Seven Important Steps to Low-Budget Filmmaking

One of the most important things for aspiring filmmakers to learn is creating a story on a shoestring budget, as that is always a big concern. In the vein of Robert Rodriguez’s street smart production ‘El Mariachi’, below are the 7 important steps to low budget movie making.

  1. Collaboration– You have to be extremely resourceful. He collaborates with ambitious people in the cinema, like you. Give to receive. If you need an editor for your film, collaborate with someone who is new and trying to make a mark or someone who is still learning the tricks of the trade at any film school in India or abroad. It would be someone who would give his best in editing his film. Similarly, if you need a sound artist, look for someone who is young, fresh, and wants to get noticed. If he wants to get noticed, he’ll probably work for free too so he’s tidy budget-wise. Try to get everyone involved, but be very honest in saying if he doesn’t have any money. The people who still join you would be the most passionate guys out there.

  1. shoot with what you got– One of the main concerns of the students is that they don’t have the latest Canon 5D Mark III or that amazing stabilizer, so they won’t be able to shoot. Well, don’t wait for the next big thing to happen, shoot with what you’ve got. For example, forget about a regular DSLR, if you only have an Android phone, write a script that revolves around a guy who loves making videos on mobile phone or is a selfie lover and what if his phone captures a murder during one of those recordings. You can shoot the entire movie from the point of view of a mobile camera.
  2. Don’t be too ‘focused on the shot’– You may want to be the next Nolan or Tarkovsky and there is nothing wrong with being, but it is very important to convey a story or an idea first. While directing a movie, if you have the most basic shots but are able to get your story across, no one will be offended, believe me! In ‘Superman of Malegaon’ the director didn’t belong to any film school and didn’t have a budget for a crane or dolly, so he used an oxcart and used it as a crane. Instead of a dolly, he took the tracking shots via bicycle. So what really matters is his output, not how he got that output.

  1. Use the ‘not used’– Is it getting difficult to get permission for your next location? Okay, do not worry. Use the location that has been abandoned by everyone. If you want a dhaba for your next session, go to the outskirts of your city, find a dilapidated property, contact the owner. To him, any amount would be a major gain for that useless land and to you, you get the most out of the least. Likewise, don’t throw away that old worn-out jean or unused polythene bag. Maybe you can use them in your next movie centered around a psychotic guy.

  1. Keep it ‘quiet’– When shooting outdoors without permits and without crowd control, a substantial amount of pre-production work is essential. If you’re shooting on a highway and yelling instructions at your AD, you’re unlikely to end up shooting quietly, and trust me if the audience finds out you’re shooting a movie (whether it’s a short film or a feature film). having the least desirable all-star cast), can be worse than a stampede. Detailed pre-production always results in a better product. Doing a little research on your location would help you save a lot of time and money, especially if you’re shooting a low-budget movie. For example, if you want to shoot a crowd scene, do it ‘warfare’* style (hide the camera), that is, without letting your audience know. In fact, to get real thrills from real people, just don’t tell them you’re shooting. Get them into a situation and then shoot them silently.

  1. Use your actors/extras with caution– Don’t fill your script only with actors. Always choose your actors who resemble your characters. This way you can save money on makeup. Also, cast members who can bring their own clothes. Save money on suits. Finding good actors among fans is an art. Unless and until you have the resources and budget to spare, choose your cast wisely. Essentially, in a short film that is 8-10 minutes long, there should be no more than 2-3 actors, so write your scripts according to the availability of good actors. A bad actor can spoil a very good script, so don’t compromise when it comes to acting.

There may also be scenes where you need to show a lot of EXTRAS. Now this could be tricky. It depends on your vision, your pre-production and your forecast of the situation. or you can go
‘Warfare’* style or try to be a little street smart. In the latter scenario, the role of storyboards becomes critical. For example, if you had to film a protest but didn’t have the budget or the manpower, this becomes a real problem that you need to find a creative solution for. For this, you can use a frame where the camera has a low angle (a high angle or eye level can reveal the real number), reproduce real images of the protest in split screen and multiply the sound to create chaos among the protesters.

  1. Avoid unnecessary verbal diarrhea– Having trouble getting sound recorders or microphones? AVOID WRITE DIALOGUE in your script. As I always teach my students: SHOW, DON’T TELL, make your script as visual as possible instead of dialogue. At the end of the day, we tend to forget that film is an audiovisual medium, that is, we have images to support our concepts. Use metaphors and allegorical references to convey the most difficult feelings. What one can do is first find their own limitations both in terms of budget and space and time, and then write their script. This would help to think in a logical and feasible way.


warfare-
Warfare Cinema refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available. Scenes are often shot quickly in real locations without warning and without obtaining filming

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