible to do it, don't you think producers would we making these 10K films and banking the profits? Hell, a producer could fund 1000 of these films and if only 1 worked it would pay off all of them and the producer would still bank a profit. I don't see anyone following this model in the real world.

Sorry, wrong.

It depends on what you call amazing.
I call a amazing story amazing. If you have an amazing story, you can shoot it in one room with minimal equipment.

Most of the block busters cost millions because they have to cover an - not so amazing story - with explosions, car chases, VFX, expensive stars, more explosions and roller coaster camera moves - did I mention explosions?

An amazing story stands upright by itself and doesn't need all this, to make an amazing film.
If you have a director that can tell that story and actors that can play it, you are golden - even with a $10000 budget.

There are some German Films like "Abwaerts" that takes place just in an elevator, or "Der Totmacher" takes place in just one interrogation room with 3 actors - both absolutely amazing movies.

Actually they where more expensive than 10000, but they could have been made for $10000 with todays gear and the right crew.

Which brings me to the next point: dedication and obsession.
To make an amazing film for 100 millions you need a good crew, that does an great job..
To make an amazing film for $10000 you need a crew that is obsessed and dedicated.
They need to do a 5 times better job as a "good crew" and you need to be obsessed to tackle something like that.

Actually I´m writing the script for my feature "Verdun" in the moment, that takes place in just one trench in WW1/France.

poster1.jpg


The budget will be higher than 10000, so I need a bit less obsessed crew, but still low budget.

my ct 2

Frank
 
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Primer doesn't fit with El Mariachi or Clerks to me: it's above and beyond both of those features, in my opinion. I've never watched either El Mariachi or Clerks more than once, I have seen primer in excess of twenty times clean through. In comparison to those I'd say Primer is amazing.

If you compared Primer to a headliner (and fave of my own) like Gladiator, then I'd say no. Primer is not amazing.


By your terms of decent, can a decent feature be made for 50K or lower? Adding money to the budget since I know that you said 150K is the lowest it should be done for.
I agree Primer is above and beyond both El Mariachi and Clerks, but those were not my picks.
Obviously a decent film made for ten grand can get picked up for distribution.
I'm not saying a film shouldn't be done for lower than 150k, but that's the budget I had for Marianne and making it work has proven extremely difficult, mostly due to unfortunate delays in post. Everything in pre-production and during shooting went just fine.
 
So, what I'm getting from this is -- a lot of people saying you "can" do it, but not a whole lot of evidence. And a lot of people saying you can't do it, which the "can" folks think is negativity.

So let's take some of the "can's" - Hudson, Hicks, and Callaghan. Gentlemen, start your engines. Callaghan, pen a brilliant script that takes place in one location. Hudson will direct it, Hicks will shoot it, I'll exec-produce, and I'll bring the ten grand and a vanload of camera, lighting, and sound gear. Not a 10-ton truck, maybe 1/4-ton, but enough to get it shot.

Just has to be do-able on the budget, and I'm not gonna want to work that hard, so -- one location. Lots and lots of things can be done in one location. Just make it a location they can't get out of, for some reason -- like "Cube". Or, they're quarantined because of a medical outbreak - either they've got it, or everyone else in the world has it so they're quarantined inside a lockdown to keep from getting it. Or they're trapped on a spaceship (let's re-use the "O2" set). Or, they're chained up in the basement of some place. Or, it's a courtroom drama. Or, they're locked up in prison. Or, they're some dumb kids who decided to go into a house that's gonna be fumigated, and the fumigators started while they were still inside. Or... they're human trafficking victims and it takes place inside the cargo shipping container they're stuck in. Or... they're lost at sea and sharks are circling them (wait, that's been done... on a VX2000... and made it to international theatrical release). Or... they're trapped in a Night of the Living Dead house, and whatever the heck is going on outside, we can't see, but we know it's bad, and maybe one of them has already been infected or possessed or whatever but we don't know who, so it's a paranoia thriller... or... well, there's a million different scenarios. Just takes some brilliant writing to craft a screenplay that would hold the viewer's attention while we can't get out of wherever it is we're trapped.

Offer on the table.

I'd go for this. Will you reserve a spot to look at treatments before entire script execution?
 
DVXUSER: Shark Tank

God, I must have brought this up like 117 times on this board, but I still think DVXUSER needs to do a $500 opt-in production.

10 people = 5K, 20 people = 10K, etc.

Put together a six person panel for Director/Casting director, Exec producer, editor, FX manager, Sound editor and Director of Distribution/Marketing. We each put in $500 and get a percentage accordingly and then vote on a script written by a DVXer. The goal for the film would be for it to actually be sold, not art for art's sake.

I am down for this and always will be. If the panel is working for percentage stake only (and some may even own their own equipment), then 100% of the funds can go towards actual funding the project.

118 times.

:)
 
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