02.The business of no-budget filmmaking
I've made a feature and 8 short films. This hasn't been done alone. I have a dedicated team of enthusiasts that I call upon every time I want to make a movie. We've even gotten to the point where they call me if they have an idea they want to produce. In Hollywood (the state of mind, not the location), this means you have to pay all of these people. While I would love to cut paychecks for all of the members of Y.A.F.I.:Underground, we are hobbyists and realize that this is either working toward becoming a paid gig, or an elaborate outlet for our creative needs. We don't expect money at this point. And quite frankly at this point, we don't let anyone help us who will need it. We're not snobs or altruists about how art should be free and all that garbage, we're just not in a position where we can pay anyone.
We do have a form of payment that is non-monetary. I'm not talking about the craft services table either (usually a stale bag of chips and 2-liter of soda). We provide a safe place for people to explore their particular area of expertise, either one they want to improve in, or one they want to try out to see how they can handle it. We've come upon some amazingly talented behind the camera folks that way.
I've shot in some amazing locations too. I've paid to shoot in one of them (Actually, Pat paid for it - Kudos to him). That money was not actually for the location, but the staff needed to allow us to be there. All of these locations were selected out of dozens of similar locations based on one thing...could we shoot there, with their blessing, for free! When scouting for a location in a script, I start by having driven all over town for the past 5 years with locations always tugging at the back of my mind. I'm a filmmaker, it's all consuming, there's nothing I can do about it.
After reading a script and deciding we're going to produce it, my Producer and I break down the script and suck all the locations needed out of it. From this list, I go through the list of places that would look neat in my head and see if any fit. I know from talking to the cities in my surrounding area which places I can plant a camera and shoot (we call it filming when talking to the authorities, especially in this post-9/11 crazy world) without spending a dime. These are at the top of my list. I also will open the phonebook and start calling places of business that fit business-like locations alphabetically. I ask each in turn the same question:
"Hello, my name is Cole McDonald. I'm a local independent filmmaker and would like to ask you an out of the ordinary question. I have a script I'm developing that has a location in it similar to your place of business. The script is about [insert short story synopsis here...you have written one so you sound intelligent on the phone right? and rehearsed saying it excitedly?] and would greatly benefit from having a realistic looking location for that scene. When our production is finished our film will be [insert screening plans here, competition/festival/local theater] which will guarantee a captive and interested audience who will generally watch to see who helped out with the production. I'd like to offer you a special thanks credit at the end of the film that lists you business name, profession, location, phone number and website address. Would that be something that you'd be interested in?"
They are allowed to say no! Most of them will. But that one that says yes gets really cheap advertising. Ask your local newspaper how much a full page ad is sometime and compare to the cost of keeping their business open a couple of extra hours for you (never mention this cost to them, just the cost of the advertising). The guarantee of eyeballs is a big deal too. Know how many people generally attend the distribution outlet for your production, these numbers are important, they tell the business owner (you are talking to the right person right?) how much exposure their "altruistic donation to the local arts community" will get them.
Once you find a location willing to let you shoot there, ask permission to come and take location scout pictures with a little still camera. This will allow you to plan your shoot before hand - get panoramic shots (click, turn 45 degrees, repeat) to help you out with this task. Make sure you have a copy of the script when you first meet with them as well so they can read the content. Keep in mind that nothing will chase off most business owners faster than a film that casts their business in a negative light...or shows them supporting controversial issues. These things may seem trivial to you, but can impact them financially on a grand scale if their customers withhold their money based on your choice of topic for your film.
You also have a responsibility to the company now. They are investors in your film. Treat them with respect, because quite frankly, if you piss them off - or even fail to keep them happy, they can pull the plug at anytime during your production in that location. They have every right to do so as well. They pay insurance, lighting, heating, rent/lease. You will generally come in with a handful of people they have never seen or met before and they are trusting that you will be sensitive to their business needs.
We were shooting in a floral shop on my feature. We were allowed to do so during business hours. I made sure that we stopped filming whenever there were customers in the portion of the store we were using so we wouldn't interrupt the business. The net result, free set dressing, free location, and the ability to shoot there again in the future. The business owner even liked us so much, he threw in flowers for our scene (we tried to pay for them) that he knew were going to get trodden upon!
You also have a responsibility to finish the film (I'm still working on my feature - I'm the only one still working on it so it's going more slowly than I had hoped). Without the film being finished, it doesn't get shown. Without being shown, it doesn't get the promised eyeballs looking at their businesses card at the end of the film. Without this happening they, in essence, are not getting paid for your use of their location.
Remember always that you are in a business, whether you have a budget or not! Treat this like you are paying everyone, copy and credit doesn't mean anything on a finished product that you haven't given your best effort. In essence, you are making reel footage for your cast and crew. If you approach every shot like it needs to stand alone for the people involved in it, every shot will be better for it.
This is not a cheap hobby either, I've spent thousands of dollars on equipment and software to be able to pursue this hobby. Collectively, all of the equipment any of your group purchases is their investment into your filmmaking endeavors. This investment helps to convince your resources (Actors, Crew, Location Owners, Sponsors - like local restaurants for food for your cast) that you are serious about what you are doing.
Always know not only how many people will be on location, but how few can potentially be used for the location shots if they start to be concerned about it. Before you shoot at the location, make sure you get a "Signing Authority" to sign a release form that you've generated. It needs to state that you can not only shoot there, but that images of their business can be used for your project. It should also state that you will not hold them liable if there are any injuries to your production team (cast/crew) and that you will be held liable if you damage their property.
So you're at the point now where you are having to start acting like a real live "Hollywood" production. You're responsible for making a product that will please your investors and benefit them financially in the long run. Next time you go to a big blockbuster movie, consider the cost of making it. If you watch through the credits, you'll start to realize the true scope of the images before you. Stop thinking like an "Indy filmmaker" and start thinking bigger. Phone calls are cheap and the word "No" isn't as scary as most people think it is. Get others excited about your film, that goes a long way in getting the resources you need. Don't ever think small again!
I have called the local prison to ask if I could use their front lawn as a location. I've call the police and asked if I could use an off duty police officer, I've gotten "No" on some pretty awesome ideas. But I've also shot in an abandoned hospital with permission from the owners, I've shot with free access in a 200 year old theater. I've shot in a local park with prop firearms...with permission from the city and an on-site inspection of the weapons by the local constabulary.
It's amazing what some people will give you to shoot just due to their excitement about your project. Write projects that get people excited. Start building a rolodex/database of places you'd like to shoot, take a small camera everywhere you go, snap pictures of neat houses, parks, buildings, indoors, businesses, anything you can find that is visually interesting. When you get home, write down the address of the place and try to get the phone number associated with it. You can even do preliminary calling to gauge interest form the owners.
Sometimes, having used a competitor in a previous production can inspire a business owner (or a homeowner in a keeping up with the Jones' kind of way) to contribute to your next one. Thank everyone, smile even when on the phone and never be afraid to ask...to quote my Father (Gary McDonald - he dies in scene one of Death Bed): "The worst they can do is say no."
I'd still appreciate your taking a look at the site though as I have other good stuff there as well, including our entire journey from "can't stand watching it" to "not bad"
