Low Budget Short Suggestions

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FrankCapella

Member
I'm looking to shoot a low budget short (about $1000. 10 minute short) ... if I have a location and someone to help out with the food (I'm owed a favor by a restaurant owner), what would you spend the money on? I own basically no equipment but have people willing to help out.

What set up would $1000 get me in the New York area?
 
If you can get more than $1000, I'd say spring for an HV20 (about $1000) and get a good microphone ($300). Good sound is important, as well as decent video.

Although, if the directing, screenplay, and acting are great it won't matter as much anyway.
 
... huh?

... huh?

Not sure if I made this clear, but I plan on renting. Isn't that the way to go?

Also I'd like to use a dvx100 type camera or better. Thanks.

Any suggestions? Thanks again.
 
FrankCapella said:
...

What set up would $1000 get me in the New York area?
Click to expand...

Me to shoot it if the project is under a week. :)

I come with a small light kit, boom mic w/boom, wireless lavs, 35mm adaptor with lenses, dolly and track, and of course the HiDef HVX200.

For $600 you can use the gear with me on set to watch out for it (and not shoot it.)

For $500 you can get my gear for a week if you have production insurance.

you can see my work by clicking the banner in my signature.
 
FrankCapella said:
Not sure if I made this clear, but I plan on renting. Isn't that the way to go?

Also I'd like to use a dvx100 type camera or better. Thanks.

Any suggestions? Thanks again.
Click to expand...

$1000 can get you a DVX, a decent shotgun mic, wind protection, boompole and a tripod for a couple of days. Of course you have to consider a few things:

1)Are you familiar with the equipment to the point that you can just pick it up and start shooting?
2) Are you SURE that everything is locked in including locations and actors. If you're not paying the actors and someone doesn't show up last minute, you just rented all this equipment for nothing.

For a rental budget such as this I wouldn't recommend getting any of the complicated stuff like light or 35mm adapters. Get the bare minimum (camcorder, tripod, microphone) and make it last as long as possible.
 
Svider said:
How much does insurance for this type of project run you?
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Depends. Are you gonna be doing any thing dangerous? Is it insurance for your own equipment, rental equipment or location insurance? How many shoot date with how many people?

In Berkeley, I was quoted about $120 for just one full day of normal filming, rental insurance only. If it's more than one day of shooting you can expect to pay a couple of hundreds.
 
first i'd see if i could cut the script down a bit. the shorter it is, the less you have to shoot. every other part of making the movie will probably cost you money, but writing is free, so hopefully you spent a lot of time making that script perfect.

renting is definitely the way to go.

i would hire a DP that owned his own camera and pay him a flat rate, like $300 - $400 for a weekend to shoot the whole thing. that's if he has an hd camera. if he has a dvx, i would go lower by $100. if he has more gear like lights and stuff, then you can pay him more. i haven't seen jack's reel, but his offer of $600 sounds good.

then you can hire a sound guy, and hopefully he would have his own gear. you need at least a boom. mixer would be nice. i don't know if you need wireless mics or not. with the gear, you can maybe pay him $250? if he doesn't have everything you need, you can rent.

that would be the bare minimum crew. if you can afford a gaffer/grip, that would help speed up production. get a couple friends to be PA's for free. and someone to act as unit production manager to deal with all the set issues that don't have to do with direcitng.

for other gear, depending on the story, i'd go with a dolly before a 35mm adapter.

don't pay the actors. you can use the SAG short film agreement which means you don't owe them any money unless you sell your short. or you can go non union, but don't pay them.

set aside 10% contingency.

you said someone is helping with food, but make sure you have craft service available too, not just lunch.

any left over $ should go for production design, costumes, props, etc. this is the stuff that shows up on the screen, so it's money well spent. you can buy stuff, keep the receipt, and then return it.

$1000 isn't a lot but it's still plenty to make a good short. good luck!
 
I'd run with Jack Daniel's offer. You ain't going to find all that stuff for that price anywhere.

And I say that as a guy that owns all that stuff he mentioned plus 3 ton lighting and grip. I sure as hell couldn't do it for that (besides the fact I'm in CA).
 
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