tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post8433798140812832094..comments2018-08-23T01:20:34.401-04:00Comments on Mynette Louie: Why Microbudget Filmmaking Sucksmynettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11157683121521516792noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-64886179535230451132010-09-09T23:48:34.866-04:002010-09-09T23:48:34.866-04:00I just wrapped up directing/ad-ing/editing/etc an ...I just wrapped up directing/ad-ing/editing/etc an ultra low budget film this spring. Was the worst experience of my life. The worst part is that I could have easily raised the meager budget/equipment myself and bypassed the producer altogether. Then I could have made something I wanted to. And of course, now that it's 100% finished and done picking up some awards from festivals, producer is just sitting with the can under his ass without making any moves toward distribution. I know I'll never make a dime off of it, but I sure as fuck would like to at least get another gig. Too many fucking "filmmakers" around now.Jesse Bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14717787378842822025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-86823834553387467802010-07-20T18:00:09.192-04:002010-07-20T18:00:09.192-04:00a clear Pro vs. Cona clear Pro vs. ConMA Shumin (馬淑敏)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18315437676953138797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-6575161392288588582010-05-18T16:51:03.990-04:002010-05-18T16:51:03.990-04:00I agree with much of what is said above.
Check ou...I agree with much of what is said above.<br /><br />Check out my<br /><br />The Fantasy World of 'No-Budget' Films (and other non-sense) <br /><br />http://bit.ly/aUuK4CDr Ian McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15274889508215448048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-10486353280311676292010-05-17T11:20:53.100-04:002010-05-17T11:20:53.100-04:00Everything in this post is all too true. I am cur...Everything in this post is all too true. I am currently riding this microbudget wave and often feel it could take me under. I was "hired" late this past winter to direct a super microbudget feature. Since of course no money has changed hands it feels much more like I was recruited to execute a seemingly impossible task. I work with my husband and the benefit to us is it's someone else's money financing the whole thing and if all goes according to plan we'll have a directing credit. The down side is with three of our own scripts just sitting on our computer, we're going to have to be really creative to make something out of the story we've been given. It's a mash up of 3 or 4 popular/cult movies and tv shows. Supposedly we were brought on not only because we've made our own microbudget feature but because the producer liked our writing. Still, whenever we make suggestions we feel would benefit the story we're promptly given a long lesson on screenwriting and what an audience really wants to see. <br /><br />We put together a very tight budget and were told right away to cut it in half. We've found all the locations, but have had some difficulty securing them because the producer wants them for free. We've brought on a great DP and UPM plus we're getting two cameras for next to nothing. There will be blood and stunts in the movie but next to nothing to spend on them. I know the producer is going to try get away with not paying the cast and most of the crew. They need to be doing it for the experience, which we've got to take the time to give them. It's really hard for me to ask people to work for nothing even though I'm doing it myself right now. My husband and I started as PA's. I was a coordinator and he was an AD before we went on our own. My first coordinating job I at least got paid $75 a day. <br /><br />My husband always says we've got to work smarter not harder but really we're not afraid of the hard work. We just need for it to pay off one of these days.<br /><br />We're supposed to shoot late summer and are still at the beginning of this whole crazy undertaking. I think I'm going to draw the line at serving crafty on a garbage bin. Now that's truly scary.<br /><br />Tess Smalley<br />reillysmalley@gmail.com<br />createanopp.wordpress.comguerrillafilmprojectnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058027194423474538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-39153801579602233342010-05-14T20:15:28.170-04:002010-05-14T20:15:28.170-04:00Hi all, there's more discussion over at the Fa...Hi all, there's more discussion over at the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/mynette-louie/why-microbudget-filmmaking-sucks/441806260288" rel="nofollow">Facebook re-post</a> of this entry.mynettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11157683121521516792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-70164438052134765382010-05-14T14:25:34.811-04:002010-05-14T14:25:34.811-04:00So are we back to square one? It's definitely ...So are we back to square one? It's definitely a time to reassess. Working mostly as a 1st AD & 2nd AD for that last few years has been a tremendous challenge. I made more money when I was doing PA work than in my later years. Rates keep dropping and production companies are demanding many hats. Last feature I worked on I was 1st AD, UPM, Location Manager and Production Coordinator. With a budget of $75,000.00 and SAG signatory. <br /><br />Of course I did it for the experience and credit but nonetheless I can't remember that last time I had at $1,000.00 in the bank. <br /><br />It got to the point where I was just doing a passionate hobby, not a working career, one where I can make a decent living. <br /><br />So, I reevaluated my career and starting to focus more on producing. With the introduction of social media fundraisers and promotion, there still seems to be a huge gap. Self distribution seems optimistic but would out a serious marketing budget it could get lost in limbo. <br /><br />No one should be hindered to express themselves with cinema, regardless of medium. But lets be realistic. There is a difference between self expression and self expression while still being an entrepreneur. <br /><br />Would love to see this topic on a forum.<br /><br />Mr. Sifuentes<br />mistersifuentes@gmail.com <br />www.mistersifuentes.comMister Sifuenteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18295816272169719883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-30147750857256585032010-05-14T11:52:33.468-04:002010-05-14T11:52:33.468-04:00Without modern technology, it would be even more t...Without modern technology, it would be even more tough to produce a movie. Getting a feature under your belt puts you in the club. Part of the rite of passage is unlocking the secret code to getting your first feature filmed, seen and sold. <br /><br />If it were easy, then everyone would be doing it. But there is no sense making the filmmaking process more difficult than is has to be. Get a camera, create a story that allows you to express creativity through the leverage of limited resources. <br /><br />And while you're doing that, learn how to market and sell your movie online - This is the future. And the future is totally now!<br /><br />Jason Brubaker<br />Filmmaking Stuff<br />http://www.filmmakingstuff.comJason Brubakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16782481871891514922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-52066581320980262952010-05-13T22:35:44.158-04:002010-05-13T22:35:44.158-04:00Mynette, This is a tremendous post and really spea...Mynette, This is a tremendous post and really speaks to the problems facing low-budget filmmakers. <br /><br />I wrote a post over on my blog recently about shorts; I strongly believe that the renaissance of film in the future will be a renewed appreciation/support of the short film. Short films are more web friendly (which is rapidly becoming THE primary social outlet for our lives), and they effectively cut out the problems that feature-makers who are ill-equipped/ill-prepared/ill-funded must endure to have a go in a larger scale. Lots of downscaling is occurring lately out of progressive ways of working (and in light of a stressed economy)...we're seeing tiny 4-7 people crews, small and cheap DSLR cameras that can create an image comparable to 35mm, to the influx of web publishing networks that primarily are geared towards shorts (vimeo, youtube, hulu). I think it's foolish for people to go so hook, line, and sinker over mythical tales about maxed out credit cards turned Sundance award winner, or selling ones body to science to pay for their feature...that model is already passe. However, these days its very exciting and cause for optimism. It's the wild west all over again-- we're rapidly reaching another golden age of cinema, in my opinion.<br /><br />I'm rambling! Great post, again.<br /><br />http://jordankerfeld.com/blog/?p=1269#more-1269jkerfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16965033175458808232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-90698789508534830292010-05-13T20:48:47.943-04:002010-05-13T20:48:47.943-04:00What else can one say...right on all accounts good...What else can one say...right on all accounts good and bad. But we love it so we do it.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943573861166821517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7748287200017796623.post-84892524708130171792010-05-13T16:17:57.228-04:002010-05-13T16:17:57.228-04:00This post sort of feels like the daily cycle of fr...This post sort of feels like the daily cycle of frustration/payoff we microbudget filmmakers have. It's so much harder to do things on a microbudget feature but it's so much better than not being able to make a feature at all. <br /><br />Here's to someday being able to make macrobudget films!Mike Vogelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04340597845609077953noreply@blogger.com