How to Make Movies With Little or No Money
By Jennifer Alpert, N2Arts Correspondent
Making a movie doesn't have to be expensive...Here's how to do it for cheap
 

ilms can be made with little or no money when you count on the right resources. In order to make sure the class Z budget turn into a class A production it is important to carefully plan in advance. Here are some money saving tips.

A thorough pre-production is the key to keeping costs down.  In other words, design a detailed shooting script, preferably accompanied with a storyboard and sketch a production plan, listing of all the scenes that will be completed each day during the shooting stage.

When you are organizing this plan, prioritize the resources you are working with: actor/actress availability, location, interior/exterior scenes, and natural conditions, such as light, which will impact the actual footage. As the time to shoot draws closer, check the forecast in order to make sure everything can be executed as planned. In addition, try to plan for whole scene completions during the same day, for continuity’s sake.

When it comes to the crew, you will need film and drama students who are passionate about what they do. You can get all the human power you need by placing colorful ads on school boards, posting job listings in online communities and on Web sites, or by passing out brochures. Most artists will be willing to work for free if you are upfront and humble, and are looking for serious creative input. However, make sure you are offering them some kind of compensation or perk, such as paid meals or profit sharing of the movie’s earnings.

A happy crew is more prone to being dependable, as well as collaborating with you on your next film. Have your crew develop their own pre-production and research, such as lighting sketches for the Director of Photography, or costume and scenery planning for the Art department. In case of the actors, rehearsals are highly recommended as a way of saving time on the set.

Getting shooting equipment and postproduction gear is also part of the money saving pre production race.

Usually, if you are a student, or have one in your crew, you can check out available equipment from school, as well as book some time in the editing lab. Once equipment is arranged, design a checklist with all the things that need to be completed before going into production, and review it in a general production meeting that gathers crew and actors. Important things such as props, locations, and transportation should be discussed and confirmed. Make sure you purchase enough film stock for the whole production, taking advantage of the substantial discount Kodak and other film stock dealers give to students.

Try to stick to the plan as much as possible during the shoot. The unnecessary extension of this period will drain your money supplies. However, in either one of the three stages of the film production (pre, shoot, and post), use your greatest resource: mentioning you are a student and offering a big production credit will help you win hearts and loosen pockets, making several companies provide services such as clothing, food and locations for free. 

Jennifer Alpert is a young filmmaker, born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has been a professional film critic for 5 years, and currently writes and makes movies in San Diego, CA.