Lessons for the No-Budget Feature
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День томуIn the late 1980s and 1990s, there was a great movement in independent cinema of no-budget filmmaking that was the beginning for some of the most successful and popular filmmakers of the modern day. Let's take a look at five features from that movement and see what lessons we can learn on how to make a great film with as little money as possible.
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For educational purposes only. Press the CC button for film titles.
Interviews/Documentaries-
Good Taste Meets Bad Taste (1987) - bit.ly/2eHFh02
The Making of El Mariachi- The Robert Rodriguez Ten Minute Film School - bit.ly/2fne18w
Christopher Nolan on Following- Conversations Inside the Criterion Collection - bit.ly/1tNbuSH
Richard Linklater on Slacker - bit.ly/2fD6INs
Mark Kermode reviews Inglourious Basterds - bit.ly/2eHC8NX
(and hello to Jason Isaacs...)
Further Reading-
Rebel Without a Crew by Robert Rodriguez - amzn.to/2fpAjVJ
Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes by John Pierson - amzn.to/2fLXeyB
The ABC's of No-Budget Filmmaking by Peter Broderick - bit.ly/2fDeG9t
You can follow me through:
Twitter- / andymsaladino
Vimeo- vimeo.com/theroyaloceanfilmso...
@felixthecat2786 7 років тому
I think it's more difficult today in a sense that we live in a culture where everyone needs to broadcast themselves constantly. Back in the 80s and 90s, you could make hundreds of low budget short films that no one ever saw. This gave you a chance to actually build up your chops. Today, people want a feature length film right off the bat. Telling a story is the most important part of film making, it takes just as much time to learn how to do this through the camera than it does to actually understand the technical elements of film making.
@Gvillalba 2 роки тому
It’s easier to find 5 cats that own te latest and greatest cameras than finding 1 dude that understand storytelling and knows how to write a compelling script. Anyone can shoot but not anyone can write.
@hackedtechnothief 7 років тому
think creative. no excuses. do it anyways, never give a fuck. remember why you started filming. protect the talent and never let it go.
@PS3VIGILANTI 7 років тому
There should be more comments like yours man 😄
@danlerman6734 5 років тому
yours is the best comment i have ever read
@rulebritania5391 5 років тому
Don't talk to me I'm 90 yr old
@rulebritania5391 5 років тому
I hate u
@popflicktionedits3256 2 роки тому
@@rulebritania5391 well you don’t spell like your a 90 year old, or do you act like one
@ricasmith5214 7 років тому
Two months ago I shot a 3 to 5min short film on my apartment floor with my Lg stylo phone. I showed a couple of people and thought I needed a better camera and a more clear story. I was so worried that I needed a dslr and all this expensive equipment. I got frustrated and left it alone for awhile.This video gave me more confidence to keep trying and have fun.I am in the process of finishing it up now.
@escribiendoenpijamas6259 5 років тому
Rica Smith pls let us now when you are done c:
@susususu6778 4 роки тому
I wish you the best.
@marisseandgale5365 3 роки тому
That's awesome
@desireandfire 2 роки тому
Good luck !!
@3D1ofakind 2 роки тому
I know this comment is 4 years old, but just know it's never too late to try again (assuming you never finished it). This comment is more for everyone. Spend the next weekend writing a silly script and apply it to film. Notice the excitement you feel when you stop worrying about how it's going to turn out, and start focusing on the process. It's fun! It's exactly the reason you started out to begin with. You won't get better without making incredibly bad films. You could be the most ambitious person, you've wrote 20 different scripts, but when it comes to filming what happens? Your expectations come in and you hit a wall. It's hard to internalize, but I'll say it simply.. The quicker you understand that you're not going to make a good film immediately, the quicker you'll have something finished and moving onto the next. And then in a few years you'll have something you're truly proud of. Stick to it and apply, apply, apply! It's less about making something good, and more about enjoying what you're doing.
@daniellefahlstrom 7 років тому
I hate short student films about 2 very serious "criminals" with no character, having a very slow and serious dialouge exchange with one of them at gunpoint filled with unnessecary silent pauses for no reason other than "well Quentin Tarantino does it so that means that's how you make a scene suspenseful"
@patbastardandthespurious5822 7 років тому
Tarantino worship is the single worst thing to happen to first-time filmmakers and filmmaking in general. If you have to ape somebody else's style, at least pick someone everybody else isn't already aping.
@daniellefahlstrom 7 років тому
amen, brother
@DysnomiaFilms 7 років тому
Following is an awesome film, actually. It's not at the level of Memento, but still a solid 7.5/10.
@tubbylumpkins4885 5 років тому
@@patbastardandthespurious5822 why does Tarantino get slack for "ripping off" other directors even though all famous directors do it?
@Profile.4 4 роки тому
I hate clowns that cry about their hatred of other people's films
@lizanye 4 роки тому
I completely agree with "don't take yourself too seriously" Especially now trying to find low budget features to help inspire me always end up being boring horribly acted/written romances or dramas. When you have NO producers or other influence's to tell you what you can and can't do why not try and do something different and experiment? You know trying to make art, the whole point of filming
@AmericanActionReport 3 роки тому
"Let your limitations guide you" includes script writing. Big budget film makers start with a script, knowing they have the whole world to scout for locations and swarms of acting hopefuls wanting to be in a big budget movie. A micro-budget film maker has to go the opposite route: First, scout to see what locations are available for you; and look at the capabilities of each actor you have and how they can work together. Build your story around available locations and available actors.
@xenoherder6491 7 місяців тому
Werner Herzogg would probably tell you that filmmaking itself is the problem solving device itself that you can lean on; it’s a good idea to set up realistic expectations certainly but also not to diminish the ability of the craft to rise above heights one might perceive as possible. You just have to solve problems creatively.
@AmericanActionReport 7 місяців тому
@@xenoherder6491 That's an excellent point. When a low-budget (or, in my case, "no-budget") filmmaker writes a script, there's the temptation to omit some good ideas because they don't seem possible. My approach is to put the idea in the script anyway. Every script undergoes some changes during the filming process, anyway; so, keep it in unless you have to change it then. By the time the scene is to be filmed, you may discover a way to make it possible. I'm currently working on a short film on how to create otherwise unavailable filming locations by using commonplace technology such as PowerPoint and Paint. I intend to release it around January 2024, concurrent with another project.
@jmorales09 7 років тому
I have so many ideas for a film that I want to do. The problem is I have no friends that I can shoot it with, and I'm camera shy. Edit: 4 years later, and I'm currently writing my first film, and I'm planning on shooting it very soon. Really, the problem with me was that i didn't have my own income. Now, I don't need friends, I can just hire actors. EDIT 2: The main actor/co writer to this film turned out to be a massive creep so i cut off all ties with him and now I'm back at square one
@Enzombie 7 років тому
Joe Kerr I have scripts and I wanna be an actor too but my problem is the same as yours , I don't have that many friends haha , also I don't have money to buy a good camera :(
@someoneelse9680 7 років тому
Joe Kerr best advise and it's what I'm gonna do in about a year just move somewhere with a lot of film buffs and people passionate about it (film schools or major cities) just gotta start doing basically
@jmorales09 7 років тому
Mario Alvarez I'm in high school. Where I live is not currently in my power.
@Dracinard 7 років тому
I'd say, if you have a camera (including a phone camera), just to try and film something yourself. Act out a small bit of your script, or figure out a way to write a film that will work with just you as an actor and the places you can film in as a set. You don't have to show it to anybody, but it is hands down the best way to build talent and confidence. Then you can build up to the projects you want to make. Don't worry if your first film isn't great - nobody's is. It takes practice to get good, and you can only get that by making films. Plus, it's just a lot of fun :)
@Dracinard 7 років тому
Max Power Oh, and I do think having a top end camera is overrated. Films with a better camera will be better, yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't make good films with a cheap camera. The example everyone uses is Tangerine - screened at Sundance, shot on a phone.
@fenomozo9108 7 років тому
The last advice was great, i written and directed a short film on my grade project about time travell and i put some comedy elements on it. My crew were very upset about that and they were reluctant to film it. At the end my script was the only option to film and we done it. The presentation day of the grade projects was awful because all the directors take their films so seriously that they were boring as hell, until i presented mine with silly jokes and special effects. People were laughing and enjoying the film, so awesome. By the end of the day i didn't win best film because there was a comrade director that made a really fun horror short film that was better than mine, but still was a great expierience.
@thecoon4841 6 років тому
Fabián Mozo r u still making films
@quietdemon8138 6 років тому
Feno Mozo that’s awesome dude there seriously needs to be more fun movies from both indie and studio filmmakers
@KaseyAtkins 7 років тому
"you have to let your limitations guide your story."...that is on point. Everything if have written, with purpose to shoot, was motivated by what I had access to...i.e actors, locations, equipment.
@changelingproductions3655 4 роки тому
Every time I doubted myself on making my first film I come back to this video. As I’m about to start filming in the next few weeks I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for providing the perfect amalgam of both examples and inspiration to start my journey of filmmaking. If it weren’t for the stuff in this video, I’d probably still be sitting on my ass dreaming but now, I may just have a shot.
@JoshyGee 7 років тому
What about movies like Primer? How the hell did Carruth craft such a wonderfully shot, edited, scored, and written film? I get he did the bulk of that and knew the actors (who weren't anything special) but it astonishes me how such a professional looking film can be shot on such a micro-budget.
@ogkriptik 4 роки тому
he had a university in his hand. He was still at university at the time, he probably used there resources
@AreaCode000 3 роки тому
Carruth taught himself photography so that he could shoot the film. That's why it doesn't look like Clerks and the others. The DPs of those other films either had zero experience or had only shot shorts. Carruth on the other hand had been shooting test projects for years to refine the look of the film.
@musicnoonelikes 3 роки тому
@@AreaCode000 Listen to his commentary for primer, he talks the nuts and bolts of getting shots/lighting right and shooting on film
@zetetick395 3 роки тому
Yeah, and "The Florida Project" which is beautiful and somehow was filmed using an iPhone!
@musicnoonelikes 3 роки тому
@@zetetick395 i mean in all honesty TFP and Tangerine look like complete shit
@timothyclark5900 7 років тому
I guess you can argue that you're limited by the size of your sd card. If you want to force yourself to be more frugal, precise, and thoughtful with your cinematography, get a small size card.
@BestPlayedLoudLtd 4 роки тому
i was thinkin that, for students somehow take away the delet photo button and get like a 25MB SD card ahahaha
@zealforcinema1373 2 роки тому
That's true 👌
@flippyhairproduction 7 років тому
2:15 poor harry potter
@LyleVSXyle 5 років тому
He got his revenge at 8:37 ;)
@ebwarg 5 років тому
Trae B Yeah, that *does* look rather Excruciatus.
@supmanwun 3 роки тому
Lmaoooooooooooooo
@arielmetamorphosis 3 роки тому
One for slytherin !
@brandonctlee 6 років тому
As a filmmaker going from $100K+ Music Videos [2 day shoot] to $100K Feature [10+ days] where I'm also the Cinematographer, great little reminder of what's important/prioritize. Man nothing get's your blood & brain pumping like low-budget narrative filmmaking. Cheers for the vid.
@samguy7654 7 років тому
This is one of the best videos I've seen in a while, great job.
@SamPersall 7 років тому
Yet another great video essay Andrew! I love the way you present each video I'm able to learn so much !
@NelsonStJames 6 років тому
And all this great advice is practically ignored by most people wanting to make films and trying to get into "the industry" in the age of a new 4K camera coming out every other week, technophiles and people who believe that if you aren't making a film exactly the way Hollywood would, you "aren't being professional".
@Wonderful_Productions 6 років тому
Beautiful! I have shot, edited, recorded, written and directed no budget films before and have experienced a lot of what was said in this essay, using locations and what little you have to your advantage, and working with just precise footage (enough to carry the scene) and not having a master to work with. Now knowing so many famous and acclaimed directors have done the same filled me with a great sense of joy and it makes me feel better about the work I have done. Amazing video Andrew!
@gabedonovan3318 5 років тому
ive been watching youtube videos on how to make a short film/ no budget film every day for like 3 months straight and this is by far the best one, and had lessons and tips that I had never heard before. thank you so much
@davidwatson9064 7 років тому
This is so encouraging. Thank you. I watch it over when I'm overwhelmed or discouraged.
@petersmith9633 7 років тому
Love Slacker and that style that was carried forward into other Linklater films such as Waking Life.
@paulcervenka 4 роки тому
This is so incredibly refreshing. Thank you so much for making this video
@andrewstephens3890 3 роки тому
I just found your channel and your stuff genuinely gives me the push i need. Thank you.
@mychalsimmons4177 5 років тому
Absolutely correct. Thank you for the encouragement. Cause it does get a little daunting. But something in you say No you can’t give up
@Panzer731 7 років тому
Hey, loved this viedeo. As an independent filmmaker i assure you this was my first idea for my no budget film. Just didn't know it was this deep. Thanks man.
@nickolasbelliveau7095 7 років тому
Thank you so much for this video Andrew, it was incredibly inspirational.
@filmsbydiek7316 7 років тому
Great vid, some interviews and snippets in there I hadn't seen before, thanks! I think about my films, and yeah, they've all been inspired by (and then usually set in/at) places that I know, that I have or can probably get access too, then the story finds it's way. Resource film making is great and the necessary reality for most of us.
@filmsbydiek7316 7 років тому
Always good to revisit the R. Rodriguez 10 min film school bits.
@hadithi 7 років тому
I love your channel. Keep up the good work! Very inspiring stuff.
@ItsMeRuttu 7 років тому
These videos are absolutely amazing! Great work!
@ThinkingThrone 7 років тому
the aphex twin song at the beginning really complimented the nostalgic imagery at the beginning. good choice!
@dissolvemusicofficial7652 5 років тому
This is invaluable. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
@ericpa06 7 років тому
Hi! I just found your channel! Totally loved it! Great content!
@nickolasbelliveau7095 7 років тому
I re-watch this video every couple of week just for inspiration. Thanks for making such a great video!
@popflicktionedits3256 3 роки тому
Same!
@cinesheikh 3 роки тому
I used to watch this video at least twice a year since 2016. 5 years later and I'm watching this video again but this time I finally have a feature film under my belt. Times have changed drastically since the films mentioned in this video were made. Sales agents and festivals really couldn't care less about a no-budget film with no stars. If you're going to make a no-budget feature film, it needs to be one of the best films ever for you to have any chance of breaking out. Best of luck to anyone reading this.
@kendalcarpenter5041 7 років тому
I've seen a lot of videos, that have inspired me to become a film maker, but this by far has inspired me the most.
@monsieur_domtom Рік тому
Describing a peace of world, hometown, and talking about what makes it specific, unique, characters into it! This is a huge advice. It really helps me. Thank you !
@pavelns 7 років тому
Great video, really informative and well put together! :)
@mmdoom 2 роки тому
I watched this video so many times two years ago , thank you for this. I just finished editing my no-budget feature.
@worstbread 7 років тому
Wow. That was inspiring! Thanks for this Video!
@EvanKiddFilms 7 років тому
This was fantastic. I will recommend this to film friends far and wide. I released my first no budget feature film Son of Clowns last year and man can I say that when you just embrace your surroundings and give up on a million and one ways to make it look like some big to-do you finally unlock something even better. The truth. Comes through performances too. Keep making stuff!
@lyndonalvarez2684 7 років тому
solid video, for this you get a subscribe. Thanks! and I loved the part about being so serious because sometimes I take my work way too seriously, I love the truth in that :)
@nelandquinten 7 років тому
Excellent video and thanks for the pointers
@StuartHerrington 4 роки тому
I like Bad Taste, but Brain Dead / Dead Alive is amazing.
@MrBGS101 4 роки тому
8:18 An essay on that would be interesting.
@tobic5641 6 років тому
I come back to this video alot. Thanks :)
@ApostolicInfluence 7 років тому
Great video man, very insightful.
@universalindierec 5 років тому
as a total beginner in filmmaking, I must say... this was quite inspiring....
@JoseManuel-mn8yv 7 років тому
This is one of the best channels of video essays on cinema
@aini9528 7 років тому
Thank you for this amazing video! Thank you!
@We_Are_Borg_478 7 років тому
Good video, sir. Gives me a lot to think about.
@casualking4548 7 років тому
2:10 did I just witness harry potter's death?
@q0dis 6 років тому
HAHHAH
@GLOBIK 7 років тому
Great essay!!
@ladyioan 7 років тому
great video!! i would reccomend YMS' interview with Matt Johnson (Dir. The Dirties) for some low-budget film banter
@lovetir98 5 років тому
Thanks for being so genuine! Really!
@redacted4168 7 років тому
brilliant video, very helpful, I've subscribed
@mongovision5124 7 років тому
Thank you for this , thank you
@SaurianStudios1207 3 роки тому
Im someone whose wanting to get into film and be a filmmaker, i find this to be extremely inspiring and it has even inspired me to make my own films!
@AlexiOuzas 2 роки тому
Great video! Making a feature film with limited resources is such a great skill and confidence building experience if you can do it (and you can!)
@catchfishbolls 6 років тому
Hey! I'm a film student from Singapore. Thanks for your videos. They're awesome and inspiring. ANYWAY I watched your video on 'study more than film' and man I have a long way to go (I'm so lazy too - but hey, that's how I stumbled onto your videos!!!! Hahaha) p.s. Also thanks for the message; it's stressing being in art school and annoyed at how everyone seemed really fake and bullshitty and how i kinda sorta might be too, constantly being so concerned on what my work seemed like, or if it was good or not. Thank you. Keep doing what you do :D
@Sibrich 5 років тому
i'm making a movie and i'm doing exactly what is advised here. i'm showing the world around with and how i expierence it with my friends. But i forgot that i watched this essay beforehand and maybe without knowing i followed the advise. thanks for this amazing video essay!
@hunterpower6015 6 років тому
This is amazing thank you!!
@Sp4wnEffect 7 років тому
Much love!
@MonMccool123 7 років тому
Excellent advice! Thank you :)
@chochelius 7 років тому
amazingly inspiring
@feefi7017 7 років тому
This video has the most powerful message I have ever come across as an aspiring film maker. 'Not taking your films too seriously' not only makes me feel happy that finally someone has said what needs to be said but also takes a huge weight off my shoulder in that before watching this I was probably going to make a typical thriller that is creatively dead. THANK YOU.
@dinosaurfilms7425 7 років тому
Thanks for the great advice :)
@matthewhanks7169 7 років тому
Great stuff as usual!
@LONEWOLFFILMS 6 років тому
I needed this 🙏 thank you
@KeysAndCrumbs 7 років тому
This inspired me to sit down and just start writing and writing in a notebook. Thanks man.
@NIKONGUY1960 Рік тому
I've found every excuse in the book and wrote another book just to catalog more excuses. Doing my first short this December. Been through hell these past two years but watching this has given me hope. I have a very good cellphone and filmic pro. Time to make history.
@cinnamon9390 5 років тому
I'm in love with this channel
@calvinbrown3034 4 роки тому
Thank you so much this is amazing
@FearlessNetwork 3 роки тому
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
@LeslieArnelleTV 7 років тому
enjoyed this . thank you!
@broskimovies5383 7 років тому
This is the most helpful video i have seen in so long
@jeremiah11111111 7 років тому
Ridiculously good channel!! Your insight and knowledge, combined with your authenticity.. equals Supreme Content. FYI, you are my most favorite channel. And I subscribe to 70 channels. I feel obliged to say thanks. 👍 Just know that you are appreciated.
@williams1camron 2 роки тому
Thanks for the info
@puertorricano2931 7 років тому
Great vid just subbed!!!
@FrancisBrothersFilms 6 років тому
Great insight! Thanks!
@armanlaa 7 років тому
Thank you Andrew. For all this time ive felt arrogant about my ideas. Felt like id take too seriously, because im young. Still do..
@churchillosimbo 5 років тому
Thank you, Andrew
@mychalsimmons4177 8 місяців тому
Awesome advice bro
@jaredkunish 7 років тому
Thank you man, seriously thanks
@jacobdominguez7808 6 років тому
LOVE this channel ❤👍
@AreaCode000 3 роки тому
The purpose of using black and white film wasn't to disguise the budget it was caused by the budget. Following and Clerks were shot on a particular type of film stock called Black and White Reversal. It was the cheapest type of film on the market.
@GregoryGiordano 6 місяців тому
Exactly. We had to shoot on what we could afford.
@romuloscariot1678 7 років тому
Hey Andrew, tell the name of the song in the end of the video. PS, i love your lessons.
@petermathes2472 3 роки тому
I can't tell you how influential this video has been for me since i watched it 4 years ago. It's changed my entire way of thinking about my films. Thank you.
@PictureProductStudio 4 роки тому
Incredibly, despite starting principal photography on my feature in 2011-2012 (with a few shots filmed as far as 2007) on digital I still managed to get that same situation as with film: the limitation was that my awful Sony Handycam was a Mini-DVD camcorder so I had 25-30 minutes per disc and I usually only had two or three on me. The downside is that a lot of footage is not looking that well as later footage filmed in HD after 2015, as camcorder's maximum was 720p, but... It's just another limitation and I view it like this: in edit I'll be forced to make that watchable and I know I will.
@bajablastard1405 Рік тому
Got nothing but respect for RR and his family. Worked with them and would do it again in a heartbeat. Everyday is a learning experience with them.
@jbartell9756 2 роки тому
I was in Stripped To Kill and Stripped To Kill II. I don't think there was a third. But the director and producer did make a third movie titled Streets with Christina Applegate. All were Corman films.
@FearlessNetwork 2 роки тому
Awesome video! 👏👏👏
@justfilmsomething 6 років тому
That was awesome!!!
@fromthawell 7 років тому
Well done again sir. I would have shown piranha 2 for James Cameron as well. Best day & Best wishes to you & yours. :)
@sophiaestelle6641 2 роки тому
Great stuff, the only difference is I do have faith in the upcoming genius filmmakers of our generations. And I do believe they will be born from the current no-budget world of diy filmmakers with unique perspectives : ) A new wave of cinema is coming☮️
@cikka3425 7 років тому
Love the show, Steve. HELLO TO JASON ISAACS.
@mychalsimmons4177 6 років тому
I totally agree
@struggleforjoy Рік тому
I love it, but especially the "so can we" at the end, and not "so can you". Thanks :)
@MrSteamHot Рік тому
dude love your vid
@atiostefony3760 7 років тому
I try years ago to make a low-budget film (blank and whithe ) and i was very exited about it but two of the camera people that i was trying to get involved in the project told me from the begining .. "No man , i thought this was going to be a big one , i can´t not do any small things." . Funny enought was that the guys were my same age (24 or 22) , and none of them were doing shorts or films , just studing their film carreirs and waiting for the "Big thing "to happend to them . I tottaly agre with this video , Stanley Kubric said in a interview "The best way to learn filmaking , is to make you´r own flim with any budget you have you will learn about the basic of it "
@snehaseema 4 роки тому
I think obviously what you said is true and towards the end, you added that you wish somebody was there to tell you these things but I think these lessons can only be learned after those mistakes. In theory, I know these thibgs now but I'm, nevertheless, still going to make mistakes. You sound a lot like Jad Abumrod from Radiolab and I like it.
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