Having an independent film burst into the mainstream is a common goal for many, and millions of people toil endlessly with the hopes of making this dream come true.Â
Despite this, most people don’t have the faintest idea of what to do when it comes to actually getting their independent film made, and as a consequence of this, thousands of spectacular films are thrown down the drain every day.
Well, this simply doesn’t have to be the case. When equipped with the right knowledge and know-how, anyone can take the necessary steps towards getting their independent film made, and this is exactly what we are going to be taking a look at in this article. Let’s jump straight into it and talk about how you can get your independent film made.
Bringing your idea to life: Turning paper into a picture
If you have already gone through the tedious process of learning how to make an independent movie, you are likely going to want to get your masterpiece out to the public as soon as possible. Well, this can be a little difficult.Â
We have good news and bad news. The good news is that it is entirely possible for anyone to get their project out to the masses if they are dedicated enough. The bad; the chances of you getting someone else in the industry to help you out are abysmal.
It can be incredibly difficult to persuade a producer to take on your project and bring it to life, and unless you already have connections in the industry or have the capital to hire your own team of professionals, the chances of you being able to get help are slim to none.Â
Something that is much more realistic is simply that of you producing your film yourself. With your project being an independent film, people are not going to expect million-dollar cameras and professional crews, and this gives you the freedom to take on this project yourself and bring your ideas to fruition.Â
Sure, it’s not going to be easy. However, you may just come to find that producing your film yourself can be incredibly rewarding, and it may be the only option you have when it comes to getting your project made.
You could even look into getting some royalty-free footage to fill in the blanks of any scenes that are too demanding – with the right amount of determination, anything is possible.Â
How to create the ideal brief
Creating the ideal brief is the bread and butter of getting your film made. Without having a concise, easy-to-understand brief, you are just not going to be able to accurately showcase your ideas to the fullest extent, and this can be absolutely detrimental to even the most incredible of films.Â
The main tip you need to know when creating a brief is simply not to overly-complicate things. Most amateur filmmakers try to write the next Odyssey as their brief, but as you would expect, such a complicated/detailed story does not lend itself well to film.Â
Putting the exact ideas that you have in your head on paper is not likely going to give you the results you want, and unless you want to have a nightmare of a production process, this is going to be something you want to avoid at all costs.
What not to forget
Similar to our previous point about creating the perfect brief, the main thing we truly want to write home about in this article is simplicity. As an amateur film creator, you truly need to make sure everything is as streamlined as possible, and this may even mean bringing things back a level from what you first imagined.
Whilst this may be somewhat disappointing, it is going to allow you to come out with a much better end product, and you are likely going to find that viewers will come to enjoy a simple yet engaging story much more than a convoluted masterpiece.
Budget estimations
The average cost to actually get an independent film made is roughly two million dollars. Of course, this is just on average, and you are completely free to spend as much/as little as you would like on this endeavour.
Nevertheless; creating a high-quality independent movie is no small task, and if you are looking to blow people away with your vision, you can expect to spend a small fortune just to get your foot in the door.
So, do you think you now have all the tools at your disposal to face the film industry head-on and make your mark on the world? We sure hope so. While this venture is not going to be easy, it is certainly possible for anyone, and you would be surprised at just how rewarding this entire journey can be once things start to fall into place. Good luck.
