While most video productions can reach unbelievable costs, a low-budget production is a video shot without any external budget from an individual or a major movie studio.
Most indie films are made on a low budget, as well, but more professional films directed by experienced, professional filmmakers may also have low budgets. The video editing, sound, lighting, and computer graphics used in video production of this type will usually cost less than half the amount normally associated with these elements.
Let’s find out how you can cut costs and still make a decent movie.
Many low-budget filmmakers struggle because they don’t have the resources to complete their videos. And that’s not surprising. The average cost of making a movie is about $100 million, including production, distribution, and marketing. Even the cost of an average indie film is roughly $2 million. However, even with a low budget, you can bring your ideas to life. You may be surprised, but such blockbusters as Rocky, The Blair Witch Project, and Paranormal Activity didn’t have an enormous budget compared to modern days.
The term low-budget usually refers to movies with a budget of $400,000 to $2 million. Everything below $400,000 is considered a microbudget. In this article, we use these terms interchangeably and focus more on the ways to plan your budget more wisely.
If you are a budding filmmaker, then you have to know by now that learning how to save money is one of the essential things you need to do. And before you start eliminating every item on your list to keep within means, you have some assessment to do.
The first thing you need to do is understand what outcome you expect. When you have a complete script, it will be easier to evaluate costs. Plus, it will save you time and money editing and re-editing the final product. Especially if you have someone else to compile the drafts, you need to provide them with a clear plan of what you want to see in the end.
Budgeting and planning are absolutely essential in low-budget filmmaking. You need to estimate how much money you can spend and what your necessities are. The plan should include the following things:
When you are on a budget, one of the ways to cut down on costs is to buy low-budget filmmaking supplies, another – find undergraduate actors so that you can pay them less. However, every budgeting decision you make may affect the outcome of the whole project. You need to get your priorities straight regarding what you can do without and what you can’t. Low-budget films do not have the capital to acquire expensive equipment, and filmmakers often work with bare necessities, so you may need to be able to improvise where you can. The more research you do before the actual filmmaking, the better chance you’ll have to complete your projects. Think about all the items on the list carefully so you can produce a high-quality video without breaking the bank.
These tips cover the basics in regards to finding the best locations to shoot movies, hiring the right crew members, cutting costs on editing, and still capturing the interest of your audience so that you will make a profit after your film is completed.
It’s really unlikely that you can find unpaid labor for your project. So, unless you’re going to do all the job by yourself, you have to consider the amount of money you can afford to pay to your crew. Actors, scriptwriters, videographers, costume designers, camera operators, gaffers, makeup artists – there are a lot of people involved in filmmaking. There are basically two ways to save money:
The second item that can eat up your budget is the place of filming. Renting out the professional studio can cost you an arm and a leg, so if you want to spend less, you will have to wake up your inner negotiator. On the other hand, if your movie plot is set in modern surroundings, you can film outside or in local shops, cafes, bars, and offices. The owners will probably agree to a lower price or even let you film for free – after all, it is a kind of advertising for their business.
There are a lot of things that you can do to get more out of your low-budget filmmaking endeavor. For one, you can cut down on unnecessary set additions and wardrobe changes. Alternatively, your actors can do their makeup themselves, so you have one less person to pay to.
As for props, you can use the ones the location has or check out thrift stores to find the stuff you need. Another way out is to rent costumes and props; the price is usually lower than if buying such things.
In addition to spending as little on props as possible, another important aspect of low-budget filmmaking is trying to find local musicians to participate in your film’s production. While some filmmakers choose not to use music at all, others realize that having original music adds an extra dimension to the movie. As a result, low-budget filmmaking can turn into a collaborative process between the director, the actors, the crew, and local music bands to provide the best content possible. Not only will this add another layer of credibility to your film, but it will also save you a ton of money.
Don’t waste your budget on expensive equipment. While it is true that you need to have all the right equipment for your film, you shouldn’t spend giant sums of money on it. What you need to know is how to use those items effectively. Learn how to use the equipment that is available to you, but do not compromise in other areas for image quality.
The most important piece of filmmaking equipment is the camera. Of course, the obvious choice would be a cinema camera because of its extensive features, but here comes the price factor. You will need a whole extra set of accessories and gear to make the most of the camera’s abilities.
Filmmaking on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on the quality of the product. On the contrary, there are various cameras available that can help you save money while still giving you professional results. So, before you invest in a camera, research the market and compare several options that have the features that satisfy you. You may also find a more reasonable solution among DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Plus, you can now get high-quality footage even with an iPhone.
Don’t forget that your camera will need some accessories to make the filming process more convenient:
The next stop is the lighting. It is one of the biggest factors that contribute to filmmaking. You can always use the lights that the location provides, but extra lighting equipment can drastically affect the overall image. If you plan to shoot your video outdoors, then you will have to have a reliable source of lighting during the day. When it comes to shooting indoors, you should take care of the ambient lights and reflectors to bounce back the light to illuminate the scene.
The last essential piece of equipment responsible for the high quality of your project is external microphones. No matter what camera you have, it’s better to record the sound separately, for example, with a lavalier microphone. You can easily clip them into clothes and masks so that they don’t get in the frame. External microphones will provide a better sound quality, plus you don’t have to spend time recording a voice-over afterward.
Other filmmaking equipment includes various special effects machines, Chroma key screens, dolly zoom tripods, etc. While most of these things will only eat up your budget, a green screen seems a reasonable investment, as you can replace backgrounds in post-production and save on the location.
When working on a tight budget, you must learn the basic videography tricks, as you probably would like to do the editing yourself. It involves cutting and joining footage, choosing the right transitions between shots, color grading, and other techniques.
If you really want to save money on filmmaking, look no further than your computer. There are plenty of great editing software applications available for purchase, and there are plenty of free online resources that can help you edit your project too. Most online editors are obviously not as fancy as professional software, but they still can do their job properly. You can upload your footage, work with several tracks, and perform all the editing within a browser.
Learning how to save money on filmmaking has been discussed in some depth before. However, these tips are the most important ones to consider in order to make the most of your filmmaking career. So let’s revise them one more time:
If you take all of these into consideration, you’re most likely to save a lot of money when you make your first-ever movie!
