For me, indie films represent all that is good about filmmaking and all that is good about people. They are the home for those who tell stories and take risks, while being unashamed in their approach and allowing themselves to care about their work beyond its monetary value.
Most films lose money. Indeed, 80% do. The fundamental reason for this phenomenon is simple. For example, there is a wild oversupply of film productions—approximately 600 to 700 per year—while only 200 or so obtain even a decent release, permitting any return at all, much less a profit.
Most indie films fall into the low-budget category, between $700,000 and $2.5 million. The daily rate for low-budget actors is $630 while weekly SAG minimum pay is $2,130. If the director uses non-union actors as well, they receive the same rates.
Streaming video is a new source of revenue for Hollywood movies. VOD revenues tend to dry up after a few years, but movie studios can still make money from older films by licensing them to Netflix or Amazon Prime.
An actors fee is part of the films budget. They are paid during the production with money that the producers need to raise from investors before shooting. If an actor is union, then they are paid through the union based off of SAG rates. There are different agreements based on the budget of the film.
Netflix pays licensing fees to stream movies that already premiered elsewhere. That's why Netflix started producing original content. Netflix has shaken up the movie industry because of its pay structure. They pay producers the full cost of production.
For a film which cost between $35 and $75 million to make, the P&A budget will most likely be at least half the production budget. And the numbers only go up with bigger films. "If the studio spends a lot on the budget, they're going to want to protect that investment by advertising it heavily," says Contrino.
One of the most successful low-budget films was 1999's The Blair Witch Project. It had a budget of around $60,000 but grossed almost $249 million worldwide.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
The general consensus is that a feature made with less than a $2 million budget is considered a low budget movie. However, with the average cost of a film running between $70-$90 million, that number may be somewhat flexible. Take a look at some low budget films that were a commercial success.
The Average Cost to Produce a Feature FilmMany film budgets come in a bit lower, ranging from $100 – $150 million. And The Hollywood Reporter notes that the average cost of a feature film is even lower, spanning between $70 and $90 million.
Smaller productions with fewer cast and locations can be shot entirely within a few weeks. A lot of indie films are shot within one city, or even within a single building. That also typically means fewer extras and production accommodations that need to be made. Because of this shooting can be finished very quickly.
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- Choose One Location. If you barely have a budget, don't try to shoot in a million places, especially if you're working with multiple actors.
- Schedule by Location or Actors.
- Thrift Shops or Actors' Closets.
- Take Care of Cast & Crew.
Spike Lee's 6 Tips for Budgeting an Indie Film
- Set realistic expectations.
- Study films with similar budgets.
- Consider asking cast and crew to work on deferred payments.
- Provide meals and craft services.
- Have weather-resistant alternate locations available.
- Embrace crowdfunding.
Check out our personal loan calculator.
- Find Investors. One way to fund your independent film is to find people who are willing to invest in your project.
- Crowdfunding. Many independent filmmakers turn to crowdfunding when they need help financing their projects.
- Look for Grants.
- Product Placement.
- Get a Loan.
It is generally terrible as a career. For example, most music vid film makers I know have jobs that pay the bills while they are looking for their next project because they just don't earn enough money. To be good, you have to be extraordinarily talented to make it because it is such a crowded and difficult profession.
Short films, whether they are being shared online or through film festivals, are most profitable as a calling card that will get you more work. Look at it as a resume, but for your film career. Every short film you write, direct, produce, and -most importantly – share will lead to more work.
The studios get paid a licensing fee from Netflix to license a particular movie (or a group of movies), to be streamed an unlimited amount of times for a specified period of time (like for a year, or 18 months, etc,). This is why some movies and shows are getting pulled from Netflix each month.
Degrees are essentially meaningless to the film industry. Many film producers and directors, in fact, find success in this business without ever receiving formal training. Having a degree will not make you any more viable as a job candidate than someone who doesn't have one.
Becoming a movie director is not hard at all. You just write a story, take a camera and start filming. This is all easy. Becoming a great movie director is a bit more difficult.
National AverageWhile ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $122,500 and as low as $18,000, the majority of Freelance Filmmaker salaries currently range between $39,500 (25th percentile) to $69,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $98,500 annually across the United States.
Looking to fund new gear or future movie projects?This is a list of legitimate ways you can make money as a videographer and filmmaker!
- Weddings.
- Music Videos.
- Live Events.
- High School Sports and Highlight Reels.
- Tutorials and Monetization.
- Crowdfunding.
- Real Estate.
- Freelance News Reporting.
Movie budgets can average around $100 million for a big budget film, meaning a lot of tickets have to be sold to break even. Major costs include paying cast and all staff their salaries, CGI and special effects, and marketing.
Cinemas derive their income from several sources, the most important being: Ticket sales (and membership income if applicable) Food, drink and merchandising sales. Advertising revenue (screen and brochure)
How to Become a Director: Learning from Seasoned Filmmakers
- Learn from the best.
- Crew on film sets.
- Write a short film.
- Direct a short film.
- Create a director's reel.
- Submit to film festivals.
- Attend film school (maybe)
5 Skills Every Filmmaker Needs
- Technological Expertise – or at the very least, a very solid working understanding of the latest filming technology and software. One of the ways you can ensure you're always wanted is to make yourself invaluable.
- Flexible Creativity.
- Written and Visual Storytelling.
- Decisive and Problem-Solving Leadership.
- Communication.
A Guide to becoming a full time filmmaker
- Step 1 – Know What job you want to pursue right now.
- Step 2 – Work Experience – What skills do you Already have.
- Step 3 – Extensive Research into your job role.
- Step 4 - Understand What is stopping you.
- Step 5 – Create simple Goals.
“Can I
make a living with
documentary filmmaking?”
My Top 10 Tips For Making A Living With Documentary Filmmaking
- Make the commitment.
- Become a great fundraiser (or hire one)
- Learn DIY Distribution.
- Monetize Old Projects.
- Pay Yourself.
- Work with Established Production Companies.
- Learn production skills.
- Be Flexible.
Suffice it to say, it's hard to get noticed as a serious independent filmmaker.
- Stop Thinking Like An Artist. You need to stop thinking like an artist.
- Make Remarkable Movies. Finding your audience starts with engagement.
- Reward Early Adopters.
- Pay The Price.
- Gain New Skills.
