INDIE FILMMAKING LECTURE

MAKING AN
INDEPENDENT FILM
Christian Earl Cruz
Jecel Andrea Señoron
Indie Films
Arts and Entertainment

Independent films—or “indie films”—are

controlled more by the creator in terms of content,
voice, and style. With a lack of big budget and
fewer crew members at their disposal, indie
filmmakers can be more hands-on with their film
productions, and have greater freedom to tell the
story they want to tell.
What Is an Indie Film?

An indie film is any feature-length or short film that is

made without a major studio or big production
company attached. Indie filmmaking is often low-
budget, which in the film industry can mean anywhere
from a few thousand dollars (“micro-budget”) to a few
million.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING AN
INDIE FILM?

THE PRODUCTION
THE SCRIPT BUDGET YOUR CAST

How much money will

Whether you’re trying to Studios often rely on big
your film need to get
find a feature film to name actors to market
made? How much do you
produce independently or their films to audiences,
personally have to
writing the story yourself, but big name actors cost
contribute? How much
it all starts with the script. money.
will you need to raise?
How to make an Indie Movie?

FIND YOUR SCRIPT.

All films, regardless of the budget, start with a script.
Make sure the concept can fit within the confines of a
low-budget production. For instance, a science fiction
film that requires many effects, backgrounds, and intense
makeup will likely not be an ideal first choice for an
independent film. If you yourself are the screenwriter,
carefully consider your creative choices, like genre,
number of characters, and setting. Making a story more
cost effective for yourself will benefit you in the long
run.
How to make an Indie Movie?

SORT YOUR BUDGET.

The budget will affect your cast and crew, equipment,
locations, permits, and post-production. Even if you’re
the writer, director, and lead actor of your production,
you’ll still need to hire a handful of somewhat
experienced people (ideally those who have worked with
your budget range before) to help collaborate with you
on your filmmaking journey. Knowing how much you’ll
need to spend on each department will make it easier to
track production finances, and keep you from going over
your limited budget.
How to make an Indie Movie?

HIRE YOUR CREW

Figure out the most crucial roles of your production and
fill them first. For example, if you’re the one directing—
especially if it’s your first time—you should be looking
to hire an experienced cinematographer (also known as
the director of photography, or “DP”). Having a DP who
understands your vision and can take charge of the
camera, lighting, and various other technical aspects of
your shoot can not only help increase the production
value (how the quality of the film looks), but save time
so you can focus on your other responsibilities.
How to make an Indie Movie?

GET YOUR CAST

here are many different types of low-budget agreements
for SAG eligible actors, but those costs can add
up.According to the SAG-AFTRA low-budget criteria,
the current day rate for an actor is $125. That amount
may not seem like a lot, but if your shoot takes eight
days, that’s already $1,000—and, you’ll still need
enough money in your cast budget to pay for any other
actors you’ll need (and contingency funds in case you go
overtime). This is where searching venues for performers
can come in handy.
How to make an Indie Movie?

PREP YOUR SHOOT DAYS

Make a production bible that includes your shot list,
scene layouts, character notes, schedule, and any other
necessary information you’ll need while shooting, as
well as a contingency plan. All productions experience
setbacks, like losing a location or inclement weather
affecting an exterior scene. If there are weather
conditions written into a scene, plan to use natural
elements to your advantage whenever possible.
How to make an Indie Movie?

MIND THE POST-PRODUCTION

Editors can turn a good film into a great film. It doesn’t
matter if you’ve shot perfect scenes—without an editor
to put them together, they’re useless. Unless you already
have experience using editing software, it is advised that
you set aside money to pay a professional for this crucial
stage. Sound design is also critical. Bad sound mixing
can make a movie feel amateurish, but good sound
design can completely elevate a production, and make it
feel more professional. Post-production is where your
vision finally comes together to create a polished final
product.
How to make an Indie Movie?

SUBMIT TO FILM FESTIVALS

Once you’ve shot and edited your film (and screened it
to peers for feedback), it’s time to show it to the world.
Indie film festivals like Sundance or SXSW are some of
the bigger festivals out there, but will require money to
travel to unless you already live in the area. However,
festivals can help secure your project a film distributor,
which means that you’ll finally have an audience for the
independent film you’ve made.