Feature film budget

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niceguy15

Carbonite Member
i'm making a feature-length film (about 1:35) and i was wondering how much money i would need. i've already completed the script and found all my actors (volenteers), i have a canon XH-A1 with 35mm and some lighting equip and also a sony vegas 7 for editing. There aren't any special effects needed in this movie and no constumes. Do you guys think i'm ready to go or should i wait and save a couple more grands? Thanks.
 
there are so many variables (things that cost money) to making a film, i wouldn't know where to begin. do you have money to feed everyone in your cast and crew every day? have you secured locations yet? can you afford not to work for a three months straight?

in LA, you rarely get anything for free (although you can negotiate some nice discounts). i dont know where you are but here, i don't think it would be possible to make an ultra low budget feature for less than $30,000.
 
i think you are ready to go. just buy your tape stock and have some cash flow for pizza and beer good luck with the project :)
 
main expenses for bare bones budget include: a hot lunch for cast and crew, a constant supply of snacks, gas money (might have to pay gas for cast/crew too), video tapes, and props. Depending on the size of your cast and crew, food and transpo alone could be several hundred per day. In my experience, $15 per person can cover food for a day, but $20 per person will make them happier and more efficient. And some people demand you get them Starbucks. Try to weed them out in auditions.
 
Well, just to give you an idea, we just finished shooting a short film "Man to Man" in Seattle and I think the budget came in right around 5 Grand, that was of course with a lot of favors called in. This shoot had paid actors and crew however so alot of the budget went to that. as well as equipment rental. But my opinion, it really isn't worth making a film if you don't want to spend anything on it. If you don't invest in your film your just wasting your time, your actors time, crews time etc. Pre production takes money, finding good talent and crew takes money, finding good locations takes money. Even though it is possible to shoot for nothing, in the end is it really worth it when you see what your left with?
 
If it really is a super bare bones talking head lonely person cries movie I'd say 5-10k, obviously not including the stuff you already own.
 
and really.. it's only money right? When you're dead, you won't be remembered for the money you had, but the films you make :)

but in reality, if you have a 20 day shooting schedule, food alone at $100/day will be $2000, which is nothing. Tape, harddrives, locations, gas, equipment, and erroneous calamity costs (when things break and go missing)

It's all about preproduction man. Prepare like ****ing crazy before you even set up that tripod (unless you're super indie and can't even afford one!)
 
"It really isn't worth making a film if you don't want to spend anything on it."
-Scharky
Right on.
 
If you want any help with filming or anything let me know....I could lend a hand...I go through Seattle all the time....But I live up in Bellingham....Don't have an A1, just the ol DVX100B....Let me know! Good luck!
 
have you made a short fllm yet? something that has played at a film festival?
do that first .... and then start thinking feature
 
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