Aug 21 2009
Tips for Making Cheap Horror and Sci-Fi Movies
Many first-time movie makers start with horror or sci-fi films. It could be because they’re appealing to a large crowd; they can be a big success even if they’re not considered “quality films.” Of course, it could also simply be because they can be very cheap to make!
As we’ve seen in so many horror movies, camera quality is usually not a big issue, so you don’t need to spend your budget there. In fact, if your footage is grainy or even not shot so well, it can sometimes add to a feature in this genre.
You should also skip paying for expensive venues. Horror and sci-fi movies can take place basically anywhere. You could probably get permission to shoot your film at certain places at school, or even your workplace. Try the houses of friends and family as well. Houses with barns, ponds or other bodies of water, or fields or other large running, forest areas are all good choices.
As we’ve discussed before, don’t spend your money on casting, either. A token payment is fine for struggling actors who agree to help out, but try to get friends and family to star in the film for free first. You could even make it a fun family project–or simply make it a favor you’re willing to pay back soon.
Speaking of actors, make your alien, killer, or other bad guy a human. This will save you a ton of money on costumes and special effects. Aliens can look like humans, and human killers can be just as terrifying as monsters. If nothing else, you could even have half of a face rip off (think Terminator) in a scene and replace it with some cheap but effective 3-D effects gel and paint. You could even obscure your villain’s entire face with a creepy costume (as in I Know What You Did Last Summer or The Watcher).
With all of these tips, you should have plenty of money left over to create some really scary effects such as blood, wounds, and general gory glory.
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