Super Low Budget Project - Big Budget Results

[ministerfortson]

OK, here's the deal. I wrote a script which takes place at two locations. I called a friend of mine and she said we can use her HUGE house for free and the other location is the park, so we have clearance on the locations. Each of us has a specialty. I write, direct, and do props, I have a DP/Color Corrector, 2 camera and lighting guys (same 2 people), 1 wardrobe girl, 2 script supervisors, and the actors have been cast. These are all friends of mine that specialize in each of their jobs when it comes to independent film. Even the two actors only act and they are very good. So far I haven't spent a dime out of budget.

What We Have

We have 3 T2i, 1 T3i, and 1 other Canon HD (not sure what model)
Rigs
Tripods
Matte Boxes
Shotgun Mics
Tons of lights between us all 10+ ranging from 150w - 1,000w
1 Slider
1 Dolly
1 Crane
1 Boom
Prop
Locations
Fog Machines
Script
Follow Focus

What We Need

Makeup Artist (may have an ex girlfriend that will do the entire project for $300)
Music Composer (looking at royalty free, but that can be expensive)
Wardrobe ($300 budget)

We own all of our equipment so there won't be any renting and we are not using kit lenses for the film. With all of the above noted, I have two questions:

1. What have I overlooked?
2. How much out of pocket budget, not counting food and drinks for cast, should I have set aside for this project?

Our goal is to market this film as a very low budget film like Paranormal Activity did. We didn't buy our equipment specifically for this project because we all do film as a sort of hobby, so it's honest to say we haven't spent anything yet. Any help at keeping this project as close to $1,000 as possible is greatly appreciated in advance.

 

[mattydub]

You may need a dedicated sound and boom person, but I think I'm more used to having those due to having a full crew when making short films through film school here.

You have lights I see, but what about gels? If you're shooting during the day you'll need some full CTB, unless you're working with HMIs (which usually doesn't happen unless there's money involved - bulb time, etc). Also, perhaps some ND for the windows.

Try and find out beforehand which direction the houses windows are facing so you'll know where the sun will be and then what times would be best for certain scenes.

Hope that helps!

 

[David G. Smith]

The big question, with the numbers that you said, is how long of a film are you making, and how long do you think it is going to take to make it?

Besides that, do you need stunts or physical effects of any kind? Are you planing on doing any visual effects? You have lights, but do you have a grip/electric package? Mattydub is correct about the use of gels, but there is a lot of other "Stuff" to a lighting/grip/electric package. Do you have spare bulbs for your lights (A current working one, and at least two per light - if they use different bulbs, if there are lights that use the same bulbs, a current one in use for each one and 3 to 4 spares, at least). Do you have a well stocked tool box? Do you have enough other expendables, especially tape, foam core, black wrap, duvetyne, wooden clothes pins... and did I say TAPE? You said that you may have a Make Up person that will do the show for $300.00, but what about the supplies needed? I've shot guerrilla stuff before, and on one shoot, the dang hair spray expenditures almost sank us! That is an exaggeration, but not by much. Get a good solid number about the hair/make up costs from the person you are talking to about that (And double check them...). What about an Art Department budget? You say that you have a very nice house that you can use, but is it dressed exactly the way that you want it, and that will fit to your story? Are there any set elements or dressing that you may have to buy or build? You said that you do props, but have you budgeted out those costs? If you are shooting over multiple days, have you budgeted for transportation costs? How is everybody going to get to the locations? If everyone is responsible for getting there on their own, have you thought about at least a little stipend to cover those costs? And on and on...

I am not trying to be negative at all about doing a project like you are suggesting, I say go for it. However, I do want to be realistic and let you know, from experience doing uber low budget gigs, that it really does cost more than you think. What you have to remember is, that when you are on a shoot like this, and you are in charge, anything that comes up, you are going to be responsible for, money wise. It is amazing the amount of money that a group of people getting together to do ANYTHING can spend. Outside of just the food and drinks (and you want lots of water, juices and COFFEE!), there are costs for stuff like plastic cups, paper plates, napkins or paper towels, condiments, and so forth and so on. You will probably be responsible for getting some basic cleaning supplies, trash bags and the like. I would suggest sitting down, with an anal retentive "List Making Type" female *, and figure out the logistics of having a group the size you anticipate working on your project together, comfortably, for the time that you anticipate your project will take.

If you plan the basic logistics as carefully as you plan the creative part of the endeavor, you will be way ahead of the game.

My last suggestion is that if you are going to take the trouble to do this kind of planing, and spend the money you are talking about, you should take the trouble to set the enterprise up as a proper business, with proper agreements between the participating parties. I would also talk to a person that is versed in the tax laws, and figure out how any money you spend on this project can be tax deductible. You would be surprised how something like this "Legitimizes" a project, and besides, if you are going to spend your money, at the very least get a tax deduction out of it.

* sorry if this sounds sexist, but I really think that the best producers are anal retentive "List Making Type" females. They have their sh*t together for the most part.