How do people here fund their short films/etc.? I know that here at my High School funding is pretty limited (In terms of a Film Class, But relative to other classes it would be pretty high), So basically the Teacher leaves it upon us to supply nearly all of the equipment for productions IE: Tapes. And since the class numbers around 120 our few Digital-Video Cameras are very limited.

So I went out and purchased a ZR-45. Now here is my predicamente. Ive spent $723 on the Camera and some other equipment. And Ive spent anoth $100 of my own money buying props such as 3 Real Swords (Cold Hard Steel ) and Fake Guns. And my friends in production have spent another $70 on Props. Now, while this wouldnt stress a Person who's working full time. Actually.......erggg Okay let me simplify this I dont have much money too spend IE: $40-200 a Month so if Im going to buy Props, Cameras, etc where should I buy them?

And primarily, how do people fund their projects? Is it all personal funding or do people here use advertisements and the likes?

If gone about local area business's inquiring wheter they would like some sort of DVD of their Business to sell to their customers, Most werent interested at the prices I was offering.

$100 Initial and $200-400 Upon Acceptable Completion and $8 per DVD Sold. (Keep In mind our costs per DVD are around $4 for Labor and price of DVD)

Now, I was wondering what other options are available for students and the likes. I have about 10 People working on my Films at the moment if thats any help. Well thanks for any suggestions.

If the answer were simple we'd all be in hollywood

I recommend fund raising through natural means..car washes etc.

Another idea, faimly and friends.

Also selling credit space to companies locally...or say you need a gas station shot...ask a gas station if they would give you a few bucks to show the name in your film. Same with restaurants and all that jazz.

"The worst times in life happen the moment before the dreams come true"

Yeah, not an easy answer at all. You really dont usually draw investors until youv done some impressive stuff already.

Money dosent make the film better necessarilly, so, be creative. My last short, "intersection" cost under a $100 to shoot. About $30 on props, and such,(dollar stores can be great places to find props, and dont forget goodwill for costumes) the rest was feeding crew. It was shot on an XL1, and has a running time of just under 30 minutes. (be looking for it to be on this site soon.)

It got attention, and now, It is being incorparated into a feature film,(budget of $60,000) as one, of three short stories. I am getting to direct it within said film, and there is some money to be made, although, not alot. Point is, it got me somwhere. So it is possible. It starts with you and a pad and paper. (or computer) Write a good story. Use what you already have avaliable.(ie: house, car, guns, woods, ect.) Dont spend a bunch of cash. Try and write a good script. Make the camera work good. Try lighting scenes instead of just shooting in a room. All these things come into play. You cant make it compete with 35mm films. You can apply the camera, lighting, story telling techniques though, so do it. Dont wait. Shoot all you can. We all have 10 to 20 bad movies in us, so get them out of the way now, while it dosent matter. Best of luck. Hope to see some stuff from you soon.
R. M. McWhorter

And you shall know us by the trail of dead.

funding ??? don't make me laugh!

I've just completed shooting on my first professional short film and i've been all around the place looking for completion funding.

They just don't dish out money at all it seems.

I'm now bending over backwards to try and get something out of my local arts council (in the UK), but i'm not hopeful.

So far i'm out of pocket by about £250 UKP and it looks as though i'll not see ANY of it back. But I did expect this.

Richard.

You don't need any money for any production.

Learn to be a smooth talker.

- Eric