Questions for Owners

[DjfunkmasterG]

In the realm of my budgets, $6K - $11K, trust me my findings/statements are very accurate. Plus factor in the economy right now and it is pretty much no money.

Yes I do Horror, but not exploitation. When it comes to Horror I only like Zombies, so in my experience if you get any money up front... you will be lucky.

While I would love to do a $200-$300K film, I actually like the uber low budget stuff because I don't have to answer to anyone in terms of what i am doing. With budgets like that (200-300K) you get too many people with too many opinions, all trying to put their stamp on something.

 

[Justyn]

I know and believe exactly what you are saying.. and there's something great about doing 6-11k films. You can make them look expensive.. and you are right about there being a lack of money for projects. That's also why I stick to the bottom end of the medium budget stuff (200-500K). Anything more and I wouldn't be able to get a ROI. However on a 200k budget I can get a couple of names in the genre that I do, get some money set-aside for a decent attorney, and come to the table with things that are tangible and which yield a higher level of production value. I have a film scheduled with shoots in Scotland, Wales, and Nottingham.... and a ton of greenscreen work done here. It's also a Christian film with some names and hopefully an audience. It'll be some kicking ass for Jesus kind of stuff.


I also believe wholeheartedly in getting paid for what I do on a project regardless. Hard to pay yourself and get a film shot for 6k. That's just not possible... I'm not going to have a big crew and or lavish expensenses.. but you can guarantee I'll be pulling favors and making sure that all 200k ends up on the screen and it will look like I've spent 2 million...


Again, how could having an HD master and source have no ancilliary benefits. Cable TV is screaming for HD content... and so is the web. To have the option to shoot HD for a few thousand more seems like a sensible move regardless.


You would also never be able to get an SD orignal to look anywhere near as good as what a competent DP could do in the HD world... and this of course is somewhat visible on an SD DVD.. but is really evident when broadcast in HD. Uprezzed SD just isn't going to have that mojo...


Either way.. to be able to get to shoot films at your level or any level and make a ROI and not loose money is an awesome acievement and you are blessed. That's a blessing that I look for regardless of my budgets or stories. I want to make it untheathered and go from there.. Even on my 16mm feature, I didn't have to answer to any investors or such.. it was my project and they invested to support me..


cheers