How To Make a Low-Budget Film [Easy Guide]

How To Make a Low Budget Film

There is no denying it: making a low-budget film has never been easier.

As filmmakers in the 21st century, we are indeed spoiled with options. But even so, despite all of the resources, sloppy-looking films are still being made.

You see, on the whole, it’s not about what camera you shoot on. To make the most of a reduced budget, you need to consider the whole filmmaking process.

This article will break down the filmmaking process for a low-budget film and how to cut costs. Let’s begin…

Keep The Script Simple

Top Tips

  • Certain genres are less expensive to produce than others.
  • Prioritise scripts with a small cast and fewer locations.
  • Be cautious of special effects and expensive shooting elements.
  • Play to your strengths, and use what resources you have access to.

Firstly, let’s look at your short film script. It’s tempting to let your imagination run wild, but some stories are cheaper to produce than others.

For example, a contemporary drama will most likely cost less than a futuristic sci-fi. If you are going to shoot a high-concept film, you need to be clever with how you go about this.

For instance, take the feature film Monsters (2010), directed by Gareth Edwards. This sci-fi feature is full of CGI elements but costs considerably less than typical features of this genre. This was due to many cost cuts, such as hiring a small film crew, using public locations, and Edwards creating the visual effects himself.

If you are a filmmaker writing your screenplay, play to your strengths and use the resources you have access to. Additionally, if you are a producer sourcing a screenplay, consider how many location changes and actors are in the script.

Elements such as special effects, stunts, and expensive-to-hire locations can quickly increase the film’s overall budget.

Budget & Schedule Everything

Top Tips

  • Make sure to budget expenses such as food and fuel costs.
  • Be honest with your cast and crew on what you can offer.
  • Fewer shooting days cost less, but don’t overschedule each day.
  • Plan wisely, and if possible, appoint an additional day for pickups.

A low-budget film can have a varied budget. For some, this means making a film with no budget at all, while others will have some basic funding (like crowdfunding).

Keep in mind that it is almost impossible to make a film without spending a penny. Extra costs such as food, petrol, and transport costs are unavoidable. It’s best to be honest with your cast and crew when it comes to your budget and offer expenses if you can.

When preparing your shooting schedule, you will need to be careful about how you plan shooting days. In essence, fewer days will cost less.

However, keep in mind that the cast and crew will not happily work for more than 12 hours a day.

To illustrate, a major studio production might only get through 1 page of script a day, whilst an independent could aim for 5 pages.

In short, plan wisely; it’s better to have time left over than to be unable to complete your film.

Improve Your Casting Skills

Top Tips

  • Good casting is essential for a low-budget film.
  • Take your time when casting; don’t rush this stage.
  • You can find actors online as well as by contacting agencies.
  • Professional actors occasionally work on low-budget films.

Never underestimate how vital a good cast is for a low-budget film. An audience will forgive camera issues and modest set design, but poor acting will destroy the illusion. The right cast is out there, although it will take longer for a low budget to find them.

If you were to pick two stages to focus your time and energy on in pre-production, make it scheduling and casting.

There are many ways to approach casting your indie film. To begin with, you can try actor glossaries such as Backstage and Spotlight.

Additionally, you can try Facebook groups and contacting agents. Even though you have a low budget, a professional actor might agree to work with you if they like the script.

In short, it is a good idea to have a basic schedule and budget in place before casting. This way, you can be honest with your cast about what you can offer.

Pick The Right Kit

Top Tips

  • Buying a camera might be less expensive than renting.
  • Consider your distribution goals when choosing equipment.
  • Lighting design is needed for night shoots and most indoor scenes.
  • Good audio will quickly improve the quality of your film.

You have an abundance of choices when it comes to budget cameras. With a low-budget overall, you’re going to go with what you already have access to. As a producer, you can hire someone who owns their own equipment or try renting or even buying.

Occasionally, it makes financial sense to purchase a camera rather than rent it. When choosing equipment, keep in mind your goals for distribution.

Streaming channels, for instance, have camera requirements. You can also get away with more mistakes on a small screen than on a cinema projection.

Then there is lighting; some low-budget films only use natural lighting. However, if you have night shoots or indoor locations, you will need to have a lighting budget. It is also a good idea to do some camera and lighting tests before you start filming. This way, you can understand the limitations of your camera.

Sound design is notoriously overlooked on low budgets. Bad audio can ruin your film or even cost you a fortune improving in post-production. Aim for quality audio recording during your shoot.

An experienced sound recordist with their own equipment can be expensive and hard to find at a low rate. If you can’t afford a professional recordist, without a doubt, make sure to check that the audio is being recorded before every take.

Cut Down On Editing Time

Top Tips

  • Consider editing the film during production.
  • Hire an editor and plan post-production in advance.
  • All music must be copyright-free, either bought or created.
  • Make time for color grading and perfecting your final cut.

This final stage, if unplanned, can turn into an unexpectedly costly process. This is because editing takes twice as long as shooting to complete. Unless you are editing the film yourself, you will need to hire an editor, which can be expensive, so it’s best to find one and negotiate rates before filming begins.

Another tip is to start editing the film while in production. To explain, you can have your editor capture and edit footage daily whilst you shoot. This way, you can see clearly what works and what pickups might be needed whilst still filming.

And by all means, don’t forget to make hard drive backups of your footage. Hard drives can be expensive, but they are necessary.

Color grading your film is another technique to make your low-budget film stand out visually. Many low-budgets forget to color correctly, and this can be done easily by using editing software and LUTS.

Lastly, all music used in your film must be copyright-free. Hiring a composer to write original music will make your film seem more professional. Make time for the finishing touches, such as color grading, music, and audio design. 

Wrapping Up

Learning not to always rely on money is an essential skill to grasp as a filmmaker. With this in mind, we hope this article has sparked some ideas on how to make your own low-budget film.

Picture of Amy Clarke
Amy Clarke
Amy is a filmmaker, former script supervisor and career advisor. She has a BA in Film Production and 8 years experience working on independent films. She also runs her own website dedicated to helping people starting out in the film industry.
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2 Responses

  1. Thanks Andaz – gear is more affordable than ever so people think they can buy a good camera and then get a good film. You need to put a lot of time into planning and perfecting every aspect of the film (story, sound, colour grade) to make it a quality production.

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