Is $10,000 indie feature possible ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
Anybody here actually made an indie feature for $10,000 or less, and if so what were the main elements you followed to accomplish that?

I am primarily pursuing screenwriting, have made a couple of shorts, but if I could do an indie feature, even craptastic (let's face it, a $10k feature is not going to look like a $100k or better feature, I know that going in) for $10,000 I would give it a shot. I think that would help me get noticed more even as a writer, to get agents to look at my screenplays, etc. I own and have read the book on how to make a feature for $10,000 or less without going to jail, but I am wondering how realistic that is, who has done it. Thank you in advance for any replies. ~randall
 
It certainly is possible. I am helping with a feature now that has a budget of about $2000, mostly to feed us. If you do enough planning, research, planning, calling in favors, planning, and just simply asking around then I don't see why it couldn't happen.

Now if you are talking about hiring professional crew and renting out a bunch of equipment then probably not. I guess it really depends how much you want it.
 
It's absolutely possible - in fact, I'm just about to do it myself...

You need gear, but it's totally doable, and rather than renting gear, I'd buy and then sell it after you are done shooting - buy used and you may very well not lose any money on the resale.

Get a Panasonic GH1 with the kit lens - about $1299 these days I believe, get a Canon FD m4/3 adapter and some good primes - a 28mm f/2, 35mm f/2, a 50mm f/1.4, and an 85mm f/1.8...pick up the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 prime as well.

All of that will take up about $2K of your budget.

Get a light kit - buy some used Berklee Colortrans from eBay - you can get .5K and 1K lights in the realm of $100/each - after stands, barn doors, some softboxes, etc., let's just assume you can put together a reasonable light kit for $1K.

Sound - get a good boom pole and shock mount - about $200-300, pick up a Rode NTG-3 for your exteriors where you need a shotgun mic (about $600 or so either new/used), and either a Rode NT3 for your interiors or an Oktava MK-012 w/Hypercardiod cap. I got my Rode NT3 used for $150 and I think it sounds better than the Oktava, but it's' heavier...but still, either is doable.

Let's just say $1200 for mics, pole, shock mount, etc.

Sound recorder - get a used Fostex FR2-LE - you can find them for $300 and they are excellent. Pick up a Zoom H4N as well so you've got a backup and an ultra-portable solution...plus the built in mics are excellent for a number of uses. Let's say $600 here total.

You need SD & CF cards - I dunno, figure $200 for several.

So that's $5K so far.

You need a good tripod - figure $500 or so for something decent (obviously more = better but it'll work) - if you want dolly shots, you can find a low-end dolly w/track for $500 that will still give you good shots. So let's say $1K for support here.

Now you're at $6K.

You'll need some hard drives to store and back up your raw footage, and also hard drives to store your footage in its intermediate codec since you aren't going to be wanting to edit in AVCHD. With the proposed GH1, get Cineform Neoscene for $129 and a bunch of hard drives to back this all up. Let's say $500 here.

So that's $6.5K - you've got a good camera, support, lenses, microphones, and sound recording, and lights.

Plan your shoot and shoot it over the shortest time you can handle - use the other $3.5K to cover food, other varios expenses (camera bags, gaffers tape, coffee, good headphones, filters, etc.) - you have a little money if you absolutely have to pay someone to be in it (but in this price range I think you need unpaid actors and crew - but they can still be good) - money for wardrobe, etc., any permits, etc. etc., - it's tight, but it's enough.

Shoot the film, make sure all the footage and sound is good - make sure you've got the clips you need - sell everything but the sound recorder and mics - and use the money for either computer upgrades/software you need - but keep the sound recording equipment in case you need to do ADR, additional sound recording, whatever - and when it's all done, sell that stuff too - you'll have some money left over for a couple audio sync licenses (but try to get music from artists who are not currently released for free, if you find good free music).

So yeah, it's totally doable for $10K...even less, it will cover the gear you need and expenses to shoot the film - but like I said, it gives you almost no money to pay anyone - but I don't think that would be very common on a $10K feature anyway.

Make sure your script is damn good and you can end up with a fine film shot in full HD w/24p - find people who are talented and want to build their reels to work on the crew.

Tough? Yeah. Doable? Yeah.

Write your script so that you avoid making the shooting too complicated, keep it as simple as you can and be smart about the shooting order/schedule, locations, wardrobe, etc., for $10K it's got to be all about the story, the writing, the dialogue, and if you've got that - the fact that you made it for $10K won't matter - the above equipment in the hands of a good DP and a good sound guy could very much look and sound like...well there's just no reason that you should even think about what it cost to make if you shoot it right and the writing is good - the above gear is capable of creating images and sound that will rival big studio productions if you take your time and do it right.

Again - tough - but doable - it can definitely look as good as a $100K or $1M production - no question about that - won't be easy - but it can be done.

Check out the Deuce of Spades film thread for inspiration - she did just about the impossible and probably spent about $10K on everything (sounds like mostly money for camera + sound + food) over the course of several years.
 
Last edited:
The question is moot without a script. A feature is possible for mere pennies in all practical terms. The budget coming down to the script, resources and favors one can pull.
 
Depending on what your ultimate goal is, perhaps the question you should be asking is: Can a feature made for $10,000 get distribution...(i.e. make your money back)?
 
My company was hired to do a 90 minute feature with 15k budget next month so I hope it is possible. I just had to take out the exploding limo and all of the stunt work. It's still gonna be REAL tough to pull off but I gotta get this money so it's gonna get done.
 
Sure, just expect to work very, very hard and don't expect to much but you may be pleasantly surprised with the results if everyone involved works as hard as you.
 
I'm shooting a feature for less than 10k, and It will have alot of things features much higher in cost don't have. We start filming feb. 5th.
 
Blaine said:
Depending on what your ultimate goal is, perhaps the question you should be asking is: Can a feature made for $10,000 get distribution...(i.e. make your money back)?
Click to expand...

Of course it can...if it's good. $10K in 2010 goes way further than $10K did even 10 years ago, there are examples of low budget films making it big - look at "Clerks" - it was all about the script and it was made for $20-25k or so back in what...1992/1993, and I'd bet that most of that money went towards buying the film stock itself...HD video wasn't an option back then, but if you're willing to shoot on High Def 24p video rather than film, you could remake that film today for under $10K in 2010 and it would probably look and sound better than the original.

So yeah, depending on the script, $10K is plenty to make a good looking and sounding film so long as you can get a lot of free help...and that is possible. Offer a deferred gross percentage to some of your talent or crew if that makes a difference for them, and if they believe in the script, you can probably pull it together. You're going to put in way more than $10K worth of your own labor and the value of the free labor will be worth more than that too...but...what's the alternative? You just have to find people who want to break into the industry as badly as you do, or have already broken in and just love your idea...you can definitely do this!

$10K wouldn't have worked for Avatar, but it can work for dialogue driven work with simple, straightforward shots and locations. Just make the film good and do a good job planning your attack on film festivals.
 
Last edited:
I'm writing a feature that I plan on shooting mostly in my parent's house, my apt, and some of my friend's places. I should be able to pull it off for less than 10k.
 
RockmanX3 said:
I'm writing a feature that I plan on shooting mostly in my parent's house, my apt, and some of my friend's places. I should be able to pull it off for less than 10k.
Click to expand...

In theory... absolutely. Hell, I'm finding out how craft services can kill you. You can't serve Pizza all the time like I do.:beer:
 
I made "Afterlife" for $10,000...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE


And I made "Tangled Web" for closer to $1,000...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
 
chapelgrovefilms said:
I made "Afterlife" for $10,000...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE


And I made "Tangled Web" for closer to $1,000...

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.
I AGREE
Click to expand...

Yeah, But you're good.:thumbup:
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
Anybody here actually made an indie feature for $10,000 or less, and if so what were the main elements you followed to accomplish that?

I am primarily pursuing screenwriting, have made a couple of shorts, but if I could do an indie feature, even craptastic (let's face it, a $10k feature is not going to look like a $100k or better feature, I know that going in) for $10,000 I would give it a shot. I think that would help me get noticed more even as a writer, to get agents to look at my screenplays, etc. I own and have read the book on how to make a feature for $10,000 or less without going to jail, but I am wondering how realistic that is, who has done it. Thank you in advance for any replies. ~randall
Click to expand...

It's possible...however, don't do it if you don't think you'll be able to compete with the 100K - 300K range films in terms of production quality as it sure won't garner much attention to your writing.

I began producing and directing films in order to create a career for myself as a screenwriter and the good news is it worked (I get work as a writer and have sold scripts, etc. but still have miles to go). Still most people in my area look at me as a Producer since I do now take gigs as one, my main goal is to still be a successful screenwriter.

However, for your writing ability to be properly evaluated, the film from your screenplay must be adequately presented with competent production value and performances. Otherwise, nobody will "see through" bad quality to your script.

I know from experience, anything amatuer about a project paints the entire project as amatuer. Bad sound, bad lighting, etc...easily invites critics to going further and criticizing the writing & acting (mostly if they were being honest, unfairly, in my opinion). Believe me, there's nothing worse than seeing someone trash a project you wrote because of terrible CGI and other technical issues that devolves into comments about hack writing and bad acting.

Therefore, from the outset, I caution you NOT to attempt it if you don't have the skill-set to pull it off very well. Especially if it's meant to be a showcase for you as a writer.

However, that said...yes, it can be done.

There's a ton of caveats though. The script DOES determine the budget. How many pages to shoot? How many locations to secure? How many actors to cast? How many stunts? How many props? All of it CAN translate to costs.

For instance, the food budgets being discussed here in this thread are not even CLOSE to the money we spent just on food for our recent Micro-Budget Feature film "Battle" (www.battle-movie.com check the trailer). Why? We hoped that having a bare-bones guerilla crew would help us out in that department ('cuz grips can eat), but we had a large cast (and extras eat too, and we don't treat 'em like 2nd class citizens on a set like the bigger shows do since we don't pay our extras) which were fed decently despite our miserly ways. So, the people talking 2K for catering and craft services for a FEATURE must be really cheap suckas :)

Some pay goes a long way. Again, we don't want to see a film that looks like 10K...it can cost that but don't let it look like 10K. And some key paychecks can upgrade your production value exponentially. So, find out who can do it and get them to sign on for a small token and some back-end.

Actors...be sure they're the best you can get...keep looking until you've got the right ones for all the roles. Don't cast on look, cast on talent (and charisma)...and again, you may need to give a little here too.

So, you see where this leads. More money, and it adds up quickly.

The best place to begin though goes back to the script. Is it shootable on a bare bones budget? If so, you've got a shot at it.

Do you have the knowledge to properly break down the script and schedule it accurately?

Don't get caught in the classic two scenarios.

1) The money goes THIS FAR...5 weekend shoots, 3 days each...and your script really needs 7 weekends, the last 2 can be 2 days each. You end up cutting things you wanted (and NEEDED) to shoot just to make it through the shoot in the finite time you have available. So your editor tries valiantly to piece a puzzle together without all the parts.

2) You shoot and shoot and shoot...run out of money...put it on hold to get more money, then shoot and shoot and shoot...each delay increasing the chances that something goes wrong with personnell not to mention the continuity is severely compromised, etc. Projects like this usually last way longer than the enthusiasm for them does.

So, keep evaluating it and be honest with yourself about the prospects.

Good luck,

Martin
 
Last edited:
RockmanX3 said:
I'm actually more worried about the inevitable "vegetarian" crew member.
Click to expand...

Tell me about it :)

I love 'em to death but they definitely throw a wrench in basic catering plans for a production.

I poke fun at our vegetarian lead actor on my blog...
http://battlethemovie.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-you-remember.html

It can be a challenge though coordinating all that, on a short, no big deal but over 21 days it becomes fun trying not to repeat yourself too much with the veggie meal :)

-M
 
Martay said:
Tell me about it :)

I love 'em to death but they definitely throw a wrench in basic catering plans for a production.

I poke fun at our vegetarian lead actor on my blog...
http://battlethemovie.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-you-remember.html

It can be a challenge though coordinating all that, on a short, no big deal but over 21 days it becomes fun trying not to repeat yourself too much with the veggie meal :)

-M
Click to expand...

It never fails for me. The members who only eat fish are the ones that get me. who in the hell delivers fish?
 
Martay said:
Tell me about it :)

I love 'em to death but they definitely throw a wrench in basic catering plans for a production.

I poke fun at our vegetarian lead actor on my blog...
http://battlethemovie.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-you-remember.html

It can be a challenge though coordinating all that, on a short, no big deal but over 21 days it becomes fun trying not to repeat yourself too much with the veggie meal :)

-M
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I was shot a feature where the producers solution to the Veggies was to feed all of us an all veggie menu.... we meat eaters revolted and got some meat on the mutha after about a week....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top