So I was thinking, never a good thing, and I've come up with the idea for the first movie I do with a decent budget of say, $100,000 or so, would be a pretty simple guy-rescues-damsel-in-distress movie. My reasoning is that if I can pull it off then it shows I know the basics of stoy telling/movie making. I figured most of the budget would go to cinematography and set design simply so it doesn't look anything resembling American Ninja (my personal basis of a crappy movie that would be a common product if people didn't try harder.) Anyway, I guess the question is, because people want something new these days, would I even be able to make a good/succesful movie if it just follows the basic damsel-in-distress storyline? Or would people just lambash (extra points to me if I used or even spelled that word correctly,) it because it wasn't extremely orginal or unique? Maybe my argument/gripe is that non-filmmaking people typically just don't understand the amount of work it takes to make a movie, so they wouldn't appreciate the work that would go in to such a movie made by a new-comer. Pheh, decipher that as best you can, it's late.

Laterz,
Elliott

100k?! Dude, this is frickin' ridiculous! Why do you crazy filmmakers even need ANYTHING in the 'higher than 2k' range?! And this is your first film? My first film was something like $5 or somethin, and I love it!

Yes, you can, as long as you do it right. I think it would be pretty hard to do though, so maybe you should think of something else.

Seriously... 100k? Insanity.

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

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100k?! Dude, this is frickin' ridiculous! Why do you crazy filmmakers even need ANYTHING in the 'higher than 2k' range?! And this is your first film? My first film was something like $5 or somethin, and I love it!

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I'm guessing he's go for "Distribution etc."..... Why spend 100k on a vanity film?

*Keep in mind, though, $10,000,000 is still low budget to Hollywood people. So 100k is not extravagant at all. Unless it's a film to impress your Mom. So yes, if you're gonna spend 100k at least approach it as something to build a career on.


Be UNIQUE! If you're trying to get something going with this film, why spend 100k on something that's already be done? There is a plethora of these fi lms made every day for 100k that will not see a dime in return (or get people noticed). If you wanna know what Hollywood people want, they want to see something they've never seen before... Or at least a different take on it.


If you try to play it S AFE it will be very apparent in the final product. This is the time to GO FOR IT, don't hold yourself back!


The idea? It all comes down to the writing and how you execute it on film! This isn't the time to try and do a 100k block buster-ish f ilm... Hollywood already has that covered. Do something from your gut! They don't want you to try and mimic what they're doing, they don't expect it to be a Block Buster... just good!


BTW... These type of questions may not be the best type to ask he re. Many people here are too young to give you realistic advice.

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I've come up with the idea for the first movie I do with a decent budget of say, $100,000 or so, would be a pretty simple guy-rescues-damsel-in-distress movie. My reasoning is that if I can pull it off then it shows I know the basics of stoy telli ng/movie making.

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QUESTION: Who are you trying to "SHOW" that you know the "BASICS"???

People already expect you to know this stuff, so this is not the time to show them the basics. People want to see that you know Film not the The Ba sics of film... If you don't already know the basics I do think you r budget is too high. Many seasoned film makers could make a feature that has a "CHANCE" of distribution, or at least a chance of getting a deal or a good agent to "BREAK THEM".

Be smart! Don't waste money if you're not ready....... If you are, then do it!


Good luck!u

All right, fine. But explain to me what could possibly take up 98,000 of that 100,000. And if you say "building the set" then I'm going to say, "Use the real thing"

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

You said 10Mil is considered low for Hollywood? Well, Hollywood pays it actors decent amounts and has insanely huge credits, and it has to pay all of them. He said this was his first movie using this sort of budget. I see absolutely no reason why your budget is insanely high.

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

Insurance
camera rental
grip rental
Craft Service
Scale wages
Accomidations
Below the line
permits
Location costs
35mm blowup for festivals
music licsencing

I'm a big fan of micro budget, but actually getting the right equipment and compensating people for their hard work can solve many problems . ....and might actually improve your film. Imagine that!?!

joren

Story is still most important.

this is how i am doing my first right now.
ok to start with i spent a couple hours writing out my script. i came up with the 500 plus hours of work ive done at my job ata grocery store over the past 8 months. it should take up about 10-15 minutes of film running time. im going to shoot mostly in one small room where my film takes place and in a large forested area behind my house. i don't know or care if i need any shooting permit because this is my first film and i dont think there will be any wide release of my film. im using my sony trv-18 (i think) camcorder along with my friends DV camera as an ulternate angle. then after filming i will edit on a computer at my school using final cut pro. after i finish edit i will put onto a vhs tape. i am fortunate in that my high school has a film course and other resourses like tripods and mics although you technically could do without. along with the film course is a public and school viewing of all the films made in the classes over the year. even though my film wasnt made in this class im sure there is no problem for me to have mine viewed.

after that if i feel like investing my first cents into more ppl seeing it i could send it to this site and try to get it on or host it on a website of my own.
total predicted cost=$0

i am luck in that my script writing is my strong point and i can easily visualize how my film will look. those are my advantages that will hopefully make up for my lack of directing experience (i will have more after my first film) and lack of good actors willing to do work for nearly free of cost (i need only two actors in my film and have found one).
you dont need nor will you find 100k. if you have it spend it on going to film school. i personally feel that many people dont need film school or training to make great films however i dont see anyone handing over the hollywood minimum (that was said on this topic as 10 million) to some uneducated aspiring film maker. so what if your story isnt original yet. if you show it to a few of your friends they will likely be impressed by what youve done. then on your next film you will be more experienced and may be able to write a better story. if you come out with another stereotypical cliched story then find someone you know who can think up something you find new and radical. this is just my advice. some of it ive learned from other ppl some ive just thought of while writing this.

hsteinblock, sounds like we have a lot in common. No, seriously, I suck at directing, but I make it up with scriptwriting. My films cost... what? $5 at most (excluding software, mike and dv camera which were passed down from my brother and dad) Drop me a line at my E-mail.

Again... it boggles the mind... 100k...

"Insurance" -for what?
"grip rental, Craft Service" -What IS that?
"permits, Location costs" -You don't need this stuff. Use what you have and stick with that, right now.
"35mm blowup for festivals"-Isn't that inside the camera?

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

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"35mm blowup for festivals"-Isn't that inside the camera?

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So naive....
Yet so wise....

Nota "Changes his clothes in-camera" Mono

Sometimes I forget who I'm [often] talking to here.... Naive is the word.

We are talking apples and oranges guys. No, no high school kid NEEDS to spend 100k or even 1k on a film. "Real" films cost money... Student films often don't need to. In fact they shouldn't be overly expensive. (You don't hand a child gold paper to scribble on) In other words you don't need money to learn.



100k : I'm referring to people with at least the basic background in film making that are going, again for, "DISTRIBUTION DEALS"! (Can I be any more clear?) Obviously this is NOT for newbie kids still in high school... Just be aware that there are filmmakers out there that are past the BASICS and are now ready to make a feature with what is really a shoestring budget.... 100k



Typically you'd be looking at a budget of 100k (often times more) AFTER you've gone to film school OR know what the hell you're doing. If you find this budget shocking it means THIS SUBJECT DOESN'T CONCERN YOU. So don't worry about u nderstanding it....


Eventually you kids will get to a level where you'll want your film to be UP TO SPEC so you'll then find the funds to pay people that KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING...


KIDS.... TRY TO LISTEN SOMETIM ES! YOU MAY ACTUALLY LE ARN SOMETHIG.........


Do a search on-line (if you must know, now), I'm sure there's a site that has this stuff broken down to dollar amounts for you to understand. I'm not gonna try to breakdown a 100k budget. If you don't understand this already, it shows me that you are very green, and likely very young. You'll learn in time....


LISTEN & LEARN!!d

Yes, for someone's very, very first project, it seems a little odd to be spending 100 large. But I also have a problem with people lowballing projects. It's great to use what you have, starve all the people that work 12-18 hours a day for you for free, risk a life of debt and possible jail by not getting insurance/licensing, keep the camera handheld with only ambient light, and use mom and dad's hardware store for every movie you make, but to be proud of that and not aspire to anything greater seems senseless. (Okay, a little exaggeration)

Why not encourage someone who has the means to get a "real shoestring budget" together? Money isn't bad. I wish I were given, or had 100k to make a film. I'm sure it still wouldn't be enough. Everyone on this forum's hero, Rodriguez, talks in his book (or the DVD commentary) about how he took the 7 or 8 mil he got for Desperado and tried to make the film look like it had a 30 mil budget. Is that bad? Should he have given all but 10k back? Would you?

He's talking about production value. He even went as far as to quantify the production value of that film. So logically, when you make a no-budget film, it will probably have a no-budget production value (or a $10k budget value if you're a Rodriguez). But probably not a $100k production value.
[stepping off soap box]

joren

"You kids might actually learn something" Sheesh! He never said he was going for distribution.

Everybody is Funny Looking in their own way
~Funny Looking Productions

Alright, alright. I feel I kinda need to clarify. First, a hundred grand is nothing when it comes to a movie's budget. I know that, and know that even Rodriguez had his couple of mil to make his movies, but so what. One main principle of movie-making is faking/lying. And I'm sure I'd be able to lie well enough to make a decent movie. Really, if I have a maximum of ten people on a set during an entire production, I can imagine being able to keep the costs down. Anyway, what I wanted to say about my story, is that its basis is guy-rescues-damsel-in-distress, but it would have my unique touches. Basically you'll have seen the story before but you won't. Alright, lessee the Matrix, we've seen the story of not knowing what reality we're in but it had the Warchowski's touch to it, which in turn, made it feel new and let the movie kick much ass. I want the damsel-in-distress movie I make have my touch and kick ass. The real question is, will a damsel-in-distress be a fair basis for a movie at all?