by Ronan Becker
Whether you’re a genre filmmaker or fancy yourself an auteur, you can produce, promote, and distribute your indie film without having major or even indie studio backing. You can even secure a loan to do it within 24 hours. Some filmmakers shoot with prosumer tech such as Sony’s Xperia 1 series or RED Cinema’s Hydrogen – and those are mobile phones!
Here are some tips to set yourself up with the right equipment to make your first independent production – even if you’re on a “zero” budget.
Buy good equipment – even if it isn’t cheap
Do you know the business value triangle? Good, cheap, and fast – pick two. Things that are cheap and fast are seldom good; and things you can acquire fast that are good quality won’t be flimsy or break down.
Modern technology strives to be more compact, powerful, and portable. It also applies to lighting, sound, camera, and generators for powering your equipment. Many modern smartphones have very high-quality cameras and pro-spec controls – such as the Sony and RED phones we mentioned. Buying a green screen and a subscription to Adobe Creative Suite can put you on the same level as some of the major studios, especially when it comes to colour grading or post-effects. But also remember – sometimes less is more.
Props, cast, and locations – for cheap or free
If you’re a first time director or producer, you may think you have to spend big on props, cast, and location hire. In many cases, you can get props and equipment on the cheap through the second hand market. Last generation graphics cards are just as capable as the newer gen ones – does a couple of extra minutes rendering time matter that much?
Getting neighbours or friends involved as crew or even cast such as extras can go a long way instead of sourcing them through agencies. (Of course, you should never run afoul of Equity or the MEAA.)
Getting funding for production
Many films in Australia gain funding through Screen Australia and their state and territory-based equivalents. You can apply for funding for various aspects of production through that body or through the Federal Government’s Global Australia initiative. If you have broader ambitions than just the one-off, you may want to buy equipment using an unsecured business loan.
If you have an ABN, you are a business. An unsecured business loan is a type of loan that doesn’t require you to put up any collateral – and you can also get funding in relatively quickly, sometimes within 24 hours. This can be a real lifesaver if you need something in a pinch or if you’ve gone over budget in a key area (happens all the time in filmmaking!)
With all this in mind, you are well on your way to becoming an indie filmmaker – but be sure to talk to your financial adviser or accountant first before applying for loans.
