It's not easy getting green |
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The first step in producing an independent movie is a vital one. It sets the tone for the way the whole production will go. It is not something to be taken lightly. As much as every element of a creative endeavor can be made up on the fly if needed, this cannot. Well, it should not be, if you want to finish your project, be able to show it, and maybe even sell it.
It's also the thing most independent film makers ask themselves at the beginning anyway. "How the hell do I pay for this?" If you have even the slightest bit of sense, you know it will take money to make a movie. Not a lot, if you plan right. A fair amount, if you plan right but have lofty goals. Way too much if somebody else just keeps cutting checks for you blindly. If this last option describes your situation, don't worry about the rest of this article.
Your first instinct, when presented with the question of money, is to start seeking investors. That makes perfect sense. If I need a lighting kit, I go find a lighting kit, so if I need money, I go find money. To use that same analogy, though, I don't think "I'm going to need lights," then blanketly, blindly, go to Home Depot and start buying bulbs, cords, and sockets if I don't know what I will be lighting, when, or what works best with the camera.
Sure, there may not be a lot of variety to money on the surface. Just a sum total, right? Keep in mind that not a lot of people get sued over lighting kit returns. On a lot of independent projects, the only way for an investor to get their investment back is to sue for it. If you don't save your receipts to show where their money went, they could sue. If you don't finish the production, they could sue. If you don't have clearances for all talent, music, locations, etc. you can get sued. Hell, sometimes you can get sued for no reason. If you don't have every penny planned for, accounted for, used properly, coming in and out, you'll be spending more on a lawyer than your film.
If you are making a movie for $50, you have a budget. If you are making a movie purely on the goodwill of others, borrowing, collecting favors, and the like, you have a budget. Keep track of what favors you're calling in. If you have absolutely no idea what your movie will cost, but think about how Robert Rodriguez could make EL 
It's amazing what action you can afford on a small budget! |
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MARIACHI for $7000, you not only need to learn about a budget, but the differences between his $7000 version and the copy you own. He wrote a book about it, REBEL WITHOUT A CREW, and while not the thickest tome, nor entirely appropriate to DV instead of film, it's worth reading. Especially before you casually compare your dreams to his sacrifices.
So how does one come up with a budget? Short answer is to list what you will need, and what those things cost. Duh. The non-duh is what you will need. A starter list:
Locations - Know all of them ahead of time, and what can double for what. Note all windows, generators, and power outlets ahead of time. For public places, see if you need permits and how much those cost.
Actors - Chances are you can talk enough people into doing your film for free if they don't have to miss work. Actors are the easiest of all creative types to get to work for free. I believe this is why they get paid so much more if they do ever make it big.
Vehicles - To and from set, hauling equipment, food runs, location shoots, and (if you must) car chases. Gas money, repairs, tolls, oil change, spare tire, battery, jumper cables, anything else that might go wrong. A stalled car can shut your production down, so at least a check up is a good idea.
Storage - Do you want every prop and piece of equipment to be bought the week before? Feel like hauling them everywhere you go for a few weeks? Even if it's a weather safe garage, have some storage set up somewhere convenient.
Camera - Buy, rent, borrow. Tapes, film, developing, processing, power cables, lenses, batteries, tripod, dolly, cart, steadicam, wheelchair, rope, and several long two by fours.
Sound - Get the right cables, multiple lengths. Count on using the camera's internal mike, a boom mike, and maybe a stage mike for dubbing later. Do you want the sound right on the DV tape, or are you going to use a DAT? Tapes, cables, power supply as needed. You'll need props for foley, but that's a no-budget endeavor.
Light - High-watt bulbs, low-watt bulbs, soft light, diffuses, and colored. Halogen and standard. Reflectors, poster board, aluminum foil, clips, clamps, and tripods. Large sheets. Extent ion cords, cables, sockets, and fans. Those suckers get hot.
Computer - The computer itself 
You can't afford the car, less yet the effect |
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will need to be able to handle editing, music, graphics, and anything else you plan on doing in post. Also factor in the programs you will need, the domain name and development, a spare hard drive or three, cables, a working printer, blank discs, internet connection, and always more RAM.
Special effects - If your first project will absolutely require special effects, each one should be budgeted separately and thoroughly. Figure out how much fake blood you will need, double the number, calculate the ingredients. Actually, double any effects budget you come up with while in the planning stages. Also keep in mind how many times you've said "That looks cheap" while watching an effect in a low budget film, and really think through the shots.
Food - The dollar store has snacks and soda, water is a must, licorice makes for good sugary power cables, and chances are there will be a fair amount of ordering out to save time. Add up cast and crew, multiply by $20 per day. If you aren't paying them, and you're asking twelve to eighteen hour days, you damn well are feeding them.
Emergency - Always factor in a good amount of emergency money, personal or production, for emergencies. The emergency could be a medical emergency, or a prop emergency. Maybe there is a power emergency, and somebody has to go for emergency flashlights. Emergencies come up. If you have a shoot where it never suddenly comes up out of the blue that THIS needs to be NOW, you may want to consider a lucrative career in Lotto winnings.
All of the above will covered in much more detail late. This is the cheat-sheet. If I missed anything, please let me know and I will compile suggestions for a future column.
Remember, you're trying to figure out how much money you will need. Day five of filming isn't when you want to get fundraising. The best time is once you have a complete script, a budget, contracts, a pay out plan if you turn a profit, and over half of your location, cast, and crew agreement (so you can start organizing the shoot). That way, once friends, family, and business associates give you money, you can show them progress right into the shoot, keep them confident. Well, until the long, slow road of post production, anyway. At least step one, knowing you'll need more money than you thought, has been taken.
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| Make Me Proud |
Every other Monday
Exploring everything you should consider as you make your
indie masterpiece.
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| Patrick Storck |
Patrick hails from Baltimore, MD, where playing by the rules is frowned upon. Only average things come from playing it safe.
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