150,000 budget... now what?

[JoshC]

Hello, guys
I just dropped out of collegue and I want to make my dream come true... making a film.
I am planning on coming to Florida february. I am not from USA, so I don't have any connections to the industry.
-My budget is 150,000 dollars. Is it possible to make a film and still make profit with this amount of money?
The film is a black comedy, essemble cast of 5 and around 6 extra roles and six locations. I have already written the script and the whole storyboard. I'll be the director, the editor, the sound editor, soundtrack creator and probably having a second role in the film.
-Is there any other way, than knowing people in the industry, to find someone finance my project (with my 150,000 off cource already inside the budget)
-Can you please tell me what is the NECESSARY paperwork before starting a film?
-How can I plan a casting audition that will have success in the amount of people coming?
-Can I rent FILM EQUIPEMENT? (prices)
-How can I find a a distributor? (Actually, how can I make money from the film?)

 

[Sweetie]

I want to make my dream come true... making a film.

Great stuff!

I am planning on coming to Florida february.

Why Florida?

My budget is 150,000 dollars.

Grats! You got some money! Is this self/family financed?

Is it possible to make a film[with $150k]

Yep. It's tough, but yes.

and still make profit with this amount of money?

Possible? Sure. Probable, that's tough. Due to some of your questions, I'd say the odds aren't on your side.

The film is a black comedy, essemble cast of 5 and around 6 extra roles and six locations. I have already written the script and the whole storyboard. I'll be the director, the editor, the sound editor, soundtrack creator and probably having a second role in the film.

Noted.

Is there any other way, than knowing people in the industry, to find someone finance my project (with my 150,000 off cource already inside the budget)

Yes there is.

Can you please tell me what is the NECESSARY paperwork before starting a film?

I cannot.

How can I plan a casting audition that will have success in the amount of people coming?

Advertise.

Can I rent FILM EQUIPEMENT? (prices)

Sure you can. Be sure to ask for the prices.

My suggestion: You need a producer.

 

[JoshC]

Why Florida?

Grats! You got some money! Is this self/family financed?

My suggestion: You need a producer.

My best friend rented a very expensive house there and wants to spilt the rent.
It's self financed, through web-based income and winning two poker tournaments in Germany. Plus I haven't talked to my father for over 4 years. I don't even know where he's.
-Yeah sure I need. The question is "how I get one if i don't know anybody in the industry".
You sure wasted time answering my questions without actually answering... and now i wasted mine answering...fuck.
Anyway, i like cookies with milk.

 

[sfoster]

The #1 thing you need if you want a movie to make money is recognizable actor in the main role.
If you can't get someone that I know their name odds are a distributor will not be interested in your film.

Maybe someone like Jason Sudeikis .. he was from SNL and has been in a few movies in a supporting role. Maybe he would be affordable?

If you have IMDB pro you'll have access to people's agents contact info. You're going to need your schedule already planned out before you contact an actor like that. You're going to say.. okay i need you for 2 weeks (or whatever the schedule is) and I'll pay you $80,000, the script is attached.

Give them that information they need so they can make a decision.

 

[JoshC]

and I'll pay you $80,000, the script is attached.

Isn't that very few for a A-list actor?
I don't know, i am just guessing cause when Brad Pitt was a B-list actor back in the 1993 was paid 500,000 for a movie called "Kalifornia". Of cource the economical scene back then was different... I don't know.

 

[sfoster]

Isn't that very few for a A-list actor?
I don't know, i am just guessing cause when Brad Pitt was a B-list actor back in the 1993 was paid 500,000 for a movie called "Kalifornia". Of cource the economical scene back then was different... I don't know.

No, it's not very much. But if your budget is 150,000 how are you going to pay someone half a million ?

You can ask… they can say no. But at least you tried.
Maybe you can keep asking more and more obscure people, like Dylan Moran.

It's extremely unlikely you are going to get an A-list actor, even if you could pay them the right amount of money. You're an unknown director and they get offers from real production companies all the time.

Someone like Will Smith, it's not worth it for him to get paid $10 million if the movie bombs and it hurts his career.

 

[JoshC]

It's extremely unlikely you are going to get an A-list actor, even if you could pay them the right amount of money. You're an unknown director and they get offers from real production companies all the time.

So we come to the conclusion that I can't make money from the film, right?

And all these guys that produce these (under one million budget) horrible horror movies without any known actor, they all lose their money?

 

[Sweetie]

Yeah sure I need. The question is "how I get one if i don't know anybody in the industry".
You sure wasted time answering my questions without actually answering... and now i wasted mine answering...fuck.

The issue with your post is you don't even know the questions you need to ask, hence, you need a producer.

Maybe someone like Jason Sudeikis ..
Isn't that very few for a A-list actor?

Yes, though Jason isn't A-list.

It's extremely unlikely you are going to get an A-list actor, even if you could pay them the right amount of money. You're an unknown director and they get offers from real production companies all the time.

There's a cyclical argument that can be made here. You attach appropriate A-list (or even B-list) talent and you're going to be able to raise a larger budget due to increased marketability. Without the money, you cannot attach that required talent.

The unknown director part is very much an issue that needs to be overcome.

So we come to the conclusion that I can't make money from the film, right?

Sure you can make money. Sell a DVD of the film and you make a few bucks. What you really want is profit. Who knows, it can happen. You could create a masterpiece, submit it to Cannes with the other 10,000 films competing and win it so you can turn a small profit.

And all these guys that produce these (under one million budget) horrible horror movies without any known actor, they all lose their money?

The majority of horrible horror films that have a budget under 1mil don't. That being said, there's a huge difference between a $10k film, a $150k film, a $250k film, half mil film and a $1mil film. Each have different requirements to turn a profit. Most obvious, a larger sum of money to turn a profit.

The question that you need to ask: Do you have a film (package) that is financially viable?

 

[JoshC]

The issue with your post is you don't even know the questions you need to ask, hence, you need a producer.

Yeah I don't man, that's why I became member to this forum.
Ok, I already understand that.... but I asked: How can I find a producer? I go to the IMdB Pro and start calling producers with my idea and sending my script?

-I was talking generally...but Sudeikis is A-list. Everone knows him, so he's A... I think.

-It's not like I want to make shitload of money, I just don't want to lose my money. (I thought that DVD distribution is dead nowadays)

-But most of low-budget horror movies producers, come back (almost every year) with another movie.
EXAMPLE: Adam Green's Hatchet (2006) [unknown writer/director, unknown actors.] but he made profit.


Thanks.

 

[mlesemann]

In terms of paperwork - if you want any sort of a "known" actor, you're going to be working with SAG-AFTRA (the actors union). Your budget level qualifies for the Ultra Low Budget contract, which means that you can hire both union and non-union actors. But in order to get union actors to work with you, you DO need to complete the paperwork and get their approval. You can get info here:
http://www.sagindie.org/

 

[sfoster]

So we come to the conclusion that I can't make money from the film, right?

And all these guys that produce these (under one million budget) horrible horror movies without any known actor, they all lose their money?

well now you're talking bout something totally different.
in a horror movie you don't need a recognizable name because the MONSTER is the star. people are excited to see the werewolf or whatever it is.

This concept doesn't apply to a dark comedy.

 

[sfoster]

So we come to the conclusion that I can't make money from the film, right?

And all these guys that produce these (under one million budget) horrible horror movies without any known actor, they all lose their money?

just because you can't get an a-lister doesn't mean you can't get someone with a recognizable name. there are also washed up actors like jean claude. distributors will still be interested as long as there is name recognition. granted he is not a comedic actor, thats why i mentioned dylan moran earlier. he is not even in the top 5,000 of imdb

 

[WalterB]

...........

The unknown director part is very much an issue that needs to be overcome.

..............

This was actually the first question that popped up in my mind:
what experience do you have in filmmaking?

And second:
do you want to direct your movie?

 

[Morris]

You said that you weren't from the US, so the first thing would be sure you have all the paperwork necessary to work here. Florida has a film tax credit http://www.eisneramper.com/Florida-Film-Tax-Incentives.aspx. Stacey Parks has a lot of free information on her site and if interested you might want to join http://filmspecific.com/. She could probably help decide if you might make money on your film. Unless you have a lot of experience, you probably are trying to do too many roles. If you have a great script, there is a chance you could get some actors for less than their normal rate. Your best bet would probably find a co-producer who has success with black comedies.

 

[Sweetie]

Yeah I don't man, that's why I became member to this forum.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need a training site, not a discussion site. I don't want to sound condescending, but you're at a point where you don't know what you don't know. You need to get to a point where you know what you don't know, that way you can make an informed decision of who you need to surround yourself with (or what you need to learn) to fill in the knowledge/skill gap.

Ok, I already understand that.... but I asked: How can I find a producer? I go to the IMdB Pro and start calling producers with my idea and sending my script?

That's one of the best methods, with some adjustments. NEVER send unsolicited scripts. You need to have them request a copy.

It's not like I want to make shitload of money, I just don't want to lose my money. (I thought that DVD distribution is dead nowadays)

The DVD/BR marker is shrinking, though last year there were nearly 7 billion in DVD/BR sales. It's down from a little under 8billion the year before... so I suppose it's dying. It depends on your definition of dead. That being said, the market DVD/BR for small filmmakers is virtually non-existent.

But most of low-budget horror movies producers, come back (almost every year) with another movie.
EXAMPLE: Adam Green's Hatchet (2006) [unknown writer/director, unknown actors.] but he made profit.

Do you have a source for that information?

According to APE, there are about 10000 films made each year. That's about 27 a day. A single success story from 10 years ago isn't very encouraging, is it?

The good news is with a budget of only $150k, you don't need to make a lot of sales to recoup your investment. What you really want to avoid is making a film for $150k where the market value of your film is less than that. The very last thing you want to do is to spend all your money and find out the end result has zero value.

As Morris mentioned, Filmspecific.com is a very good resource to help you with the packaging, distribution and sales elements of your questions and some of the more rudimentary production based producer questions you have.

If you're considering raising more money, put some serious thought into taking on some training. I believe you'll see some gaping holes in your proposal/pitch.

Good luck.

 

[jaydog0303]

Josh C Sweetie wasn't being condescending or rude. She was basically answering your questions one by one. Now as most have posted on here it would be a great idea to take a class on film creating. Taking a course in some type of video production is a great way to see what would actually be required. There are many good websites dedicated to this. Some are free others are not. All these questions that you have would be answered by any good reliable video production course/school.

Now something to keep in mind when creating films these days. You need to start out small then work up to a larger budget type film. This way you can learn the ropes and become oriented to the profession. Then as you get more and more knowledgeable as well as better at the craft you create a portfolio that people can actually see what you can do. From your original post, and I could be wrong, is that you want to make a film without actually knowing how to do it.

In film there really isn't a whole lot of money in it unless you work really, really hard and get in with the right people. Not saying their isn't a way just remember that you are going to have to put your dues in. I just started in the field and I can tell you that it is not easy. But you have to have a passion for it and know that this is what your really, really want to do.

Just some sense from someone that enjoys the field and wants to see your succeed.

 

[directorik]

Hello, guys
I just dropped out of collegue and I want to make my dream come true... making a film.
I am planning on coming to Florida february. I am not from USA, so I don't have any connections to the industry.
-My budget is 150,000 dollars. Is it possible to make a film and still make profit with this amount of money?
The film is a black comedy, essemble cast of 5 and around 6 extra roles and six locations. I have already written the script and the whole storyboard. I'll be the director, the editor, the sound editor, soundtrack creator and probably having a second role in the film.
-Is there any other way, than knowing people in the industry, to find someone finance my project (with my 150,000 off cource already inside the budget)
-Can you please tell me what is the NECESSARY paperwork before starting a film?
-How can I plan a casting audition that will have success in the amount of people coming?
-Can I rent FILM EQUIPEMENT? (prices)
-How can I find a a distributor? (Actually, how can I make money from the film?)

I can help. Can I read the script?

 

[Blade_Jones]

Hello, guys
I just dropped out of collegue and I want to make my dream come true... making a film.
I am planning on coming to Florida february. I am not from USA, so I don't have any connections to the industry.
-My budget is 150,000 dollars. Is it possible to make a film and still make profit with this amount of money?
The film is a black comedy, essemble cast of 5 and around 6 extra roles and six locations. I have already written the script and the whole storyboard. I'll be the director, the editor, the sound editor, soundtrack creator and probably having a second role in the film.
-Is there any other way, than knowing people in the industry, to find someone finance my project (with my 150,000 off cource already inside the budget)
-Can you please tell me what is the NECESSARY paperwork before starting a film?
-How can I plan a casting audition that will have success in the amount of people coming?
-Can I rent FILM EQUIPEMENT? (prices)
-How can I find a a distributor? (Actually, how can I make money from the film?)

You dropped out of college and NOW you are asking these questions?
Do you know how many people are making movies? Too many! Just look at the glut of new movies released on Amazon. I hope you're not putting up any of your own money. That would only add insult to the injury of dropping out of college.
http://www.yourinvestmentadvise.com/film-investing.html

 

[AudioPostExpert]

-My budget is 150,000 dollars. Is it possible to make a film and still make profit with this amount of money?

Almost anything is possible in film, so the answer to your question is "yes". Your question and my answer are of no practical use though, a more useful question would have been; what are my chances of making a profit on a $150k film? Just going on the averages/statistics, the answer to this question is; "you only have a small chance", but ....

I have already written the script and the whole storyboard. I'll be the director, the editor, the sound editor, soundtrack creator and probably having a second role in the film.

You haven't said what sort of film you want to make, are you talking about a theatrical film, a TV film/movie, a film for online distribution/VOD? If you're talking about the traditional commercial avenues (theatrical and/or TV), your chances have dropped from a small chance to almost no chance. The roles you mentioned are all positions which require considerable knowledge, experience and skill, or rather, your film will be competing for profit with other films which have those roles fulfilled by a team ofl people, each of whom have specialist expertise in one of those roles. You appear to have no expertise in any of those roles and therefore your chances of making a film which qualifies as being even potentially distributable are very remote, let alone your chances of actually getting distribution and then making a profit. Of course, if your target is online distribution then anything you make is distributable but then there are a bunch of other very difficult issues you have to overcome in order to make a profit.

-Can you please tell me what is the NECESSARY paperwork before starting a film?
-How can I plan a casting audition that will have success in the amount of people coming?
-Can I rent FILM EQUIPEMENT? (prices)
-How can I find a a distributor? (Actually, how can I make money from the film?)

As Sweeties basically said, your questions indicate that you are a very long way away from standing any realistic chance of making a profitable $150k film.

According to APE, there are about 10000 films made each year.

I don't remember ever saying that. My guess is closer to 40,000 films a year and I wouldn't be surprised if the actual figure was more like 60,000.

I just dropped out of collegue and I want to make my dream come true... making a film.

Making a narrative feature film is difficult but it's easier now than it's ever been. Making a good film though, one which is good enough for a significant number of people to actually pay to watch, is at least as difficult as it's ever been and is maybe more difficult. So, from what you've said, I have no reason to believe you can't make your dream come true, of making a film. At the same time, I have every reason to believe that you'll never get the vast majority of your $150k back!

Maybe you can afford to loose all or most of your $150k on what will almost certainly be a film which results in no more than a personal sense of accomplishment and/or a learning experience? If not, then you're going to have to think about the fulfilment of your dream as a long term ultimate goal, which will first require the achievement of a considerable number of demanding intermediate goals, which will themselves take several years. Of course, that means it largely comes down to how much you really want to make your dream come true, how much time, effort, dedication and patience you are willing to invest.

G

 

[JoshC]

Thanks so much guys. Your latest answers were so helpful.
-The reason I dropped out of college has nothing to do with my dream, dude. There was another reason.
-No you got me wrong, I didn't say that Sweetie was offensive. I was being playful too. Communication via writing sure can have misunderstandings cause of the absence of body language and voice tone.
-The truth is that the only experience i have is 1 year of cinematography cources, being in a movie set for 2 weeks(was not a low budget film) and learning through lots of film watching and textbooks. I have helped to 3 music video sets, although they were all crap.
-I went to a technical high school and I have a degree from there as a sound engineer.
-Also, I was making lots of ambient cinematic music (not profesionally, off cource) until 2 years ago.
-I don't neccasary want to be the director. I just want to make sure my script reach its potential. But if I would be able to find a director that his/her payment will not destroy my budget, sure I'll be happy to welcome him/her abroad.
-mlesemann and Morris, thank you very much for the paperwork informations and the websites. I'll sure check them out.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER USEFUL LINK OR ADVICE, I'll be glad.