Production: What was your last short budget? + More

If you're serious in your question, yes, it's too much. There's only so much money you can throw at something before it simply won't have an impact on production value & is just wasted.

The most important things are going to be story, camera angles, lighting, pacing, editing, etc. ... none of which have much if any impact on costs if you have those things at your disposal.

Your hard costs will be food, props you have to buy, possible deals you've got to cut with people to pay them SOME up front cash, etc.

But if the story's cool enough, most people will work for free, especially if they know you won't skimp on food. When the day's done, send people home with the left over food, and they'll love you for it.
 
Envision said:
If you're serious in your question, yes, it's too much. There's only so much money you can throw at something before it simply won't have an impact on production value & is just wasted.

The most important things are going to be story, camera angles, lighting, pacing, editing, etc. ... none of which have much if any impact on costs if you have those things at your disposal.

Your hard costs will be food, props you have to buy, possible deals you've got to cut with people to pay them SOME up front cash, etc.

But if the story's cool enough, most people will work for free, especially if they know you won't skimp on food. When the day's done, send people home with the left over food, and they'll love you for it.
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I was very serious. I guess I'm just preparing to spend around that much. Not like it's a problem at all. One-thousand's pretty cheap, to me anyway.

I have most of that stuff at my disposal, but, I'd rather be prepared to spend that much than be surprised at doing so.
 
$300 Shed
$500 Odd Squad, though we spent much more on things we didn't return because my GF totalled our car ...

crap add $600 van rental

she totalled the "grip truck" THE DAY before the shoot began and the production was designed around having everything in that van inluding ladders and dolly track and all the gear and costumes - so when we finally left the body shop where the van was towed at like 8 o'clock that night after having the wreck at 11:00 AM, there was just not time to restratigize so we rented a van ... so damnit $1100!

We purchased props, costumes, paint, food.
 
Envision said:
Glad to hear $1K is cheap, and comes so easily to you apparently ... doesn't for most.
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Didn't mean it was cheap for me, I meant it was cheap for a decent five minute production. Though that was just speculation, anyway. I've heard of a few people spending much more than that for the same amount of time.
 
Wow, great job! Of course, you still need to count tape stock, etc. unless you went straight to a fire store drive.
 
Jack Daniel Stanley said:
a person who'll shoot their short on used tape has an extra $5 :grin:
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LOL.

I'd think spending 1k on a short when you've never ever filmed a single thing in your life is brave... am I wrong?
 
Well, money spent can always be earned again. However, footage lost due to a glitch in a tape is simply lost ... forever. Maybe the person can pull the crew back, as well as the talent, and hope for the same location, lighting, setting, etc. to get a pick up shot or reshoot, but it's still a lot more work & stress than just blowing money that can easily be replaced down the road.

However, either of those (spending $1K on first attempt/short or shooting on used tape) could border on brave or stupid, IMO.
 
Envision said:
Well, money spent can always be earned again. However, footage lost due to a glitch in a tape is simply lost ... forever. Maybe the person can pull the crew back, as well as the talent, and hope for the same location, lighting, setting, etc. to get a pick up shot or reshoot, but it's still a lot more work & stress than just blowing money that can easily be replaced down the road.

However, either of those (spending $1K on first attempt/short or shooting on used tape) could border on brave or stupid, IMO.
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Well, I'm not brave I'll tell ya that!!! :cheesy:
 
if you HAVE $1k to spend on a short why not do it even if its your first, just realize that you may have an utter piece of poopoo that cost $1k

So if its not a choice between rent and buying an arsenal of airsoft guns or a custom sewn super hero costume, then go buy your guns and costume.

Also, money spent on things like airsoft guns can be considered an investment, unless you think you'll never do anything testosterone laiden again, whereas a hot pink and lime green "Muffin Man" costume will probably be a one time use item.

If 1K is a strain on your budget in anyway, then I'd try to keep it will below a total of $500 for food (your must have expense) along with any props costumes or other material needs ... then hold on to the other $500 for emergencies only -- like replacing a broken windshield in the friends car you borrowed or something.

But if you got it, spend it.

Maybe it'll be great -- some people place in these things with only their second and third films.

If you wind up just not happy with your film at all, you'll learn a lesson -- what it likes to spend $1k, along with all your time and energy, on something you hate :grin:
 
Envision said:
Well, money spent can always be earned again. However, footage lost due to a glitch in a tape is simply lost ... forever. .... (spending $1K on first attempt/short or shooting on used tape) could border on brave or stupid, IMO.
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dude you know i'm joking about shooting on used tape ....

all of these sound like fortune cookies or cinfucious parables though :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

confucious say "man who shoot on used tape has an extra five dollars"

confucious say "man who spend 1k on firs short either very foolish ... or very brave."
:grin:
 
I know you're joking, Jack, but I also know you like to play Devil's Advocate ... even if you agree with something, I can see you throwing the alternative out there just for the sake of it. :)
 
Envision said:
I know you're joking, Jack, but I also know you like to play Devil's Advocate ... even if you agree with something, I can see you throwing the alternative out there just for the sake of it. :)
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I never play devil's advocate ...

Can you supprt that assertion ...

I think your just talking wildley out your bohiney ...

It's not that I disagree with you, I'm just saying its possible that you're wrong -- just as an alternative way off looking at things :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Kholi said:
Well, I'm not brave I'll tell ya that!!! :cheesy:
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Go for it, man. When we decided to do our feature, there were all kinds of people wondering why... why? because we had to. And we just watched a 98% complete screening tonight, and man, I'm glad we did. We have a movie and there's no other feeling like it!!!!:)
 
Blaine said:
Go for it, man. When we decided to do our feature, there were all kinds of people wondering why... why? because we had to. And we just watched a 98% complete screening tonight, and man, I'm glad we did. We have a movie and there's no other feeling like it!!!!:)
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Sweeeet. Of course I don't want a 1k heap of dump. But, it's an experience.

Glad you guys had fun at your screening.
 
The 1k is going to be worth it if you do the following:

Hire out your D.P. and your Editor, and get a real crew together. Find people that will talk you through all the things that they are doing. You'll have just spent 1,000 bucks to get a short made, and buy yourself something better than film school: Real knowledge from working professionals. You have a damn good idea in my opinion.

Hell, hit me up. I'll give you some names if you'd like.
 
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