More fine advice/knowledge/humor from Our Hero Who Doesn’t Know We’re Alive (cuz we’re too darned lazy/ignorant/humorless to even think of this let alone write it ourselves):
by Ken Levine
Lots of people are considering making their own independent movies. Or at least putting together financing. With High-Def cameras relatively cheap and editing that can be done on your MacBook Pro – suddenly feature films are way more affordable. And there’s Kickstarter if you don’t mind competing with the Mamet sisters. This prompted a Friday Question that is worthy of a full post. It’s from Liggie:
On various screenwriting forums, I’ve seen people’s pitches include an estimated budget (say, $4 million). How the heck do they come up with these figures? I figure an average sci-fi script would cost more than a rom-com due to special effects, costumes and the like. But wouldn’t there be a lot of other variables that throw estimates off track?There are a gazillion variables. Your first step is to enlist someone to draft a budget who knows what the hell he’s doing. In other words, someone who’s done it before. If he’s any good (and that’s always a big IF) he’ll know what’s needed, what’s not needed, and where to get/rent/borrow/steal what you need. These are the line producers. Good ones know tricks, how to cut corners, when you can shoot without a permit and not get arrested.
by Drake Baer
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