Micro-Budget 101

It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to film making or just new to micro-budget, it helps to understand the basics principles of making feature films without money. So, this page is designed to give you an introduction to those basic principles.

In the film industry a micro-budget movie is anything made for less than $250,000. So chances are, that even if you’re not a hardcore $1,000 film maker, then you are a micro-budget film maker.

At the most basic level, a film maker needs: a story to tell; a way of capturing the images and sound created by the performers; and a way in which the movie can then be shown to other people.

Now, it doesn’t matter whether you’re Steven Spielberg or a complete newcomer to film, you’re still dealing with the same problems: How do I get my story right? What is the best way for me to make the film? Who can I get to do the performances? What equipment is best for this project? Who is going to be interested in my movie? And, lastly, how are they going to find out about it?

The only difference between a micro-budget film maker and say George Lucas, is the micro-budget film maker has less money, but ironically, has more freedom. Big budget films have to have A list stars and conform to the needs of the mass market. A $1,000 film can star anyone and doesn’t need a mass market… however, it does need A market. It just doesn’t have to appeal to everyone to be a success.

Now, most DIY indie producer/writer/directors approach micro-budget film making with the intention of trying to get as close as possible Hollywood output and production techniques. Because of this their time and energy often goes into which sub $5K camcorder is best… and which software based editing system is best… and there is nothing wrong with that as an approach.

However, it’s not the only way to do it.

The $1,000 film approach to micro-budget film is interested in new technology, new cameras and editing systems… but at a core level understands that it is a combination of knowledge, creativity and the ability to come up with film concepts that inspire people, which is the real key to micro-budget success. This is the reason that so many of the articles you’ll find here are about script writing, understanding how to get the most from a wide range of production technology and also intelligence about the business side of film making.

Essentially we’re here to help you answer the questions: How do I get my story right? What do I use to make my film? How do I get people to watch it when it’s made?

The experience of the $1,000 film team is that this is the winning formula:

First get the concept right, then get the script right… then if you have the knowledge and resources to shoot the film, shoot it… but if you don’t have the knowledge or the resources, use the quality of the script and concept to inspire people, who do have the skills and resources make it properly.

This is the reason that $1,000 film making should be attractive to screen writers… because at all levels of this industry the screenplay is the key.

At a production level it really doesn’t matter whether you shoot your film on a $65 hi-rez webcam or the new RED… providing you, or the people you inspire to help you, have the technical skills to create an interesting product.

What every $1,000 film maker needs to ask themselves at the outset is this question: What am I really good at?

If you’re a natural camera operator then you need to become excellent at that, whilst at the same time finding an excellent script writer to work with; if you’re an excellent script writer… well, you can figure that one out for yourself. What you don’t have to be able to do, is everything yourself.

So, you have an idea for a film… you develop your script… you find the resources and skills to make it… but, to do that you don’t need to spend more than $1,000 (unless you want to).

The great thing about this attitude to film making, is it can be used by anyone, at any level of expertise or experience. Resources, concepts, knowledge and above all enthusiasm are the things you need to make films… with those things, budgets are irrelevant.

Now, with the basics out of the way…. let’s make some great $,1000 films!