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

[Kholi]

I know it sounds crazy, but I almost think you need to spend a good chunk of your budget on making the movie look like it cost more than it actually did. I'm talking $2k+ or so just on that one scene that WOWs people. Explosions, guns a blazing/shootout or a boat chase or helicopter chase or something that people see and go THIS IS A MOVIE. Or how did you do that/get that in your movie? Sort of thing.

I watch a movie like Monsters and the VFX were what really did it on that one. When you got army tanks driving down the road in your movie, or something big, I think it sets you apart. Maybe people then trust you a little more, I don't know what it is, but they are more likely to stick around to the end of the movie once you give them a solid Hollywood type scene. Just a random thought.

There's no real right or wrong. Some people will do it the way of Gareth Edwards, some will do it the way of Lena Dunham. Both did pretty well (regardless of who writes them off as flukes). I personally wouldn't go into any venture if it wasn't going to at least attempt to look bigger than its own shoes. That's just me.

Obviously, the Duplass brothers started off with less than I have and still walked pretty far.

Choose YOUR way of working, if it happens to agree with someone else's then cool.

I dunno where to fit Avery and Pete, in ways it's recycled and in others it's sort of "new". I dunno, but my peace of mind comes from knowing that we at least tried to make it feel like a larger movie than it really is.

 

[pulpfiction007]

Thanks Snowleopard and Barry

I should throw in a line/scene from a low budget film to make the point even more -

From Pi

"There are patterns everywhere in nature--------My hypothesis: within the stock market there is a pattern as well...Right in front of me, hiding in the numbers. Always has been."

This sets up the whole film and immediately draws the audience in with the character - we want him to find it, will he find it ? What will stand in his way?

 

[OldCorpse]

Actually a rough and ready production value is an aesthetic all its own. It's not necessarily a drawback, and can even be an asset. It's content first. Of purely technical stuff, I still think that you do need to take care of sound, there's no cutting corners there, regardless how you do it, in production or post or just doing a dialogue free thing or whatnot (btw. here's a horror movie from 1955 called Dementia that has almost no dialogue; you can watch it for free here, legally, the name changed to "Daughter of Horror"). Everything else technical is negotiable.

Which brings us to why people don't just go for it. I mean, be honest - if you wanted to, really wanted to, you could come up with $10K. Almost anyone can come up with that much. Do you really need to wait for Barry to fund you for 10K? Ridiculous. I tell you why you won't - it's the same reason why you won't take Barry up on his offer - you don't have the material or the idea. Now, there will be those who think they do, but hey, being a deluded artist was already a fact of life long before film came about, and it is Barry's job to tell you that, no, he isn't going to fund your masterpiece, because it's insane. Trouble is, how do you tell if you are insane or deluded? If you are lucky, you have friends who will tell you - "bud, this script is ed wood material, only not so good." There is nothing that is stopping you from proving all the naysayers wrong - go do it for $10K. Except, you don't really have something that you are that confident in. That's where the excuses come in "oh, I have brilliant ideas, only they all cost $100brazilion, I have no connections, I don't know any actors, my kid needs braces, my cat is sick, the weather is too hot/cold etc.".

Forget it - if you are creative, you'll find a way to shoot a feature for $10K. Those who don't think it's possible, are already out of the running. So now we're only talking to those who want to pick up the challenge. That's why I find Barry's offer so funny. Because it exposes the "all hat no cattle cowboys", the all talk no action guys/gals. Fact is - you don't shoot, because you don't have the material, end of story. It's not because one can't shoot a feature for $10K. It's because YOU can't. Like I said, I think it's bunk to say you can't come up with $10K. But even so - hey, there's Barry with $10K in his hand... so whatya gonna do, cowboy? Thought so. Barry's offer is a BS detector. He doesn't need to spend a penny, and magically, he can separate the talkers from the doers. Amazing, ain't it?

So here's my advice. Don't ask Barry for $, because let's be honest, you can come up with it on your own. But do go and write and shoot a feature for $10K. You'll lose it all, but it's only $10K, so it's not the end of the world. You will learn a lot. And what if the only thing you learn is that you just aren't any good as a filmmaker? Well, it's better to find that out sooner than later. I know one guy who has been talking about making a movie all his life - he didn't go to law school, because he thought he'll end up working in film. Only he never did anything about it. Now he's out of it - having missed on both. Had he confronted his ed wood persona early on, he'd at least make an honest living as a lawyer (err, wait, that didn't come out right!); or in the worst case, he'd have some fun being a bad filmmaker, but doing what he loved. Regardless, the worst you can do is sit and do nothing. GO SHOOT THAT MOVIE!

 

[CallaghanFilms]

...Which brings us to why people don't just go for it. I mean, be honest - if you wanted to, really wanted to, you could come up with $10K. Almost anyone can come up with that much. Do you really need to wait for Barry to fund you for 10K? Ridiculous. I tell you why you won't - it's the same reason why you won't take Barry up on his offer - you don't have the material or the idea. Now, there will be those who think they do, but hey, being a deluded artist was already a fact of life long before film came about, and it is Barry's job to tell you that, no, he isn't going to fund your masterpiece, because it's insane. Trouble is, how do you tell if you are insane or deluded? If you are lucky, you have friends who will tell you - "bud, this script is ed wood material, only not so good." There is nothing that is stopping you from proving all the naysayers wrong - go do it for $10K. Except, you don't really have something that you are that confident in. That's where the excuses come in "oh, I have brilliant ideas, only they all cost $100brazilion, I have no connections, I don't know any actors, my kid needs braces, my cat is sick, the weather is too hot/cold etc.".

Forget it - if you are creative, you'll find a way to shoot a feature for $10K. Those who don't think it's possible, are already out of the running. So now we're only talking to those who want to pick up the challenge. That's why I find Barry's offer so funny. Because it exposes the "all hat no cattle cowboys", the all talk no action guys/gals. Fact is - you don't shoot, because you don't have the material, end of story. It's not because one can't shoot a feature for $10K. It's because YOU can't. Like I said, I think it's bunk to say you can't come up with $10K. But even so - hey, there's Barry with $10K in his hand... so whatya gonna do, cowboy? Thought so. Barry's offer is a BS detector. He doesn't need to spend a penny, and magically, he can separate the talkers from the doers. Amazing, ain't it?

So here's my advice. Don't ask Barry for $, because let's be honest, you can come up with it on your own. But do go and write and shoot a feature for $10K. You'll lose it all, but it's only $10K, so it's not the end of the world. You will learn a lot. And what if the only thing you learn is that you just aren't any good as a filmmaker? Well, it's better to find that out sooner than later. I know one guy who has been talking about making a movie all his life - he didn't go to law school, because he thought he'll end up working in film. Only he never did anything about it. Now he's out of it - having missed on both. Had he confronted his ed wood persona early on, he'd at least make an honest living as a lawyer (err, wait, that didn't come out right!); or in the worst case, he'd have some fun being a bad filmmaker, but doing what he loved. Regardless, the worst you can do is sit and do nothing. GO SHOOT THAT MOVIE!

:huh: We already accepted. :huh:

...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...

im in

WE're in

 

[filmmakerguy]

I wish I lived in LA, I could talk to you all..all day long about this stuff over beers. It's great to be around people who share your passion..just thought I'd throw that out there.


I have to say though, I really think you need something in your movie that makes it a movie. This is the producer in me talking I guess, I know story is important and is the most important thing. However the producer in me says that if you want to make more money on the film, reach a wider audience and keep people in your movie, you need something that when they see it they go now this is a MOVIE. Be it movie magic or something that simply conveys that. All the indie filmmakers knew this back in the day, Roger Corman had movies full of chase scenes and shoot outs and explosions on low budgets. I don't think it's as expensive as people are making out. Maybe not VFX, but maybe a good shoot out scene. Maybe a good chase scene or a great scene that pops out the movie. Preferably at the start of the whole thing to hook them to stay in it. The problem I think is the story could be amazing but if you don't have that movie hook, they aren't going to stick around long enough to see it play out.

I think that's the formula Hollywood has used with success, they always have that one scene in a movie that you say, now this is a movie. Again, doesn't have to be anything huge, just something that separates you from all the easy stuff out there. Like in El Mariachi, it's maybe the scene where he slides down the wire onto the moving bus. it's that one scene that people remember and talk about. I think the whole taxi driver line and other lines in movies are things you can't control. You write the best script you can but you don't know which line or part is going to be the line, I don't think you can control that or even predict it or set it as a reasonable goal. However not all movies are MOVIES.

I'm not saying it's required, maybe you can pull it off without it, but I think it clearly gives your film an edge if you have that one scene that is punched up and that costs some real money to orchestrate but you do it because it's what transforms it into a movie.

 

[filmmakerguy]

As far as this idea of Barry funding a project done by DVXusers, the only problem I have with it is the script that is selected, the screenwriter should have some say in who directs it. I think if Zak Forsman, who says he has a script, has his script selected out of all the scripts submitted...assuming his is the best...I think he should have some say in who directs it.

I say that because I have some scripts but the thing is I'd like to direct my script. However if someone elses script is selected and it truly is an amazing script, then I'd personally love to help out with what I can and would understand completely if they directed it. However to assign a director outright...I think you might have problems finding that great script because again, if I had it, why would I turn it over to have someone else direct it if I wrote it or found it? Unless of course, I'm just a writer with no aspirations outside of that. So I think this is the one issue that may prevent the whole thing from actually happening....getting someone to agree to actually turn over that amazing screenplay. So I think they obviously would need a say in who directs it and if that is agreed upon, then I think you'd get more submissions to the idea and you might actually see it happen.

 

[Barry_Green]

Yep, Callaghan and Hudson already accepted. And independently I found a script I'm working with the writer on now to help develop it into something that could actually be something quite special for a one-location story.

So, so far, looks like two projects will come from this. :thumbsup:

 

[filmmakerguy]

Yep, Callaghan and Hudson already accepted. And independently I found a script I'm working with the writer on now to help develop it into something that could actually be something quite special for a one-location story.

So, so far, looks like two projects will come from this. :thumbsup:

That's awesome!! So you already got your script then and director. Then I guess just keep us all posted on it.

 

[Kholi]

I'm not saying it's required, maybe you can pull it off without it, but I think it clearly gives your film an edge if you have that one scene that is punched up and that costs some real money to orchestrate but you do it because it's what transforms it into a movie.

Thing is, I honestly do not believe that even mumblecore producers disagree with you. It's just almost impossible without the right connections to do what you're prescribing, effectively, for less than 100K. ALMOST impossible, mostly improbable.

So, you make a choice and run with it.

But, make no bones about it: someone CAN do it.

 

[Barry_Green]

Except, you don't really have something that you are that confident in. That's where the excuses come in "oh, I have brilliant ideas, only they all cost $100brazilion, I have no connections, I don't know any actors, my kid needs braces, my cat is sick, the weather is too hot/cold etc.".

Forget it - if you are creative, you'll find a way to shoot a feature for $10K. Those who don't think it's possible, are already out of the running. So now we're only talking to those who want to pick up the challenge. That's why I find Barry's offer so funny. Because it exposes the "all hat no cattle cowboys", the all talk no action guys/gals. Fact is - you don't shoot, because you don't have the material, end of story. It's not because one can't shoot a feature for $10K. It's because YOU can't. Like I said, I think it's bunk to say you can't come up with $10K. But even so - hey, there's Barry with $10K in his hand... so whatya gonna do, cowboy? Thought so. Barry's offer is a BS detector. He doesn't need to spend a penny, and magically, he can separate the talkers from the doers. Amazing, ain't it?

There's actually a lot of truth in what you say, and the worst part, the hardest part, for many folks to realize is the day that they actually realize ... "no, I'm not all that. I'm not gonna make it. I'm not going to win American Idol. And I'm not going to actually be the next Tarantino."

And yet -- I think that should be the most liberating, most empowering day in their lives. Because finally they can put all the ******** behind them, get off the dead-end path that really wasn't ever going to go anywhere, and now step forward with a clean conscience and find out what it is that they really are good at. Because every one of us has gifts. Every one of us has skills and talents, and they can be something of obvious merit (like a teacher) or they could be something of a much more bizarre nature that, when properly harnessed, turns the world upside down. Like a guy who made a green sock puppet and stuck his hand in it and it became Kermit the Frog.

Does anyone here think Jim Henson should have pursued a career in singing instead? People say "don't give up on your dreams" and I say -- if that dream isn't where you belong, give up on it already. Go do what you were put on this earth to do. For some, that's coach basketball (like Mike Kryzewski). For some, that's sing songs. For some, it's make movies. For some, it's to be the best frickin' accountant and auditor the world has ever seen.

Y'all have watched American Idol for the last 10 years, where the people come out declaring that "those judges don't know anything! Keep your eye on me, I'm gonna be the next big thing, you haven't heard the last of me!" But, really, we had. So what did those folks do? Did they keep after singing, even though we'd seen them and they were awful? If they did, then that's a profound waste of time and energy. Years and years and years, squandered, chasing after something that is never, ever gonna happen.

That's not "romantic", that's not "keeping on believing in your dreams", that's just ... dumb.

It's okay to have a hobby. Lots of people jam with their friends on weekends, with no pretensions that they're ever going to become the next Hendrix. That's fine. But the delusion when you really, simply, aren't ever going to make it -- that's where it gets sad.

So don't be that guy. Don't be the American Idol reject who deludes themselves that they're gonna make it.

Instead, be who and what you are. If you've got the skills, the talent, the chops, and the drive, then you'll make it. And if you don't have all that? Quit now and go do something useful and something better with your life, something that suits your talents more. There's no shame in that, instead there's honor in that! Kermit The Frog is one of the most beloved characters of the big and small screens of all times, and it was a guy with a sock puppet (essentially). If Henson had chased his aspirations of being a major filmmaker then he'd probably end up on the bottom of a long, long pile of discarded resumes. So he made some muppets instead, and ended up making his movies too.

But do go and write and shoot a feature for $10K. You'll lose it all, but it's only $10K, so it's not the end of the world. You will learn a lot. And what if the only thing you learn is that you just aren't any good as a filmmaker? Well, it's better to find that out sooner than later.

Yes it most definitely is.

Had he confronted his ed wood persona early on, he'd at least make an honest living as a lawyer (err, wait, that didn't come out right!); or in the worst case, he'd have some fun being a bad filmmaker, but doing what he loved.

And that, my friend, is the definition of the tragedy. He ignored what he was good at, and chased after something that was never going to happen, and ended up losing it all. I know several lawyers, (including on this very board) who have decided they'd rather be film/videomakers. Lawyering is pretty good preparation for that, and it at least helps you fund this expensive hobby, and you really, really do have something to fall back on.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of anything -- I'm just asking you to really honestly review what you're doing. If it's not gonna happen, get out now and get on with magnifying your talents and growing your skills and becoming who you're meant to be. Not everybody has to be a filmmaker. Seems like everyone wants to be, but by definition most will never succeed to any measurable degree. So find out now, early, whether that's you or not. You will be doing yourself, and the world, a favor if you find out where you belong, as soon as possible.

 

[snowleopard]

Hopefully you'll spend the time to get the script right, spend the time working with the actors, and have most of your budget go to talent.

At least that's what I'd do.

...Anything else is just pissing around with a camcorder, patting yourself on the back while you make an irrelevant piece of drivel that nobody, ever, is ever going to see....Spend your time with ink and paper crafting an amazing tale. One that can be shot affordably. And when you have that amazing tale, nobody (and I mean NOBODY) is going to give one flying crap about what camcorder you shot it on. Or that it was a DSLR. Or that you only had $10k. Or that you had $10 million. Nobody cares. They just want to see something engaging, absorbing, entertaining, something that respects the audience's intelligence and really values the commitment the audience is making to commit two hours of their life to your product..

You have over 44 thousand posts here, and this has to be one of your best. This really sums it up.

 

[Barry_Green]

That's awesome!! So you already got your script then and director. Then I guess just keep us all posted on it.

Well, we still have to see if they produce something amazing script-wise. :thumbsup:

 

[CallaghanFilms]

Barry-

Hudson and I are keyed up to be a part of this:beer: We have started chatting about ideas.

I was thinking (for publicity) this project/experiment could perhaps have a website documenting the entire process. Call it microbudgetmovie dot com... or filmdemocracy dot com... or 10kfilmproject dot com... or whatever. Following, to some extent, in the footsteps of Ed Burns' site. I agree about no pre-orders - but no reason you couldn't sell them there after.

Just a thought...

 

[Barry_Green]

Barry-

Hudson and I are keyed up to be a part of this:beer: We have started chatting about ideas.

I was thinking (for publicity) this project/experiment could perhaps have a website documenting the entire process. Call it microbudgetmovie dot com... or filmdemocracy dot com... or 10kfilmproject dot com... or whatever. Following, to some extent, in the footsteps of Ed Burns' site. I agree about no pre-orders - but no reason you couldn't sell them there after.

Just a thought...

Sounds like a plan. I think documenting the process would be something everyone would want to follow. I'll send a PM to follow up on some things...

 

[Kholi]

Barry-

Hudson and I are keyed up to be a part of this:beer: We have started chatting about ideas.

I was thinking (for publicity) this project/experiment could perhaps have a website documenting the entire process. Call it microbudgetmovie dot com... or filmdemocracy dot com... or 10kfilmproject dot com... or whatever. Following, to some extent, in the footsteps of Ed Burns' site. I agree about no pre-orders - but no reason you couldn't sell them there after.

Just a thought...

It's called DVXUSER.COM

Keep it at home.

 

[snowleopard]

The worst part, the hardest part, for many folks to realize is the day that they actually realize ... "no, I'm not all that. I'm not gonna make it. I'm not going to win American Idol. And I'm not going to actually be the next Tarantino."

And yet -- I think that should be the most liberating, most empowering day in their lives...

I would agree with this as well. But it doesn't mean you have to give up filmmaking, it doesn't mean you can't be a local hero. The success in filmmaking shouldn't be measured on fame, financial gain, or even critical praise from the famous, the powerful, strangers. There can be great joy in shooting something that you want to shoot, telling the story you want to tell, for the reasons you want to make it. And there's something awesome about showing your work to your peers, your friends, in a local arena and seeing their reactions.

 

[CallaghanFilms]

It's called DVXUSER.COM

Keep it at home.

Fair enough.

I meant as an exposure supplement. But I was just thinking outloud...ah er...thinking outwrite.:beer:

PS: You in?

 

[Kholi]

Fair enough.

I meant as an exposure supplement. But I was just thinking outloud...ah er...thinking outwrite.:beer:

PS: You in?

Haha. I'm sure I'll participate in SOME form or fashion. Let's see what the next few months overturn. >=]

But, I'm in post on our feature right now, so can't say!

 

[ullanta]

Here we go? http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?247965-Epic-Scale-Movie-Made-In-Garage

 

[pulpfiction007]

If at all possible I would very much like to help out with the music for the project....I offered earlier but I think it may have been lost in the great Brian Rice/David Jimerson debates of 2011.