You know the budget's low when...

Nektonic said:
(this one applies to a time before easy post production muzzle flash software plug-ins like Effects Lab were available).
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This could still apply if you can't afford Effects Lab or Action Movie Essentials.

And thanks for the great idea! :kali:
 
When you back out of the movie as DP when you find out they arent going to pay you and they are using a Hi8 camera. (true story)
 
When the manager of the restaurant tells you that the snaggle toothed, strung out cook is the talent for their TV ad.

And he has to leave in thirty minutes.
 
:cheesy: You guys just about covered it all.

Thankfully my contribution is not from my own experience, but from a movie I saw about the making of (What was this doc movie again??):

-You know when your budget's low when your Mom is also the camera operator.
 
dadoboy said:
:cheesy: You guys just about covered it all.

Thankfully my contribution is not from my own experience, but from a movie I saw about the making of (What was this doc movie again??):

-You know when your budget's low when your Mom is also the camera operator.
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American Movie?
 
When you get on set and the most common thing heard is "I didn't bring it, I thought you were going bring one"
 
Craft services consists of Frosted Flakes and milk. This actually happened to me as an actor...and no, it wasn't a morning shoot...
 
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Nektonic said:
... pedestrians that pass by the set or location ask if you're making a porno.
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Been there.

We were shooting a show for a home improvement network. We were on location in a neighborhood here in Knoxville, and the grip truck was sitting in the driveway.

The PA had taken some trash down to the end of the driveway just as a couple out walking were passing by, and they had seen our grip pulling stuff off the truck. They asked the PA if we were shooting an "adult film," because they could have sworn they'd seen the grip on a couple of their DVDs.

The kicker... these folks had to be in their 70s.
 
… When production has to be suspended at a given hour each day, so that the director may carry out his paper-round…

… When the director occasionally sneaks back to the set at night for a place to sleep…

… When the only refreshments on offer at the premiere are crackers, canned juice and tap water…

… When, after fours years in production, and a totally exhausted budget, the idea of completing the remaining scenes as stop-motion animation sequences seems like the only possible option…






However.... it all seems worth it when you consider that all the obstacles listed above were indeed overcome in order to create one of the most stunning debuts in the history of the medium…



























Eraserhead.1977.David.Lynch.Screen.Cap.jpg

eraserhead+2.jpg

eraserhead5.jpg

eraserhead.jpg

White_Crystal.jpg









 
... you (the DP) haven't heard from the director in 2 weeks, run into them at a bar unexpectedly and he/she says "I guess we should finish shooting this weekend"

... the camera is handheld not because of stylistic choice, but because the permits were too expensive

... buying mini DV tapes exhausts over half the budget
 
jordandov said:
...your 8-year-old brother comes to the set, points, laughs, and walks away shaking his head.
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By far the best of the thread. LMAO!!

Nektonic's all sound real.

Thanks for that info Blue Food. Inspiring, and cool to know. That is one f'ed up film. I enjoyed it, but in a wtf way... and it also helped me calibrate my tv.

My real low budget is... the director letting each actor know that not only are they the director, they are also going to be the only crew on set.

Asking parents in lieu of birthday present, provide craft services.
 
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you know it's low budget if...

there are less meals on set than in prison
the lighting kit says sears on it and the mic says radio shack
the monitor used is a half charged portable dvd player that dies out quickly and is useless
there is only one battery for the camera and no outlet around, but you'll make it work
you difuse your lights with a t-shirt
there are people in the shot but it's ok because you don't have any extras
you are willing to risk all your expensive heavy equipment on a cheap walmart tripod
the food on set is rationed out, names are called to pickup their bologne sandwiches
 
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