How to Remake a Film

Film remakes are released frequently in Hollywood but rarely seen among the independent filmmaking community. There are many circumstances where a film will gain better placement in the consumer market if it is remade. Here are five ways to remake a film using low, medium and large budgets.

Use a Different Cast
Hire a new set of cast members to remake a film using better talent. This can be useful for filmmakers who are turning short films into feature length movies. It can also benefit film producers who have encountered legal rights issues with actors who worked on the first version. If the performance from your first set of cast members were poor, this may be an opportunity to remake a film. Hire more experienced actors to improve a film that was made using amateur talent.

Update the Script to Include Modern Dialogue and Actions
An entirely new cast and script may be the right tools to remake a film. This is especially relevant when trying to liven up old movies that may not appeal to a younger generation. Change the script to include modern circumstances and dialogue while keeping the main premise in tact. There are basic jargon, folk tales, commercial products and even names that some generations stop using after a few years. Update these elements in the script to remake a film that new audiences can relate to.

Add New Scenes
Some films are useless because they end with a lot of unanswered questions or unorganized storylines. Extend a previously produced film to include fresh scenes that will help to ease confusion among audiences. Doing so will make the running time longer but can improve the perception of a film. The addition of new scenes is one way to remake a film without spending extra money to start over. This may not call warrant re-release in movie theaters but can generate a larger audience on DVD.

Replace Unpopular or Unnecessary Scenes
For every film that is confusing or unfinished, there are likely two additional movies that run too long. This is due to unnecessary scenes that make the story drag on longer than it should. Films with these elements can bore audiences and cause them to welcome any ending. One way producers can remake a film is by removing any irrelevant scenes to keep the interest of their audience members. This can also be done in combination with other options listed here when choosing to remake a film.

Remove Explicit Content
Short and feature films with explicit content may do well in theaters but have limitations in ancillary markets. There are many TV, VOD and even Home Video distributors who will not purchase or license a film that includes these elements. If the production was made correctly, it is easy to remake a film by removing foul language, nudity, adult situations and any other content that would not be suitable for public television stations. If you cannot play it on a Nickelodeon, PBS or Disney channel, then consider making a version for general audiences. Doing so will open up more opportunities to gain exposure and revenue for a film.