The Complete Guide To Low Budget Feature Filmmaking

Most books about film production assume that you have an idea and a script to shoot. Most screenwriting books are geared to how to write a script that you can sell to Hollywood (as though the authors of these books had the slightest clue) and do not take into consideration that you might be shooting the script yourself, possibly with your own money. This book is about how to write a script properly that you can rationally shoot, how to shoot it, how to finish it, how to sell it, and also how to get it shown.

The second book in the Rocliffe Notes series, A Guide to Low-Budget Filmmaking is a practical, step-by-step guide to getting your film made, taking it all the way from a script to the screen. It covers every aspect of the process, including: budgeting and finance; casting, crewing and scheduling; shooting and post-production; and marketing and festival strategy. It also incorporates unique insights and insider confidences from peers and established industry players - from directors, writers and producers, through to sales and marketing consultants and distributors. Contributors include: Sean Baker, Saul Dibb, Destiny Ekaragha, Camille Gatin, Sarah Gavron, Shirley Henderson, John Madden, Maxine Peake and Asif Kapadia. A revelation for all would-be filmmakers, it's the essential guide to the nuts-and-bolts of making a film, and a must-have for anyone thinking of making a film on one of the low-budget Microwave, iFeatures or Catalyst schemes, whose recent critical and box-office successes include Lady Macbeth, God's Own Country and The Levelling. 'A really useful guide to getting on in the world of film' - Richard Eyre, Writer & Director 'This is the book I wish I had when I was started out working in the movies. Would that it had existed a few decades ago. It's detailed, optimistic and full of practical and useful information' - John Malkovich, Actor, Writer & Producer 'An insightful and crystal clear read for anyone wanting to produce their first film be it a short or a feature' - Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly, Producer Look out for the other book in the series: Rocliffe Notes - A Professional Approach for Screenwriters and Writer-Directors.

"With today's proliferation of nine-figure film budgets, filmmaking may seem more out of reach than ever for the average person. In fact, making a movie for next to nothing has never been easier. In Movies Without Baggage, longtime filmmakers Alain Silver, Obren Bokich, and sundry others recount their experiences in the micro-budget arena and detail how 21st-century technology makes it possible to produce high-quality, full-length features for less than $50,000, $25,000, or even $10,000. Through this book's in-the-trenches tales detailing the making of a dozen micro-budget features, all aspects of making movies without baggage are covered: finding/creating the right script, budgeting, casting, deal-making with actors and crew, scheduling, shooting, post-production, and finally marketing and securing distribution. This entertainingly illustrated volume also includes samples of the paperwork from five of the ultra-low-budget films it profiles"--

If you're looking for clear-cut information on how to make a film on a minimal budget that is based on tried and tested techniques - look no further. Elliot Grove has worked on hundreds of low-budget productions, teaches Lo-to-No Budget filmmaking courses and runs the Raindance Film Festival (the largest independent film festival in Europe.) His wealth of teaching and filmmaking experience combined with knowledge of the winning formulas that work is the basis of this book. Refreshingly clear, no-nonsense tricks of the trade. The free CD provides all the contracts and material you need to run a production company and make successful low budget movies; how to schedule, budget and break down a script and how to get it shot with what you have, not what you want. This is a must have read for filmmakers serious about making and selling films. Creative and technical expertise coupled with a behind the scenes look at the film industry makes this book an excellent starting point for beginners. For experienced filmmakers there are plenty of practical approaches in here for you to try, from developing CV's, showreels and business plans to information on pitching, raising finance, creating publicity and much much more. Use it as a point of departure or as an everyday reference tool. The accompanying CD-ROM contains sample budgets, publicity plans, trailers and interviews.

The number of independent films produced each year has almost doubled in the past decade, yet only a fraction will succeed. If, like many filmmakers, you have no industry connections, little to no experience, and a low or ultra-low budget, this outsider’s guide will teach you what you need to know to produce a standout, high-quality film and get it into the right hands. Written by an entertainment lawyer and experienced director and producer, this handbook covers all the most essential business, legal, and practical aspects of producing on a low budget, including: Scripts Business plans Copyright issues Equity and non-equity financing Fund-raising Tax considerations Talent recruiting Scheduling Distribution Securities laws Film festivals And more Also discussed are the new crowd funding laws covered by the JOBS Act, making this book a must-read for every indie producer in today’s economy. If you want to produce a film that gets attention, pick up the book that is recommended or required reading at film, business, and law schools from UCLA to NYU. Whether you’re a recent film school graduate or simply a Hollywood outsider, Independent Film Producing will be like having a best friend who is an experienced, well-connected insider.

First Published in 2012. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Original publication and copyright date: 1982.

The success of low-budget independent films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity have clearly demonstrated that successful movies can be made with very small budgets. Still, working on a tight budget requires both skill and ingenuity, and is an inevitable and continuous learning experience for the filmmaker. Join two dozen truly independent filmmakers--those used to working, and delivering, within extreme limitations--as they bluntly chronicle their experiences creating features "from the trenches." They cover the major stages of the filmmaking process, from financing, technical decisions, and handling actors and crew to music, production, and distribution. With loads of practical advice, actual case studies, and many behind-the-scenes photographs, this collection of war stories from the micro-budget front lines will benefit aspiring and experienced independent filmmakers alike.