Zero Budget Movies: From Script to Screen

I live about twenty minutes from Hollywood, which means I can walk into any Starbucks (we have about 200,000 of them) and spot at least a dozen wanna-be screenwriters typing away on their laptops.

Everyone wants to be a screenwriter. And why not? It's nice work if you can get it, as the old song goes. Sell one successful script and you're well on your way to becoming rich and famous (for about 15 minutes until the executives move onto the next flavor of the month). Sadly, unless you're someone's nephew, it's nearly impossible to break into the movie business by writing spec scripts. The WGA registers about 200 screenplays a day. That's about 73,000 a year. And how many of those first time scripts are purchased and produced? Maybe twenty, and that's being optimistic.

Have I crushed your dreams yet?

Well, don't fear. There's a backdoor into Hollywood, one that's becoming more and more popular. Now, to break into the business, screenwriter shouldn't simply writer their movie and wait for someone to pluck it out of obscurity. More and more screenwriters are turning into producer/directors and making it themselves. So, stop waiting for some big shot producer to discover you. Follow these steps and discover yourself!

Step #1) Think Zero Budget
Writing allows the artist to imagine limitless possibilities, whether its envisioning a dinosaur infested island or an epic retelling of the Battle of Gettysburg. However, if you want to turn a script into a film, you need to think small. Last year, I was hiking through Vasquez County Park, a beautifully rocky patch of land north of Los Angeles. I thought to myself, "Wow, no wonder so many film crews use this place. It's gorgeous." Then, as I continued to walk across the majestic terrain, I began to envision a story. By the end of the day, I had picked out several locations for my story, and by the end of the weekend, I knew that I was going to write my own script and film it myself. Why was I so suddenly bold? Because I had invented a character driven plot that could be filmed entirely on location, and all during the day. That idea became my first motion picture, an amusing little tale called "Cowboys and Idiots." Because I "thought small" my crew and I were able to shoot the film in less than 12 days, and we spent less than $1000 dollars.

Shameless plug: If you'd like to learn more about the movie, visiting my website: www.wadebradford.com

Writers of zero-budget movies should create stories that focus on character. Also, they should craft narratives that require very little visual effects, make-up, sets, and anything else that will be expensive. You may be thinking, "If you take all of those things away, what's left?" Brilliant acting, hysterical moments, dramatic tension, mind blowing plot twists. All of those vital elements can be incredibly inexpensive, but it's up to you the writer to bring them to life.

Step #2) Plan, Plan, Plan
Hopefully you've written an easy-to-shoot script. Next, you should try to determine how many shooting days you'll need. If you can, plan for less than 14 days. This is very tight, but the more shooting days a production has, the chances of your unpaid crew flaking out will definitely increase.

Also, the more daytime/outdoor scenes you can create, the more time and money you will save on lighting and other equipment. Also, there won't be a need to build and design interior sets. Try to choose locations where authority figures such as policemen or forest rangers won't be pestering you for costly film permits.

Step #3) Shanghai Your Crew
So, you have a fantastic zero-budget script. now what? It's time to assemble your cast and crew. At first this might seem difficult, but hobnob around any college campus with a decent Film/Video Department and you'll encounter a cornucopia of talented young people who will serve as your camera operators, sound mixers, and editors. Many of them are so enthusiastic they'll work for a few slices of pizza each day. Take advantage of their idealism and put together a dream crew that will help transfer your story to the silver screen.

Step #4) Think Digitally
Put what little budget you have into a high end digital camera. If you cannot afford to purchase or rent one, consult your local college or rich friends. If all else fails, Costco and Circuit City have excellent refund policies. The writer/director of "My Date with Drew," used his credit card to buy a camera, and then returned it after filming. Unscrupulous perhaps, but clever!

Then, you'll want to invest (or pirate, depending on how immoral you are) some editing software. There are many choices out there; Final Cut Pro is one of the more popular ones. I recommend a lesser known program called Vegas. It's very user friendly, especially for beginners. Once you have the software and begin filming, start editing; don't wait until you're wrapped. You'll want to see how scenes cut together, and get used to the editing program, as soon as possible.

Step #5) Let the Internet be your Agent
So, you've finished filming. Congratulations. Now, there's still a lot of editing, ADR work, and other details ahead of you. While you are putting the final touches of your film together, you may want to edit a trailer. Make sure it is captivating-- you want this to be your film's calling card. You can post your movie preview on websites such as youtube or addictingclips.com, and many other sites that will help provide your film some much needed buzz.

But the most indispensable tool for today's independent filmmaker is a website called: withoutabox.com. this invaluable resource lets you search through their extensive database to find the ideal film festival. Most low-budget films try but fail to be accepted at Sundance. However, withoutabox has thousands of other festivals to choose from. They also send you emails notifying you of new ones. Best of all, you can submit your application electronically through their site.

So, you Starbuck-drinking, aspiring screenwriter. Stop mumbling into your cafe Mocha about how Hollywood doesn't understand you. Make a script that revolves around characters and conflict, not warships and werewolves. Write that amazing story that can be made with a minimal budget; then bring your script to life.