by Angus Schwartz
The indie science-fiction thriller Primer, shot on film in 2004, only cost $7,000US to produce – it’s possible that director/producer/writer Shane Carruth could make it again for a quarter of that cost, using items in his pocket!
So how can you fund your own feature or short subject film without breaking the bank? We have a few tips on how to get your film made with limited means.
Low key scripts, free locations, no craft services
First off, you need to have an idea and a script for your film before shooting a single frame. Your script should be low key – no running alien battles, sexy Venetian rendezvous, or Ferrari vs Lamborghini races. (Although that does sound like a cool film, all combined.) Many films use one self-contained location or open spaces that don’t cost anything to hire or buy (though you may need local permits.)
If you have friends or family who own or “know a guy” that can get you into cool spots such as warehouses or dive bars, you can add them into the mix. Having enclosed spaces means you can build sets – and sometimes, even a garage will do.
Building the “ultimate production vehicle”
One of the biggest obstacles to indie filmmaking is the location factor. A lot of “shooting” is just lugging all your equipment around from location to location. If you don’t have a car – or worse, a sub-compact that can barely fit yourself in – you may want to invest in a bigger wagon or “the ultimate production vehicle” such as a van that fits all your camera, lighting, rigging, and even post-production equipment such as laptops and monitors in – plus a generator to power it all.
Financing your vehicle
You could go down the hire route – though if you’re in it for the long haul, buying is often better. No matter what vehicle you end up choosing, you will need to get vehicle finance. Whether you have great credit or bad credit, you should approach a car loan broker instead of your bank (“You want this for what? A film???” Trust us, they won’t get it.) A car loan broker will have a diversity of loans available instead of just one or two – and give you the most flexibility or the cheapest deal on offer – whatever you prefer.
Financing the rest
You can apply for funding through Screen Australia and its state and territory-based counterparts as well as the Federal Government’s Global Australia project. Though it may not cover the entire cost, you can also apply for unsecured business loans if you are running the production through an ABN. Of course, you should try to stick to your budget as closely as possible – there’s no guarantee you’ll recoup everything when all is said and done.
