Indie Films are not dead…

Over the last few months I’ve had a few people ask me if I had any scripts that could be made for between $400,000 - $500,000. I find this really exciting! Historically when I heard someone wanted help on a film of this budget range I cringed! Firstly most people who talk about making movies in this budget range are people starting out. They write the scripts themselves, produce and direct. More often than not the scripts are dreadful so no matter how the production goes they will not get a good product out of it. And, 99% of the time they will not listen when you plead them to work on the script more!!!

But recently the people who have been asking me about making a movie in this budget range have been people with whom I have a degree of respect for. They are making projects happen, they understand the importance of a solid script to start with, and (the big one) they understand the market.

Having put a few feelers out last week I’ve read a few wonderful scripts which have really made me think. At $400,000 no one is going to earn any money up front, but you do have real chance of making your investors money back. If you can do this you have more of a chance to make another movie and another and another… And then, providing you are making good movies with great scripts, it won’t take long until one of the movies gets noticed.

In my view, the key to making movies at this budget is to make them indie! Don’t try and make anything that the studios or mini majors would want to make. Find a distinct voice and do something different.

I was sent a brilliant script with two female leads. Sending it off to one of the investors with $500,000 he said that movies with female leads don’t make money. And he’s right, when you are spending millions they have not been working of late! But with only $500,000 all those rules go out of the window. Make something quality and I can almost guarantee you that you can make your money back… Over $650,000 and that is when it gets tough - the risks get higher (but so do the possible rewards!)

So, providing you have a great script where would that $500,000 go?

Well first off I think you could shoot for 4 x 6 day weeks at 12 hours per day with 4 weeks to cut the movie. You’d be shooting on two Red Camera’s with a good lens package and you’d take advantage of an all-in one truck like Kelly’s ( www.all-in-one-truck.com ) who turns up with almost everything you would need to shoot.

Shooting just outside Los Angeles here is a hypothetical budget. Depending on the script figures will then change. For instance the movie that I threw this together for only had three cast members. Remember, it’s a shoe string and everyone is working on the project because they love it…

 

And to get you excited, here are a few films made for under $500,000 that have gone on to do GREAT business:

THE STATION AGENT written and directed by Thomas McCarthy. Produced by Kathryn Tucker and Robert May of SenArt Films. Studio, Miramax. Released Oct. 2003. 1 hr. 28 min. Rated R for profanity and some drug use. Genre, mixed: drama and comedy.

Plot outline: A man born with dwarfism and with a passion for trains inherits a train station in rural New Jersey, where he moves in the hopes of isolating himself from lifelong ridicule, only to find relationships that challenge him to come out of his shell and love in order to heal and be healed.

Starring Peter Dinklage, Bobby Carnavale, and Patricia Clarkson. 10 locations. 21 actor roles. 63 total crew.

Business: Estimated production cost: $500K. Estimated Theatrical Marketing Cost: $1 mil.
Estimated Theatrical Distribution: $1 mil. Opened Oct. 2003 in 3 theaters to an average of $19K
per screen. Max screens was 198 in the US. Total US Theatrical Box Office $5.7 mil. Total
Overseas Theatrical Box Office $2.9 mil. Estimated Total DVD sales and rentals to date $8 mil.
Estimated DVD marketing $550K. Estimated profit after production, exhibition, marketing and
distribution deducted: Profit $9.6 mil.

PIECES OF APRIL written and directed by Peter Hedges. Produced by John S. Lyons, Gary Winick, Tami Reiker of InDigEnt. Distributed by MGM/UA. Released Oct. 17, 2003. 1 hr. 20 min. Rated R. Genre: Drama.

Plot Outline: Rebellious daughter April has moved from the suburbs to a lower east side New York apartment, but decides to attempt to make a positive memory before her ancer stricken mother passes away by fixing her first meal, Thanksgiving dinner. When her oven reaks she is forced to rely on the kindness of her new neighbors to avoid another April created
family disaster.

Starring Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Oliver Platt, Derek Luke, and Sean Hayes. 10 locations. 29 actor roles. 51 total crew.

Business: Estimated Production Cost:$300K. Estimated Theatrical Marketing Cost $750K.
Estimated Theatrical Distribution Cost $500K. Opened October 17, 2003 in 6 theaters to an
average of $8K per screen. Max screens was 101 in the US. Total US Theatrical Box Office 2.5 mil.
Total Overseas Box Office $750K. Estimated Total DVD Sales and Rentals to date $4.3 mil.
Estimated DVD marketing $500K. Estimated profit after production, exhibition, marketing and
distribution deducted: Profit $6 mil.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW written by Ernesto M. Foronda. Written, Produced and Directed by Justin
Lin. Produced Patrice Lucien Cochet. Distributed by MTV Films/Paramount. Released April 11,
2003. 99 min. Rated R. Genre: Drama.

Plot Outline: A group of over achieving Asian Americans experience a downward spiral when they decide to add extra curricular criminal activities to their lives.

Starring John Cho, Parry Shen. 20 locations. 95 actor roles. 39 total crew.

Business: Estimated Production Cost $250K. Estimated Theatrical Marketing Cost $200K.
Estimated Theatrical Distribution Cost: $750K. Opened April 11, 2003 in 13 theaters to an average
of $28K per screen. Max screens was 387 in the US. Total US Theatrical Box Office $3.8 mil.
Overseas Box Office: $0. Estimated Total DVD Sales and Rentals to date $14 mil. Estimated DVD
marketing $1 mil. Estimated profit after production, exhibition, marketing, and distribution
deducted: Profit $15.8 mil.

MEAN CREEK written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes. Produced by Rick Rosenthal, Susan
Johnson and Hagai Shaham. Distributed by Paramount Classics. Released August 20, 2004. 89
min. Rated R. Genre: Drama/Revenge.

Plot Outline: A group of friends plan revenge on a school yard bully who has beaten up Sam. When their plan goes too far they have to decide whether to hide their act or confess and face the consequences.

Starring rory Culkin. 10 locations. 16 total actor roles. 43 total crew.

Business: Estimated Production Cost $500K. Estimated Theatrical Marketing Cost $200K.
Estimated Theatrical Distribution Cost: $200K. Opened April 11, 2003 in 13 theaters to an average
of $7K per screen. Max screens was 49 in the US. Total US Theatrical Box Office $604K.
Overseas Box Office: $ Still running. Estimated DVD Sales and Rentals to date $1.8 mil.
Estimated Total DVD Sales and Rentals when fully penetrated $4 mil. Estimated DVD marketing
$500K. Estimated profit after production, exhibition, marketing, and distribution deducted: Profit
$2.6 mil.

If after reading all this you have a spare $500,000 lying around… let me know…