Suzette Brown shares in a guest blog on Women and Hollywood: How to Make a Movie on a $100K Budget.
“On the first feature I produced, I was told by the director, ‘There are three options — good, fast, or cheap — but you can only pick two.‘ As an independent filmmaker without the luxury of unlimited resources, I pick good and cheap every time. That doesn’t mean I don’t stick to my deadlines, but that I should take the time to do things right each step of the way.”
She then shares five tips for indie filmmakers:
- “Reverse Engineer. Encourage the writer and director to add elements we already have access to that are either discounted or free. No action-packed sequences, iconic locations, or other elements you cannot afford.
- Do a full breakdown of the script. How many different locations are there? How many cast members, crew members, props, vehicles, wardrobe?
- Get locations free. A great way to be efficient is to pick locations that are multi-purpose to be able to shoot two locations at one place in one day. Schedule around the locations first, lumping them together, minimizing company moves. This keeps shooting days and travel time down.
- Ask yourself what things can be borrowed, made, or repurposed. Take inventory of the equipment your team already has that can be borrowed before using a rental house. Set design and wardrobe is where creativity is paramount.
- Proper meals throughout filming are important. Before you begin principal photography, you should already have a list of your entire team’s dietary restrictions and preferences as well as what days they will be working. I love supporting family-owned businesses whenever I can. By working with a local restaurant, giving them our business for the duration of the shoot, I was able to obtain lower pricing and we were able to use them for our diner location in the script, another multi-purpose saving opportunity.”
She concludes with: “It’s vital that you control the things that you can control ahead of time so you can work around unexpected surprises. Proper planning will always be your budget’s best friend.”
My take: great advice! As to where to find $100,000, she didn’t say. But watching her trailer it seems like you just have to look in the right duffel bag!