High flyers and Low budgets
If you want to make steps in the filmmaking world, a short film is a surefire way to present your creativity and showcase your talents to other working professionals. It is also a great way to flex your intuition and problem-solving skills.
Written & interviewed by Kate Stocker-Wright
Some of the challenges our clients faced when making a low-budget film came down to the filmmaking saying TIME = MONEY.
“My biggest challenges were the tight turnaround time (less than 2 months) and the learning curve for me as a new director. We decided to do a one-day shoot and called in a lot of favours when selecting cast and crew.”
- Kamari Bright, FAMILY RECIPE (£473 budget)
“I was doing the animating myself, so it was easy to keep things moving at the pace I needed. The timing was a big thing and making sure I got the right voices in the right places without having to extend the running length. I wanted to keep it as short as possible.”
- Claire Fleming, THE TENEMENT (£1000 budget)
“The reality is that there is never enough money and the challenge is how to best utilise the budget you have. Do you already know someone who has a camera? Or a location that you have easy access to? Be smart and look around at what you already have and think about how best to use it!”
- Ross McClure, DOG IN TRANSLATION (£3000 budget)
Always be prepared!
“The main challenge was definitely figuring out what was possible with the Snorricam rig. Usually, the rig is used for a handful of shots but since it was used throughout the entire film I needed to see what I could/couldn't do with it. I ended up shooting an entire dry run of the movie with friends and then a half day with the actors. This allowed me to see if any movements made the visuals too disorientating and also let the actors know how much room they had within the frame.”
- Max Clendaniel, SOS (£3000 budget)
“Our sound recordist didn't turn up, and this put the quality of the entire production in jeopardy. It's moments like this you realise just how important it is to possess your own technical skills, as I had to step in to fill this void.”
- Tarun Thind, SARANGI (£1300 budget)
Don’t be afraid to make sacrifices, sometimes business savvy can be the most creative attribute!
“One of the first drafts of Vigilant has news reporters in studios. We cut this fairly early on due to budgeting and turned them into news blasts on phones and watches. I actually think this made the film flow better, and also cut our shoot days from 3 to 2. A win-win!”
- Sarah Day, VIGILANT (budget £500)
“During the early stages of production, I knew I wanted to reinforce the theme of British colonialism by introducing red, blue and white as the main colour palette in the film. But restraints with lighting I decided to introduce red through the protagonist's costume instead - a cheaper way to reinforce the theme without having to break the bank or compromise on the story.”
- Tarun Thind, SARANGI (£1300 budget)
And remember…
“Build an ecosystem of supportive folks. Aside from funding, our biggest assets are each other.”
- Kamari Bright, FAMILY RECIPE (£473 budget)
“Don’t rush to finish.”
- Claire Fleming, THE TENEMENT (£1000 budget)
“Even though I knew my story inside/out, I didn't think to make a mood board until my DoP advised it, and it became such an important document. Practice everything! I used my phone around the house to work out shots, timings and blocking.”
- Tarun Thind, SARANGI (£1300 budget)
“Make a list of wants and needs and *star* the most important ones so you can clearly see your priorities. Even as you’re writing the script it’s good to know what you have access to already (locations, costumes etc) because you can write with that in mind. Another thing is, people are usually very happy to help - so don’t be afraid to ask!”
- Sarah Day, VIGILANT (budget £500)
“The two main challenges for low-budget filmmaking are time and money. Time because you have to fit the production in around the rest of your life and your various commitments and money as you always want more! Remember catering - you can't make a film on an empty stomach! Make sure to feed and water your crew and they will be willing to go the extra mile when needed.”
- Ross McClure, DOG IN TRANSLATION (£3000 budget)
“For film festivals, most filmmakers submit to a massive film festival last minute and blow out any chance of getting their film seen. You'll get more bang for your buck if you submit to festivals for their early deadlines.”
- Max Clendaniel, SOS (£3000 budget)
Listed below are a selection of great film festivals that are cost-effective or free. Important to note, just because a festival is free or at a lower price doesn’t mean it’s easier to get into. In fact, very likely harder since the submissions will be higher. There are many more so make sure you do your research in advance and check the rules and regulations.
International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino! - FREE
Festival International Du Court Métrage De Clermont-Ferrand - $4
Mecal Pro - Barcelona International Short & Animation Film Festival - $5-$8 depending on deadline.
Indy Film Fest - $5 for the super early week one deadline then an increase after.
Valladolid International Film Festival - FREE
Anibar Animation Festival - FREE
Little Wing Film Festival - Short film category $5-$13 depending on deadline.
Busan International Short Film Festival - $8-$11 depending on deadline.
GenreBlast Film Fest - $9-$30 depending on deadline.
DokuFest - $10-$20 depending on deadline.
Glasgow Short Film Festival - $11 regular deadline. $17 for late.
KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival - FREE during early/regular deadlines then a cost for later deadlines.
The Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival - $15-$30 depending on the deadline.
Oska Bright Film Festival - £5
Kaboom Animation Festival - FREE
Hainan Island International Film Festival - FREE
Vilnius International Short Film Festival - FREE during regular deadline. $5 late deadline.
Deep In The Heart Film Festival - $13-$30 depending on the deadline.
Baku International Short Film Festival - $5
Heartland International Film Festival - FREE for Horror Features during earlybird deadline.
Sunderland Shorts Film Festival - $15-$25 for narratives. $7.50-$12 for music videos.
Beeston Film Festival - $7.50-$15 for animation and students. $5-$10 for music videos. All dependent on deadline.
London Short Film Festival - $9 for shorts under 5mins.
So as you can see it pays to be organised! Catch those earlybird deadlines and your budget will thank you. Also worth considering getting a FilmFreeway gold membership if you plan to do a big hurl of festivals as you will have access to discounted prices.
You may also like:
No budget filmmaking - The Big Ask
How to approach making a no/low budget short