Online Film School

Trust me you can make a movie for less than one thousand dollars. Especially these days with the quality of HD video cameras. I'm sure you know someone who has a HD video camera. My new Google Phone takes damn good quality video. I recommend seeing if you can get a camera that has a microphone port so you can use a shot gun mic to pick up great audio. Sound is important to make your movie feel like it has decent production value.
Basically you need to pick the right story to be able to film a movie without spending money. Your basically looking to film a play or something that resembles the kind of thing you would watch in live theater. Your story should have a limited number of actors. You need people to work for free including actors. You want to limit the number of locations. Ideally the best way to go is come up with a story that takes place over a 24 hour period set in one location. See if you can do it with no more than 6 actors.

If you really want to make the process simple. Look at what you have as far a props and locations. If your Uncle owes a local bar maybe you could go in there and film the movie there when they are closed. If your mom is a teacher maybe something set in a school, if she can get you in there on weekends when no one is there.

Because your not paying for locations or actors or providing food the best thing to do is work short days. Maybe you can get an actor in on their day off or after work for a few hours. Keep your days short. Figure a feature movie has 40 scenes so have 40 days of filming. Film on days the actors and location is available. You just take baby steps getting one scene done at a time until your done. Figure it's going to be a 60 day process. You use the off days to be sure all the production stuff is done and ready so your ready when your peps are ready. You don't have production assistants to run errands or a prop master to get your pros that are required.

Be sure that any actors you cast in the movie can be available enough days so get their scenes filmed. Also be sure they own clothes that will work for your story. Your probably going to want them to actually loan the clothes to you while your in production just to be sure you have it when they need it.

Everyone gets deferred payment. That means they get some agreed to rate out of the film profits. In essence they are a bond holder in the film. Once the investors get repaid they are next in line for payment. Typically because they are in essence making a loan to the film production you also offer them a point of the movie as compensation. Those points are paid out of the profits after all the liabilities are paid. You know Hollywood accounting 101 means that no one ever sees points. But that's another story.

So you have your movie script that is basically a souped up stage play that takes place over a 24 hour period with only a few actors all taking place at one location. You have cast your movie with some great new up and coming rising movie stars that will work for free. You have your video camera. Maybe a few soft boxes for lighting if you can afford them or borrow them. So it's time to film. Your going to be nervous so be sure start with your easier scenes. Maybe just a scene with your main star. Get the jitters of film directing out of your system.

Now that your film is in the can your half way there. You need to get the post production done. If you have never done any video editing before what you can do is buy a $99 VIP membership at the apple store. This will entitle you to weekly one on one training sessions with an apple employee. Just go in once a week and ask them questions on how to use final cut.
Now that you have your rough cut done it's time for re-shoots. Anything you need more coverage of or missed during principle photography. Also get all your pickup shots. And finish the post production by getting the sound done. You will need to Loop for poor audio, Foley for anytime you didn't pick up foot steps or the actor setting down some kind of object or prop. Don't forget the soundtrack. Do not steal someones music! You can try to find local musicians willing to donate a song or two to your low budget film or you can buy some stock music.

Now your done. You should have a private screening so everyone can see their work and your friends and family can admire your art. And be sure it's ready to submit to film festivals. Keep in mind that the Sundance cutoff is usually Fallish. So try to get your movie finished before the end of summer and start by submitting it there. Then you have some other cool festivals such as South By South West, Toronto, and Tribeca. If those big ones don't work there are hundreds of other festivals. You never know who might find you or who you might meet for your next project. Break a leg and good luck.

This article on low budget film making was provided by the online Video Film School.