I guess if you're spending the money just for the sake of spending money and making a movie then yeah, that's applicable.
The way to write a good independent Feature is?
- Thread starter Michael Anthony Horrigan
- Start date
I guess if you're spending the money just for the sake of spending money and making a movie then yeah, that's applicable.
Saharanturtle
Active member
So basically, there's no point in making a low budget feature? It's better to just work hard at saving up and getting investors instead of making something on a shoe string budget because it most likely won't take you anywhere?
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
What can be made? The next Paranormal Activity, Buried, Blair Witch, etc...
I know, short list. But they were made with very little. Somebody here could have easily made Paranormal Activity, but they didn't. Certainly we'll be saying that again in the not too distant future about another movie.
I agree though. It's tough, no doubt. But in my mind its better than making a SFX movie that pales in comparison to what can be done with a bigger budget and dedicated SFX house.
I'll leave the next 'Monsters' to the SFX gurus out there. Guys like that are the exception. Blomkamp is another good example.
Seriously though, aside from just a few stunts movies like Reservoir Dogs, Dead Zone and Halloween could easily be done with a low budget. The trick is putting a different spin on what's been done, or even better, coming up with something that hasn't quite been done yet.
Hitchcock was great at doing a lot with very little. Rear Window is a prime example.
Yes, I'm aware of the star power in that movie but I have to believe that if you make something original and compelling that people will want to watch it.
It also helps to have some sort of hook. One thing is for sure, there are issues that independent filmmakers can tread closer to that big studios won't touch. The trick is finding an audience for what you are serving.
It's not easy, that's for sure.
Bottom line: I do believe that you can make a film that will stand out from the pack. Easier said than done though.
Batutta
Major Contributor
Sorry, man, but unless you are doing EVERYTHING yourself with resources you already have, stuff costs money. Not all independent features are micro budget affairs. Making a typical independent feature; with an actual budget, where the crew and actors gets paid, is not spending money just for the sake of spending it. Good locations and sets cost money. A decent crew costs money. Good actors cost money. But even on the micro budget level, writing more locations means hustling for more locations you may not get, having more actors means more mouths to feed. Actors will want to be fed at least. Also, that's more actors who will probably flake at some point because they are not being paid. This all adds up.
Whenever I am writing a script, I do not think about reducing locations / characters / FX shots etc, because I want to write the story that I naturally need to tell. I can always revise it to make it more budget happy, but I personally believe that without exploring all the roads a script can take, you are going to end up with a lesser product. Maybe even the revised, cheaper draft can include elements of the more expensive draft that I never would have considered had I not wrote them in the first place. If I believe that my no-budget script calls for an air boat chase, I am going to write an air boat chase, whether I am going to keep it or not. Maybe the dialogue gets used somewhere else... maybe I find a way to shoot it.
This is different though from choosing stories / genres that can conceivably be shot at an indie level. I know that I am not going to be able to shoot a historical epic the likes of Gladiator or Braveheart, no matter how much I revise the script. That doesn't mean I won't write the script someday, but if I'm looking to write an indie script, I will choose a story that can be done on an indie budget.
Batutta
Major Contributor
Just to be clear I'm not saying the movie has to take place entirely in one location. Just that the bulk of the action should happen around a few key locations. Most of the action in Primer happens at the house, the storage place and the hotel room. Reservoir Dogs takes place mostly in a warehouse, but their are several scenes outside there.
Saharanturtle
Active member
I agree on this. Also, Monsters didn't even have that much vfx, it was mostly just walking amd running. The reason it got so much hype is because they say it only cost half a million to make
Very good point. It's better to let the creative juices flow and write a good script, than LATER try to figure out if the guy you wanted to drown off the side of a yacht in the script can be killed off in a hotel bath tub or in a house party to fit your budget like someone else said
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Agreed.
True. But the hype over the low cost was due to the amazing vfx. That's kind of my point. Most people can't do what he did. If the vfx sucked you never would have heard of it.
pulpfiction007
Veteran
I agree with Batutta on this one and with all due respect to many others - I think many indies fail or are lackluster because they try to throw WAY too much into their concepts and everything suffers as a result because they don't have the funds to do what they envisioned.
Think QUALITY over QUANTITY!
I used this analogy in the now famous thread that shall go un-named but I think it applies here too.
2 guys each have $12,000 to go and buy a car -
Guy 1 runs out and buys a vintage Corvette. The problem is - it needs a ton of work to get it on the road. (and he's out of cash)
Guy 2 goes and gets a used but well running fully loaded Honda Accord and heads off down the highway.
In our scenario I would much rather be the guy with the Accord.
Now in another scenario where there is more money involved that Vette would be the smarter move/investment.
Think QUALITY over QUANTITY!
I used this analogy in the now famous thread that shall go un-named but I think it applies here too.
2 guys each have $12,000 to go and buy a car -
Guy 1 runs out and buys a vintage Corvette. The problem is - it needs a ton of work to get it on the road. (and he's out of cash)
Guy 2 goes and gets a used but well running fully loaded Honda Accord and heads off down the highway.
In our scenario I would much rather be the guy with the Accord.
Now in another scenario where there is more money involved that Vette would be the smarter move/investment.
Well, this isn't any sort of new information. What I meant is that if you're not trying to sell it to get to the next, then you're probably doing it for some other personal merit. Just telling a good story is very rarel enough to get to that point at our level. Even more rare than the silly Paranormal Activities.
The third guy takes 2,000, buys a 1992 Honda civic in need of an engine, spends another 1,000 fixing it up, drives it around for a few days then sells it for 5-6K, turning his 12K into 15K, then repeats the cycle until he has 50K to buy the car he actually wants...
Saharanturtle
Active member
This thread just got confusing ^^^ lol
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Why are people spending so much money on old shitty cars!?? 
Why are people spending so much money on old s**tty cars!??
Same reason people are spending so much on crappy movies. Because theirs a potential to earn income so that good ones can be made.
Anyway, decide what you want to do with the movie. If it's sell, then you'll probably be thinking about it entirely different. If it's just to make a movie, well, then get it done.
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Jawa Ex Machina
Veteran
...and the fifth guy to actually screw the lightbulb.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
I was just kidding. I just find it funny when people start comparing filmmaking to buying cars and such.
I hope to get it done. The plan is to get it done well and not make the same mistakes that so many seem to make. That's the hard part.
I figured a good way to start was to get some advice from people who have done it and/or are in the middle of doing it. Couldn't hurt.
I was just kidding. I just find it funny when people start comparing filmmaking to buying cars and such.
I hope to get it done. The plan is to get it done well and not make the same mistakes that so many seem to make. That's the hard part.
I figured a good way to start was to get some advice from people who have done it and/or are in the middle of doing it. Couldn't hurt.
Well, I haven't gone to distro yet, the trailer for the feature in my sig is on its way. But, my advice from actually doing it on a nano-budget is to decide what you want to do with the movie.
We can talk all day about great stories, and stories SHOULD be great, that's kind of obvious. But, if it isn't gonna sell then expect to spend four years four-walling it and self distroing to recover your costs.
As far as the writing goes, I think Alex summed it up in the second post.
Michael Anthony Horrigan
More Cowbell Pictures
Good luck with yours. Can't wait to see the trailer.
My goal is to make a feature that gets accepted into some major festivals. That's it.
I'm not saying that's not a lofty goal or anything but that's what I'm aiming for. Beyond that it would depend on the buzz that I get.
If it sucks it doesn't matter what my goals are, it's not going anywhere. I'm just a firm believer that if you make something great, the rest will sort itself out.
Of course it helps to be prepared and try to work with contacts but I'll know if that's a waste of time or not once I see the end product.
It all starts with a killer screenplay. That's my immediate goal. One step at a time.
How about you? Happy with what you're seeing with yours?
Yeah, I also agree with you as well. Major festivals, though, take some pretty bad stuff. So it's not as crazy. If festivals are your route and you're not trying to recoup anything, then yeah, make a heart/gut-wrenching drama and have fun.
More so than I expected to be, I'm pretty harsh on myself. But, we have different goals in mind. I'm not interested in Festivals, personally. But, if I were headed toward festivals I would've chosen something more meaningful as the content.