Tips for Low-Budget Film Makers

Tips for Low-Budget Filmmakers
written by Mukesh Vidyasagar on Monday, November 10, 2003

Dov Simens' film courses launched the careers of Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino. Could you be next?
What's the most a high school dropout can accomplish? Not much, according to my high school principal and antagonist, Mr. Morse.

But after Quentin Tarantino dropped out of high school, the director forked over a few hundred dollars for Dov Simens' Audio Film School cassette tutorials. Then he went out and made "Reservoir Dogs" and "Pulp Fiction."

Dropping out of high school still isn't a good idea. However, if you dream of making it in Hollywood regardless of your education history, then you may want to think about attending Dov Simens' 2-Day Film School.

Simens visits "The Screen Savers" tonight to give expert tips for filmmakers working on a tight budget.

Quick tips from Dov Simens

Simens suggests the following rules of thumb for low-budget filmmakers. Visit Simens' 18-minute Film School site for more details and more tips.


* Use all the available resources
Contact your local film commissioner and get a local film directory. The directory includes phone numbers and contact info for local rental shops and film crews. You can find Simens' selection of books about everything from screenwriting to budgeting in Hollywood Film Institute's online bookstore.

* Work your idea into a treatment
Break your movie idea down into "Beginning," "Middle," and "End" segments and write a three-page treatment covering each part. Learn more about how to write a treatment on Simens' 18-minute Film School page.

* Protect your idea
Register your treatment with the Writers Guild of America for $20. It's also a good idea to copyright your treatment for $30 with the Library of Congress.

* Keep your script simple
Make it as close to a stage play as possible. Keep the number of actors, locations, and multimillion-dollar explosions to a minimum.

* Poor sound plagues many first film projects
For cheap films, it's more important to buy a good mic than a top-of-the-line camera. Don't use the external mic that comes with the camera. A dedicated, experienced soundman is a good investment. You can find sound and lighting experts in your local film directory.

* Learn how to buy digital videotape
Don't pay retail prices for DV tape. Do your research and find the best deals.

* Keep it short
Your low-budget script should be 90 pages max, which translates to a 90-minute running time.

* Be realistic with your budget
If you're lucky, you'll have access to $300,000 max for your first film project. The film/video format, shooting schedule, and decisions to rent or buy equipment depend heavily on your budget.


* ProductionHUB will help you find experienced crew members for your project.
* The Writers Store is a great source for screenwriting software, books, and supplies.
* Find tape, equipment, and other supplies at Studio Depot.