If you had 25 grand to blow. . .

[nate_dog]

I'm applying for this grant of $25000 to make a short movie which would be aired on T.V. It's only supposed to be up to 8 minutes long.

The money comes from the Canadian government in the CFTPA to young aspiring filmakers. For others interested see
http://www.cftpa.ca/mentorship/pdfs/corus_2003.pdf (but its canadians only, i believe)

Anyway, I've got to give a pitch for a movie idea including a budget draft.

Now, I've never made a movie with a budget before so I have no idea how to blow 25 grand on a 8 minute short!

Does anybody know what format to use for a budget draft?
Does anybody know how to spend the money? How much do you generally pay for actors/dop/lighting guy etc.

What would you spend if you had 25 thousand bucks? (other than shoot the thing on video starring yourself, directed by yourself and keep the rest of the money for booze.)

any help?

[Yammeryammeryammer]

Canadians only eh... Personally I would shoot 16mm, which would require knowing what you're doing. So I would take some of that money and spend it on some super16 workshops, and camera operation ones. Then the film stock would take a chunk. Renting a camera. Renting/buying descent lights. Buy stuff you can use after, rent stuff you can't afford to. Then maybe pay an actor or two if they deserve it. And lastly I would leave a grand or so for just stuff like gas, food, duct tape, etc.

[Joker to the Thief]

i would of thought a lot of it would be film stock and processing stuff. plus equipment hire etc.

[nate_dog]

Alright. I'm gonna need specifics.

How much would film stock/processing cost for 100 minutes of super-16 colour film?

I was planning on editing it digitaly myself.

Renting lights (professional)?

Renting camera (super-16)?

Renting sound (professional)?

Paying crew (amateur actors and crew members)?

Misc.

I have no idea about how much this **** costs. Help will be greatly appreciated. Are you interested Yammeryammeryammer?

[eidde]

Do some research then!

>How much would film stock/processing cost for
>100 minutes of super-16 colour film?

100 foot of 16mm film lasts 4 minutes at 24 fps.
So you will need 25x100 foot rolls.

If you want to use standard KODAKCHROME + developing this costs around 30 pounds a roll (inc developing)
25 x 30 = 750 pounds.

>I was planning on editing it digitaly myself.
to do this you will need to transfer it/telecine it to video first which will cost money. What about back again? Or are you planning your finished format on video?

>Renting lights (professional)?
anything from 5 pounds UK to about 30 pounds UK per day. Do you need a generator? Are you shooting indoors?

>Renting camera (super-16)?
Anything from 50 pounds to 100 pounds per day - what about a camera operator? costs more if you get him too.

>Renting sound (professional)?
Again anything from 20 to 60 quid, what about an operator/sound man/assis?

>Paying crew (amateur actors and crew members)?
Amateur actors and crew dont get paid. Professionals do.

>Misc.
What is misc? anything from 5p to 5000 pounds?

remember catering (possible the MOST important thing) what about location? What about driving/hiring a van? Petrol?
What about props? Are there any? Smoke machine?

How can anyone possibly offer you help with your budget without any knowledge of what you are hoping to acheive? What is your script? how complicated is it? are there any special effects that cost money? What about costumes? Is it a period peice?
...............

Good luck, you are going to need it.

[SoulJacker]

?Canada? spunks ?money? on filmmakers?

Why can't the UK ?government? spunk on me?

[Paul Mack]

I'd make 2 feature movies [img]wink.gif[/img] . Honestly $25,000 for an 8 minute piece seems like money down the hole.

Where are you going to show it? Fesitivals? Intending it to be picked up for distribution? Whats the outlet for you're work?

If you're just making a movie with $25,000 grand just to do it...I would say save it until you come up with a great idea.

Recently Joe Carnahan went down the Robert Rodriguez route and made a feature for $7,000. He is now slated to be the director for Mission Impossible 3.

Christopher Nolan made the low budget movie "The Following". He then went on to make "Memento" and "Insomnia".

When prepping budgets for the grant people don't try and put in a lot of *****r. These guys are like bloodhounds when comes to that. Give them the bare essentials.

Go down to you're bookstore and buy "Independent Feature Film Production" by Gregory Goodell ISBN 0312181175. Good examples of prepping budgets.

Good Luck,
Paul

[Chance1234]

Well this is what i have spent ?25'000 on

theres a Trailer at www.5ylac.s5.com

and a couple of rough cut snippets below

www.Chance.5ylac.btinternet.co.uk/MI666.rm
ftp://cluscon.dynu.com/mifye.rm (right click and choose save as)

All real media

and production stills at

http://public.fotki.com/chance1234/

just need ?10'000 to finish it ! !!!

[Patriarch]

If it has a nice story... I would do the score for 1000$ [img]biggrin.gif[/img]