Make $50,000 look like a "Million Dollar Feature". First, my opinion is...if you only have $50K this is just enough money to do a 1-week shoot with a 7-10 person crew at $100/day each, but if they come with equipment more, and paying the 5-7 actors $100/day to $250/week. However, you probably don't have enough confidence to pull this off and truly believe you will get better crew, better equipment and professional actors if you start by telling them either (A) a bigger salary or (B) percentage ownership in the project. I truly understand that. Why? Answer: I was a first-timer once loaded with a lot of naivete and insecurity derived from taking a couple of expensive UCLA filmmaking courses where the speakers always dispensed the same rah-rah stuff. OK. OK. I'll put myself in your shoes and imagine that (A) I have never made a feature film before, (B) I want cast and crew to be happy and (C) I only have $50,000. Let's now talk hiring and renting knowing that $50K is the bottom-line to include food, props, locations, wardrobe, post, music and marketing... First, and foremost, if you ever say "Deferrals" or "Deferments" to cast, crew or equipment suppliers when making your deals always, I repeat "always" make sure that you clearly define Deferred until "when". And it is always best to push your deferral obligations, as much as possible, as far down the revenue line as feasible...which, in your situation, is "All Deferrals to be Paid out of Net Producer's Profits from Theatrical Distribution". Now let's spend your $50,000, with Deferrals (aka: deferments) and make a feature film. #1: It's a 1-Week Shoot #2: It's 1-Location #3: It's a 7-10 person crew #4: It's a Non-SAG, with 5-7 SAG & Non-SAG actors, shoot #5: It's 1 Shooter with 2 DSLR or HDSLR cameras. SALARIES: ABOVE-THE-LINE A: PRODUCER: YOU ($10,000 Deferred) B: WRITER: YOU ($40,000, WGA Minimum Deferred for 2 Drafts) C: DIRECTOR: YOU ($2,000 Prep & Shoot, $2,000 Post, $15K Deferred) D: ACTORS: $100/day, $500 Deferred, 7 Days, 6 Actors, $5K Cash, $14.4 Deferred) BELOW-THE-LINE A: CINEMATOGRAPHER/DP: Comes with 2 Cameras ($3,000, plus $12,000 Deferred) B: Shooter: Second Camera Operator ($1,000/week, $2,000 Deferred) C: SOUNDMAN: Comes with Equipment ($2,000/week, $5,000 Deferred) D. Boom Man: Soundman's assistant ($500/week) E: GRIP/GAFFER: Lighting/Grip Package ($2,000/week, $5,000 Deferred) F. Best Boy Grip/Gaffer #1: $700/week G. Best Boy Grip/Gaffer #2: $500/week H. PRODUCTION DESIGNER: $3,000 Art Budget, $2K for 2-weeks, $5,000 Deferred) I: Hair/Makeup: $700 & $2,000 Deferred L: PRODUCTION MANAGER: 3 Weeks Prep & Shoot, $1K/week & $5,000 Deferred) M: Wardrobe: Shoot $500 & $1,000 Deferred) $7,000 CASH: You now have your cast & crew for ABOVE-THE-LINE $7,000 (cash) and $79,900 Deferred, with $65,000 of the $79,900 Deferred-to-you...who with a proper attorney will put Above-The-Line Deferrals in first position, so that you get the $65,000 prior to disseminating monies, if available from Theatrical Profits, to the remaining cast & crew. $15,900 CASH: This goes to DP ($3K), Shooter ($1K), Soundman ($2K), Boom ($0.5K), Grip/Gaffer ($2K), Best Boy #1 ($0.7K), Best Boy #2 ($0.5K), Production Designer ($2K), Hair/Makeup ($0.7K), Production Manager ($3.0K), Wardrobe ($0.5K) with $37,000 Deferred to be paid from (if any) Net Producer's Profits from Theatrical Distribution Thus, Cash spent for Cast & Crew, Above-The-Line and Below-The-Line for a 1-week shoot with 2-weeks of prep is $22,900. Yes, (1) my numbers probably don't add up perfectly and (2) you're cutting it real short... Any suggestions. There should be 100s. There is no one way to do this but I have now given you a roadmap.... PS. This ain't gonna look like a $1 Million Dollar feature but it sure is going to look better than "Blair Witch" or "Paranormal Activity". Happy Filmmaking, The Filmbay Team, Filmbay.com ************************** *Produce *Finance *Write *Direct *Distribute *Profit --------- Click "LIKE" & "SHARE" ------------- https://www.facebook.com/Filmbay --------- For more Filmmaking, Film Tips & News FOLLOW US on Twitter" ------------- https://twitter.com/FILMBAY_CINEMA

• published: 09 Oct 2013
• views: 0