How to Make a Documentary Film on the Cheap

Documentaries have been gaining more and more mainstream media attention over the past several years. Perhaps the best example in recent memory is Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth," a documentary based on a slide show presentation that he has personally delivered hundreds if not thousands of times, which became a commercial as well as critical success and arguable provided a major boost to the environmental movement. Not bad for a documentary, right?

A great problem that many aspiring film makers face, however, is how to produce a great documentary without having the resources and contacts along the lines of a former Vice President of the United States. It takes money to make money, it is often said, and many people think the same way about documentaries- it takes money to make one!

Now, there are some basic expenses that you won't be able to get around (like eating, for example), but making a documentary really doesn't have to be a big-budget affair. Let's take a look at some strategies you can use to make your documentary on the cheap.

Equipment is likely to be your number one expense starting out. You don't necessarily have to use the latest Sony model to make a great film, however. You can use "artistic license" to use footage taken with a lower-quality camera and just make that part of your film's effect.

When you really do need the high-tech precision for the kind of film you're looking to make, you don't necessarily have to break the bank. Ebay is awash with used cameras for sale, and they can usually be had at a steep discount (even though they still do everything they did when they came out of the box). If you're working on a short-term project, you can buy your camera on Ebay and resell it the same way, potentially at no loss other than shipping and fees, when the project is over with.

If you're still a student, or even a recent graduate, you should check with your school to see if they might be able to lend you some of the equipment you need for your project. It won't be easy, but it's certainly worth a shot!

You will need some kind of video editing software to put your masterpiece together, and options like Final Cut Pro can set you back a pretty penny. Consider partnering up with someone who can provide the software you need. Other film makers who are just starting out may be happy to help out simply in exchange for the experience they're gaining.

Digital film tapes are cheap and easy to come by, so if you're going digital that shouldn't be a concern. You will have to have someplace to store all of that great footage though, so one item you should go for is an external hard drive. The price comes down all the time, so this doesn't represent the same outlay it used to.

A film doesn't make itself, and you should consider leveraging other people's talents to make the process go more smoothly. You can try trading your skills for help from people with other skills, like taking footage for a friend in exchange for a website for your film or graphic design work, for example.

When it comes time to actually burn the DVDs and send your life's work out to the world, you will be happy to know that it doesn't take an arm and a leg to make a professional-quality product. If you use an online service like www.DiscMakers.com, you will be able to make a small quantity at a low price and avoid risking the big loss that can come with a flop. If your disks sell out quickly, you can easily order more (and you'll have the cash flow to do so!)

In order to cover the basic expenses you can't get around (like living expenses, some equipment, and a short run of disks), you can try a number of things. Film making doesn't have to be a full-time occupation, so it is certainly feasible to hold down a job at the same time. You might also want to consider choosing a topic that has a natural constituency of people or organizations that would be willing to provide funding to see your film produced. If you're making a documentary about a local neighborhood, hop on over to town hall and the local Rotary Club to see if you can scare up some interest. Make sure to have a budget in hand, because if you're looking for financing people will want to know what they're paying for!

These are some of the methods I have used myself, and there are many more options for making your own documentary film on the cheap. A film doesn't have to cost a bundle to be great! Be inspired, follow the dream, and results will surely follow.