http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/06/03/how-gareth-edwards-shot-monsters-on-an-incredibly-low-budget/
Who says adapters are dead? =P
Who says adapters are dead? =P
Letus Ultimate + EX3 on Big Screen: MONSTERS
- Thread starter Kholi
- Start date
Katana2040
Active member
Phenomenal. 
Jimmy Moss
Well-known member
Now go out and make movies! =)
Simon Höfer
Veteran
Anybody got some more information about this movie? And has anybody seen it?
maranfilms
Veteran
Yeah me too, until a low light situation presents it's self.:thumbsup: But any other time I like using a dof adapter.
Just commenting on this in another thread.
Jimmy Moss
Well-known member
Is this the first low budget, wide release with a 35mm adaptor. I can't think of any others with a wide release.
Robert Ruffo
Well-known member
Yeah! Just run out! Don't bother with a good script or a proper University degree! Don't apprentice with a pro! Don't pay your dues! Just run out and shoot!
Seriously, it's not that easy, and that film did not really cost 15K.
It cost 24K US and the Director's time spent in post.
I think we all know about a good script, but the irony in your post is that Gareth didn't even shoot with a script. He had an idea in mind, the rest is mostly improv...
I do get what you're saying, but rest assured that there are instances where those rules just do not apply.
I don't have a University Degree.
Robert Ruffo
Well-known member
Shooting with no script will never lead to something really tight - most likely not even watchable - any time spent free should be counted, instead, as a living wage - otherwise this is not a business anymore. I mean far does this "people should work for free" thing go? Even cameras would cost little if the people who designed and made them worked for nothing. So add living wages to the whole crew/cast, and what do you get? Way more than 15K.
I just saw a budget for a local movie at $3 million. Take away the salaries paid to all the people who spent their lifetimes learning what they do well, you are left with very little of actual hard costs, like building materials for sets or food. The equipment is only about $200 000 of that, so take that away, (lets say you borrow equipment) then you are left with 2.8 Mil mostly of salaries, including to a scriptwriter. Scriptwriter is maybe the most important job on set. This 15K guy didn't need that - I think audiences will strongly disagree.
You might say, in Mexico people make less (one of the locations is Mexico) Great, so this "creative genius" is outsourcing one of the few last things actually made in America to a poor country. Wow, I am such a fan.
BTW - If you can, go to University. Its' worth it.
I just saw a budget for a local movie at $3 million. Take away the salaries paid to all the people who spent their lifetimes learning what they do well, you are left with very little of actual hard costs, like building materials for sets or food. The equipment is only about $200 000 of that, so take that away, (lets say you borrow equipment) then you are left with 2.8 Mil mostly of salaries, including to a scriptwriter. Scriptwriter is maybe the most important job on set. This 15K guy didn't need that - I think audiences will strongly disagree.
You might say, in Mexico people make less (one of the locations is Mexico) Great, so this "creative genius" is outsourcing one of the few last things actually made in America to a poor country. Wow, I am such a fan.
BTW - If you can, go to University. Its' worth it.
Sure, invisible costs like how much it cost people to eat when they weren't shooting the movie. We're talking about a visible cost of twenty-four thousand dollars. It's an old debate: how much did it really cost?
In the end, it definitely didn't cost him as much as it could have.
Sometimes you have to do that to get to the next step. It is as it is.
[quote[
I just saw a budget for a local movie at $3 million. Take away the salaries paid to all the people who spent their lifetimes learning what they do well, you are left with very little of actual hard costs, like building materials for sets or food. The equipment is only about $200 000 of that, so take that away, (lets say you borrow equipment) then you are left with 2.8 Mil mostly of salaries, including to a scriptwriter. Scriptwriter is maybe the most important job on set. This 15K guy didn't need that - I think audiences will strongly disagree.[/quote]
I get what you're saying. We'll see. Audiences might disagree but, obviously, the material was enough to get him an advance and theatrical distribution. Let's face it: Theatrical typically means COMPETENT, and up to a certain standard that is worth the effort.
If it's gone that far, without names attached, I'd say it's probably well in the running for being a decent movie.
He did what he had to do to get where he wants to be. It's done every day on a larger budget. Where's Woody Allen shooting right now? Europe... because NY is too expensive?
Yeah, I bet University is worth it. Field experience and growing in the industry is also a great education, wouldn't you agree?
It's definitely okay for people to walk different paths.
Drew Ott
Wish I were banned.
Let us know once you've done all that, and then we can compare your career to Gareth Edwards'.
The people who follow the rules and obey the system are very rarely the ones who get ahead.
Ive currently been asking about to see if its worth my time buying an adapter, whilst not being able to afford a follow focus or external monitor.
Apparently, its all possible.
WildTrackDave
Well-known member
That's the thing I love about this industry! You don't need anything to get into it. If you're going to be a teacher, you better have a teaching degree. If you're going to be a nurse, you better have your license. In order to work in the film industry, you better have your film school diploma?
All you need in order to make it in the industry is the will and determination to make your dreams come true, and a little natural talent doesn't hurt. That's not to say that it's a complete waste to go to a university or film school, but is it a requirement to be successful? Absolutely not! Look at Quentin Tarantino. He didn't even graduate high school. Everything he learned about film is from going out and doing it.
Also, I agree that a script is a HUGE part of a successful film. As Monsters and Paranormal Activity have proven, it's certainly not necessary to have a 5th draft fully realized script to make a film, but I would never go into such a huge project unprepared, personally. That's not the way I am.
Very inspirational stuff here! Also, I have the letus ultimate adapter, so it's nice to see it representin'. Time to go out and make a movie!
All you need in order to make it in the industry is the will and determination to make your dreams come true, and a little natural talent doesn't hurt. That's not to say that it's a complete waste to go to a university or film school, but is it a requirement to be successful? Absolutely not! Look at Quentin Tarantino. He didn't even graduate high school. Everything he learned about film is from going out and doing it.
Also, I agree that a script is a HUGE part of a successful film. As Monsters and Paranormal Activity have proven, it's certainly not necessary to have a 5th draft fully realized script to make a film, but I would never go into such a huge project unprepared, personally. That's not the way I am.
Very inspirational stuff here! Also, I have the letus ultimate adapter, so it's nice to see it representin'. Time to go out and make a movie!
DeGrey
Well-known member
Hey everyone! I've been a bit absent lately. I miss the DVX community and am trying to free up some more time to get more plugged back in. I was happy to see this discussion on the "Monsters" film. I'm really looking forward to checking it out as the approach to shooting seems so "off the hip".
It will take true talent to pull that off. Yes, there are rules many follow when shooting films. Many of which make for a better end product. I don't think it's necessarily following those rules as it is being aware of them that makes for a great film maker.
I like the fact that Gareth used a fairly bare bones system. It just goes to show that you don't need every accessory under the sun to make a proper film. I know when I was first starting out, I was too busy collecting the right gear and not actually shooting. I found myself saying "I just need this last X product and THEN I will be ready to shoot". That's all I did. Of course I ended up working with Letus through the process and now no longer have the time to work on the project that started it all.
I wouldn't trade it for the world though. This industry is so amazing to be a part of. I may not be the film maker I had planned on but being able to help other, more talented, people create films like Monsters in some small way is very rewarding. And I take ABSOLUTELY no credit for anything Gareth has done! Anything he used from Letus was on his own dime. Didn't even know about this film until I saw the trailer a few weeks ago.
It will take true talent to pull that off. Yes, there are rules many follow when shooting films. Many of which make for a better end product. I don't think it's necessarily following those rules as it is being aware of them that makes for a great film maker.
I like the fact that Gareth used a fairly bare bones system. It just goes to show that you don't need every accessory under the sun to make a proper film. I know when I was first starting out, I was too busy collecting the right gear and not actually shooting. I found myself saying "I just need this last X product and THEN I will be ready to shoot". That's all I did. Of course I ended up working with Letus through the process and now no longer have the time to work on the project that started it all.
I wouldn't trade it for the world though. This industry is so amazing to be a part of. I may not be the film maker I had planned on but being able to help other, more talented, people create films like Monsters in some small way is very rewarding. And I take ABSOLUTELY no credit for anything Gareth has done! Anything he used from Letus was on his own dime. Didn't even know about this film until I saw the trailer a few weeks ago.