How to make a full length feature film for 100 pounds!

[PMiddy]

Sure, the film cost more than the £100 he himself spent (that smashed car window in the trailer probably doubled the budget...)

Thanks for the kind words! The car window scene was shot without breaking any glass. We found a phone-box that had been vandalized, there was a guy there clearing it up and we asked if we could take the broken glass with us. Notice the shot cuts before he makes contact - then we cut to the glass being thrown over the victim!
Cheers Pete

[BigBeaner]

We had 11 cast members and 2 main crew members, including myself.

Ya I figured some ways it shows. Thats a huge reason why costs so low because if you had a larger crew it would be more people to feed and transport. I always need more people because of lights and dolly movements, sound team but same time its a great obstruction of just having 2 crew and a large cast (that can help out too).

[Clapton Pond]

Sure, the film cost more than the £100 he himself spent (that smashed car window in the trailer probably doubled the budget...)

Thanks for the kind words! The car window scene was shot without breaking any glass. We found a phone-box that had been vandalized, there was a guy there clearing it up and we asked if we could take the broken glass with us. Notice the shot cuts before he makes contact - then we cut to the glass being thrown over the victim!
Cheers Pete

Brilliant! Necessity being the mother of invention etc.

ian

[PMiddy]

I agree Ian!
Oh and something I did not mention that wasn't included in the budget was my own car - (which went to hell and back), it should have been scrapped after we had done!
Cheers

[steve hyde]

...Pete, congratulations on your feature. Based on the trailer the project looks like quite an undertaking. Nice rhythms on the trailer by the way.
What are you plans with "Driftwood"?


Steve

[johnnhud]

Pete, I just viewed your trailer on youtube. First of all, congratulations are in order if you have managed to shoot a feature film. The very feat itself if impressive regardless if the movie is good, or bad.

About the budget. I agree with the others on this forum that promoting the budget isn't probably the direction you should take it. I would never watch your movie just because you claim it was shot for $100 (I know it was not). In fact without seeing anything I would think that most distributors wouldn't take you very seriously knowing that you only spent $100 on the movie.

A movie is a collaborative effort, everyone who contributes is spending their time or money on the effort. Those things should be accounted for in the budget. Their time is certainly worth something...at least their employers think so. Even volunteer time is extremely valuable and equates to cost that you would have spent if you had to have hired out the labor.

All that set aside, I'll tell you my thoughts on the trailer.

It looks interesting, but it probably isn't something that I would ever go see. I'm not a fan or horror/slasher. From the looks of the trailer, 9/10ths of the film takes place in a single location, which is a little dirt road. This may not be accurate, but the trailer makes it look that way. Also, I agree with others who have mentioned that some of the cuts are simply to fast. I think that they actually take away from the trailer because they are distracting.

This is a mistake that can easily be made when the editor is too “aware” of the footage. Remember that your audience does not know the story, or where to look when the next cut comes. You have to give the audience time to soak it all up. If you don’t do that then they will just get a bunch of confusing images flashed in front of them and will be pulled out of the “magic” of the film.

Also, drop, “He uses tools to dismember his prey.” What else would he use? Saying he uses tools is very redundant. How about just “He dismembers his prey.”

I have more thoughts, but I’ve droned on long enough.

-JH