No budget productions vs low budget movies

[Mods]

I've been reading through some of the topics on this board and there was one about a guy in Essex who wanted people to help or get involved with a no budget production company.

It seems that some of you were "complaining" that the no budget movies this guy wanted to make would turn out shit, or you wouldn't help because no money, or at least, little to money was being spent on them.

I have to say, I think its sad you come to this "descision". I'm broke, and the only real motivation I have in life at the moment is to create video productions as you may call them. If no budget movies turn out shit, then how come:
- I've got Alan Rickman to do a cameo in one of our movies, for free.
- Brian Tufano, D.O.P. for Billy Elliot and East Is East is helping out with one of our productions, for free
- We have use of 5 acres of land to do whatever we want on it, explosions, battles, dig up etc, for free
- A DV camera, an editing suite and equipment all for useage, for free

How can you say the outcome of this movie would be "shit?". No budget doesn't mean the result is going to be shit. Of course, yes, it wont be as good as a lot of the films.

Heres how I see it.

When people talk of a movie which needs a budget, a lot of it would be used for distribution, getting prints and getting it in cinemas nationwide. I also see budget users as people who dont try that hard to get things for free.

I know a lot of things cost money, and maybe i'm just lucky, but look at the list i wrote above. Also, we've been given permission to use a scrapyard for filming, permission to use a tank, permission to blow up or destroy a car etc, all for free.

The only thing that costs money is the cigarettes we smoke whilst making scenes, and occasionally the cost of a train ticket to a location.

Therefore, no budgeteers should respect low budgeteers, and vice versa. Static Fear isn't being made with a budget of anything higher than 10 quid. And thats not exactly a budget, thats some petty cash in me back pocket.

Capeche?

Completly random post I guess. I just haven't posted in a long time Oh, Resevoir Dogs was cool last nite.


Mods

------------------
Mark "Mods" Lovegrove

[eddie]

I think that the point was that there will ALWAYS be a budget. - The cigarettes and train tickets?

But people need cups of tea, sandwiches and train tickets and the odd prop and lights need electricity - the odd roll of gaffer tape.... (The least you can do is buy Alan Rickman a pint.)

I think the point was that its important to consider these costs, because once you start brushing off any costs in any project, you stop taking the budget seriously and are no longer working within it - where does it end? Stop considering the costs of video tape too?
These things DO cost money, and before you know it it is YOU (or some mug) that has paid for them somehow.
Its just good practice to get receipts, thats all.
All that said, Im the last person in the world who actually does this. Ive tried, but all the little costs have added up and I can only give a rough cost of my film so far. Its not good practice.
Besides sounds like you are racing on! Good luck, hope it turns out a good as you hope.

------------------

[twister!]

Wow Mods - that list is very impressive. How did you go about getting people like Alan Rickman or Brian Tufano to work on your lo-budget video production???

------------------

[Mods]

With difficulty! No, seriously, with Alan Rickman, he lives near by so you just get writing to them and then let on you want them to do a cameo in a film and they might say yes. I asked Jeremie Irons too who lives near by but he's away filming so he can't do a cameo role, but he still "sends his regards" and "wishes the very best for the film".

Brian Tufano, also living by, a couple of letters and a few phone calls was all it took. In fact, one letter and one phone call, and he was willing to help out when he had some free time.

I guess some people are just more generous than others.

In reply to the first reply I got (sorry i cant remember who wrote it :O ) you're still making it seem like you *have* to have a budget to create a video production. Thats not true. All the cast and crew ive found, friends and including Tufano & Rickman, are happy to do it for free. We state that we can't pay them, and they know we're a bunch of 17 year olds, but they do it for free.

It just goes to show what you can blag for nothing


Mods

------------------
Mark "Mods" Lovegrove

[the big lebowski]

We blagged a Catholic Church hall to shoot part of a vampire movie. We told him it was for a 'Psychological thriller with lots of dialogue' which it basically was! We also walked through the vicarige house next to the church which looked really good and he let us use that aswell! Thankfully he didn't stick around to watch us shoot.

The Dude
www.undergroundfilmworks.com

------------------

[eddie]

no, you missed my point.
But I couldnt care less.

Good luck

------------------

[Mods]

I think you'll find I looked at your point very clearly eddie, and simply stated that i wouldnt call those menial things "budget" things.

If you go from one place to another on a train thats hardly a budget, its an expense. If you've got a camera and an actor with you, it doesnt just "become" a budget because you're making a film.

If I were to raise 500 hundred quid and put it aside for a film specifically, then THAT would be what I would consider as a budget.

As for the other guy, you've proved my point exactly that things can be done for free, yeah?


Mods

------------------
Mark "Mods" Lovegrove

[Chance1234]

lol , i would love to be able to say that to the tax man,



------------------
www.5ylac.s5.com

[Chance1234]

the biggest "expense" as you call it on my films, is the logistics behind moving by crew and cast and feeding and accomodating the buggers, when youve got 30 + it is definetly not a menial thing,

also what about tape stock and your other consumbables ?



------------------
www.5ylac.s5.com

[miker]

if you were professionally minded you would BUDGET for your EXPENSES, duh!

it's a very good habit to get into, especially if you want to play with the big boys.

just like call sheets.

gawd, filmmaking is so DULL isn't it!!

------------------
N305UDB M173UBM
(B55VOR)
(WGO963W)