Low Budget Film Making

Low budget film making is images or scenes shot with very little or no funding from major film companies or private investors. Numerous independent films are made from a low budget, many young or first time filmmakers shoot low budget films in order to prove their talent whilst gaining experience at the time before doing bigger productions. Many low budget films which do not gain some sort of attention are never released in theatres and are often sent straight to retail due to its lack of marketability, look, story or premise. In the modern day we live in, filmmakers rely on film festivals for pre promotion. They use this to gain acclaim and attention for them films, which often leads them to a gaining a limited release in theatres. Some low budgets film gain a cult following this often leading them to a wide release. A financial figure has not been determined which would define low budget productions. The term "low budget" is relative to a certain country and varies upon genre. For example, a comedy film made for £20 million would be considered as a modest budget whereas in comparison to an action film made for the same amount of money would be considered as a low budget film due to all the special effects, props, costumes etc needed to create a successful action film. The entertainment value and success of low budget films depend entirely on the genre, premise, story and finance of the film in addition to the actors featuring in the film and their performances. A low budget sci-fi thriller film may perform and receive better at the box office due to the fact the film requires less visual effects, is story driven and is cheaper to make overall. In contrast to a low budget action thriller film may not perform as well due to these films are more action driven and are therefore more expensive to create, something a film with a low budget may not be able to provide to a good quality. In many cases, low budget filmmakers often create story driven or psychological films in all genres. Low budget films can either be professional productions or amateur and are either shot using professional or consumer equipment.

For example, my friend Daniella Rice is starting off as a producer/filmmaker making low budget films working with the BFI. She has recently produced a film called "Below" which was nominated for "Best Producers" at Underwire Festival. This is a prime example of a young producer/filmmaker trying her best to make it in the film industry, gaining experience every day.

Digital technology has made it possible for films to be shot and edited including sensational special effects for low budgets. An entire feature length films can be made by the cost of a catering budget in a traditionally funded and produced industry movie. "The Blair Witch Project" and "Paranormal Activity" are prime examples demonstrating how the internet could be used to market a film using viral marketing techniques. Orin Pelli's "Paranormal Activity" used a viral campaign, this time being financed by Paramount, turning a small "no budget" film into a runaway box office success. 

Independent filmmakers can make films more cost effectively in comparison to the big film companies. Secondly, because the budgets are relatively modest, independent filmmakers can afford to make a movie that can potentially fail (unlike the big film companies.) Finally, in the modern day movie work, everyone wants to be a part of it - the studios, the websites, traditional TV, gamers and app builders, the big banks, the big brands and hedge funds want it; literally everyone. The studios and the distributors, websites and television broadcasters all have the hardware to play the films. What they are lacking is the software being the films and if filmmakers and able to create compelling content it is known to be a fact they will be successful and will earn money without a doubt.