Ultra Low Budget Film: What Corners Not to Cut
Why do movies cost so much? Simple. It takes a small army to make one. There are at least fifty necessary positions needed to make a quality movie. These positions range from the ones everyone has heard of, like actors, producers, and directors, to the ones that go unnoticed, like transportation coordinators, script supervisors, accountants, and legal. If each one of these people made only $15 and worked for one month (movie crews typically work 10-hour days, 6 days a week for a month during production), the total cost would be $180,000. And that's before a single camera has been rented, any hotel rooms have been booked, any costumes or props have been purchased, or a single meal has been provided. (The producer is responsible for feeding the cast and crew and providing room and board for those coming from out of town.) Are you starting to grasp that movies are indeed expensive to make?
When independent filmmakers like me set out to make a movie we don't have filthy rich Hollywood studios financing us. So we have to cut corners where we can. The question we have to ask ourselves is what positions are absolutely necessary for us to make a quality movie? Of course, actors are necessary. You can't have a movie without people on the screen. But that's where the first cut is made. An ultra-low-budget film can't afford to hire A-list actors. So, instead of hiring Ryan Reynolds or Emma Stone, we have to look for the next Ryan Reynolds or Emma Stone. All the A-listers started somewhere. Most started in independent films like Talentless. Jennifer Lawrence was the highest-paid actress in the world from 2015 to 2016. But in 2010, she was paid the union scale of $3,000 a week for her lead in the $2 Million movie Winters Bone. Back then, nobody knew her from Eve. Keep that in mind as you watch Talentless move forward. We could be casting the next A-list actors.
Back in 2012, I set out with a group of friends to make an independent movie, and even though we were never able to complete the film due to a lack of financing, I learned some valuable lessons. One was to not start shooting a movie until it's fully financed. But besides that, working on a micro-budget movie, I learned the hard way that certain crew positions aren't given much thought that are absolutely necessary for success. I refuse to cut these positions from the budget for Talentless.
Script Supervisor
When I worked on that movie in 2012 I discovered keeping track of continuity is an absolute nightmare! In the vast majority of movies scenes aren't shot in order. Keeping track of what clothes each actor needed to be wearing in each scene, how their hair needed to look, what changed on the set, what props needed to be present, and so forth was an enormous challenge. I had to keep track of things like in the previous scene the actor rode his bike to work. So his hair and clothing needed to reflect that when he entered the office. He needed to be sweaty too! Oh! That picture of his mom on his desk was now in the drawer. So many details! And on top of that, we had to make sure every single line in the script was said and every necessary camera shot was recorded. Nothing is worse than going to edit and discovering that one shot you really needed isn't there. It happens more than anyone likes to admit. These are the reasons movies have script supervisors. Script supervisors are extremely organized and detail-oriented people who make sure every line in a scene is said and captured with a good clear camera shot. They also keep track of continuity. Was the actor's coat buttoned or unbuttoned in the previous scene? Is his hair disheveled or perfectly in place? Is there dirt on his clothes from him falling down in the previous scene? The script supervisor keeps track of all these details and also carries a camera on them (usually a Polaroid) so they can snap pictures of the actors and set and place them in a binder to keep track of continuity.
Wardrobe Supervisor
As I mentioned earlier, keeping track of what the actors needed to be wearing in each scene and the condition of their clothes was a daunting task. For this reason, I want a Wardrobe Supervisor. This person works closely with the costume designer to know what each character is wearing in each scene. They hand the actors their outfits before shooting each scene and make sure their clothes look the way they need to when they're on the set.
Property Master
This is also known as the Prop Master. This person is responsible for purchasing, renting, and securing all the props needed in the movie. A prop is anything the actors physically touch. This can range from cell phones to coffee mugs. But more goes into this than simply grabbing items and bringing them to the set. They have to think about the character. Is she the kind of person who would drink from a plain white mug or would there be a design on her mug? What kind of design? Be sure not to infringe on copywrites! So she can't be drinking from a Snoopy or Marvel mug. What about her cell phone? Are there trademark concerns? You know Apple won't allow villains to use iPhones. Do we have clearance from Apple to use an iPhone? How about let's not use an iPhone so we can avoid that mess. Is there a generic phone we can use? Are you seeing how complicated this gets? The prop master also makes sure all the needed props are on the set and in their proper places.
Production Manager
When I was working on the other movie in 2012, I made an amazing discovery. I can't be in two places at once. This made things especially challenging when I was needed on set and I was also needed off-set to answer questions and prepare for the next scene. That's why this time we will have a production manager. The Production Manager oversees the day-to-day logistics of the production. They oversee the location scouting and the finances needed to secure locations. They work with the producer on developing a shooting schedule and make sure each location is ready before the shoot. They make sure the crew expenses stay within budget and they coordinate the housing and transportation for the cast and crew.
Music Supervisor
Have you ever heard a familiar song in a movie? Of course you have! It takes a mountain of legal work and expenses to get that song into the movie. The rights to use the song have to be secured. But because the song is also being edited to fit with film/video, synchronization rights also have to be secured, and fees have to be paid. This is where the Music Supervisor comes in. This person understands the laws surrounding using songs and knows what people to contact to secure the necessary rights. Music Supervisors are also skilled negotiators and know how to work with record companies and bands to obtain the rights to use their songs for reasonable fees that make everyone happy. Being that Talentless will require the rights to certain songs a Music Supervisor will be a welcomed addition to the team.
Art Director
As you know, Talentless takes place in the world of art. Because of this, we will be looking for an Art Director. The Art Director oversees the artistic, visuals, and aesthetic aspect of the film. In Talentless this person will make sure the artwork captures the tone and visual requirements of the screenplay. The Art Director will also make sure the color scheme, lighting, and stylistic elements in the movie capture the correct mood and theme. Ideally, this person will be an artist who can paint the main character's art work for the film.
Casting Director
Filling all the needed roles for a movie is an enormous task. When we think of movies usually we think of the lead roles. But what about that scene at the coffee shop? People are needed to play the employees and the customers. What about that person who has one line but is crucial to the story? What about all the extras walking around in the background to create the look of a busy city? What if you need someone who looks like one of the main characters as a child for a flashback? Casting Directors have access to large numbers of actors and are experts at finding people that fit each part. A Casting Director will be a fantastic resource for Talentless.
These are the unsung heroes of moviemaking that we'll have as part of the team making Talentless.
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