No-Budget Filmmaking

Film school and whether or not to go is a big topic of debate online amongst filmmakers.  They are asked it all the time, is going to film school worth it?! In response, Alex and Trevor give a resounding......maybe! The duo discusses the pros and cons of spending a couple years learning the ins and outs of filmmaking. Is it better to just jump on set and learn by trial by fire? Or should you take the time, and money, to study the basics from industry professionals?   In this episode, we discuss: The Pros of Film School The Cons of Film School Film School Alternatives   What's Cool? Sony Animal EYE AF Panasonic S1 and SR1 Full Frame Cameras Leica and Sigma L-Mount Lenses Sony FS5 II High ISO Tests Core SWX Hypercore XL Batteries SLR Magic Anamorphot Follow Focus Solution   Talk to us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cinemasummit Instagram: https://instagram.com/cinemasummit YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cinemasummit Twitter: http://twitter.com/cinema_summit   Want to learn more about film school and online courses? Visit cinemasummit.com for more podcasts, videos, and articles!

What is an average movie budget for a "no-budget" film? A movie shot on an iPhone still had a budget of over $100,000?!?! Filmmakers thinking they are going to make a film super cheap, or free even, need to beware of underlying costs. Alex and Trevor dive into all the ways shooting a no-budget film could cost you. From the food to the art department, to the post-production expenses, "no-budget" doesn't mean there will be no costs. In this episode, we discuss the costs associated with: Equipment Location Craft Services and Meals Actors and Crew Wardrobe and Props Post-Production Distribution Plus, spending time and favors to finish your project   What's Cool? GoPro Hero 7 Black Teradek RT ACI SmallHD Focus OLED Diety Wireless Mic System Cinema Grade Arri Stellar   Talk to us! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cinemasummit Instagram: https://instagram.com/cinemasummit YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cinemasummit Twitter: http://twitter.com/cinema_summit   Want to learn more about average movie budgets and how to make your films? Visit cinemasummit.com for more podcasts, videos, and articles!    

You love making films, shooting projects, editing away in your parent's basement, but how do you go about making it a sustaining career! Alex and Trevor offer friendly advice on how you can turn your passion in to dolla dolla bills y'all! What may start out as working on projects for free can turn into a career where you go to work every day loving what you do.

People keep asking Alex and Trevor all the time... at gas stations, during baseball games, in parks, side-by-side at the urinal... (hahaha jay kay jay kay) what they mean when they say "No-Budget Filmmaking". Then they ask why anyone would listen to them talk for an hour. They figured it was high time they answered the first question (the second answer is no one). Alex and Trevor discuss what they love about no-budget filmmaking, what it means to be a no-budget filmmaker, and why EVERY filmmaker should join the no-budget filmmaking community.

Alex gives an update on a current project in the works and teases the full episode that will be coming out later today. Listen in on what is to come, and stay tuned for episode 21!

People rarely, if ever, starting thinking of distribution early, just thinking once their film is done they just need to hand it off to a sale agent, but they couldn't be more wrong! Alex and Trevor walk you through the biggest mistakes filmmakers make about distribution, including not planning for it early in the pre-production phase and not setting enough money aside to finally "finish" the film.

Trevor and Alex join you from the middle of their road trip to Las Vegas to talk about where the future of no-budget filmmaking lies. They discuss trends and give predictions for where we all (the no-budget filmmakers) fall into the mix of the industry in this ever-changing climate. Will new players like Netflix and Amazon pave the way for more independent cinema, or will the giants regain their monopoly and push aside everyone who isn't making tentpole comic book movies? Let's talk about it, in this episode of the No-Budget Filmmaking Podcast. Show Notes can be found at: http://nobudgetfilmmaking.com/episode19

Is your script flat, uneventful, unmotivated, or just flat out boring? Can the same be said about the composition and the look of your shots? Well Alex and Trevor have (rarely) all the answers! They give advice on how to add depth to your script by building out your characters and plot, but adding subplot and dilemma. But that's not all! They also discuss how to make your shots more interesting and cinematic no matter what equipment you have at your disposal.

Actors seemingly get the short end of the stick, having to rely on other people in the industry to get their careers started. But no more! Now it is even easier for actors to take control and get their name out there. Alex and Trevor discuss how actors should go about creating their own projects, who they should team up with, and what they can expect.

We promised and now we deliver! Filmmaker Zef Cota stops by the Cinema Summit offices to talk about his debut feature, "The Trouble". What went wrong, what went right, and what did he learn from his first foray into directing a feature-length film? For more information about Zef and his film, check out: http://troublefilm.com/

Our second guest! Alex and Trevor talk with Jason Brubaker, Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Distribber and the Founder of Filmmaking Stuff. They dive into the essentials of distributing your film and getting the most eyes to see it! Plus, at what point in your project should you start devising a distribution plan.   To learn more about Jason Brubaker and his strategies for distribution, visit:  http://www.filmmakingstuff.com.

Every day there seems to be some hot new app out there and it is no different in the film industry. Alex and Trevor dive into software and apps that can help your project run smoother. From pre-production to post-production, there is a product out there that you may not have heard of that could be vital to your project.

Even though you may be a creative, you must remember, for the most part, the film industry is a business. Because of that, you need a business plan if you want to raise capital for your next project. Alex and Trevor are alllll business on this episode, breaking down what goes into a business plan and when you should start on yours. Plus, Alex got married!

If you ask 1,000 people what their journey in the film industry was like, you'll probably get 1,000 completely different answers. It's a strange industry with no set path to success. In this episode, Alex and Trevor chat with Logan Burdick, a filmmaker who has climbed through the ranks of the digital series and new media worlds and has come back around to the feature film world with his newly penned movie "Rhino" just wrapping up post-production. He gives us some insights into how he got his foot in the digital space and how he managed to make that transition into feature films.

It all starts with the story and never is that truer than when making a no-budget film. Alex and Trevor take you through their process of writing a screenplay, give advice on how to write for what you have, and talk about how you should just power through your first draft. Plus, if you aren't the writing type, where can you find a screenplay that could be your next project?