Can You Make a Great Film with a Small Budget?

As filmmakers, we know one of the trickiest aspects of our profession is finding the funding to make our first film. Or any film for that matter.

It’s easy to get discouraged and to forget what the core of our craft really is: Storytelling.

Have you ever finished a film and been left with it on your mind for days? Mind-blown that you didn’t see the plot twist coming? Or it changed your whole perspective on life?

My guess is that if that is the case, at some point you probably told someone else about it. Keen to discuss it and get these racing thoughts off your chest and see if they’re thinking the same. And as filmmakers, that’s what we should be aiming to do.

Provoke conversation,

opinion

and thought.

Because when that happens, people remember your film, they recommend it, they talk about it, and in some cases are left really impacted, which let’s face it, is just awesome.

We should remember that when we watch a brilliant film, we don’t just think about how many stunt scenes there are, how extravagant the costume design is, or how big the talent names. Some of the best films ever made are great because they have a simple, compelling and effective story.

And guess what? That costs nothing!

Here are some examples of storytelling masterpieces and how we can apply some of their techniques to low budget films.

Brick (2005) Directed by: Rian Johnson

A teenage loner pushes his way into the underworld of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend. This film is uses the neo-noir genre conventions in a unique way to keep the plot gripping.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rian Johnson behind the scenes on Brick. Credit IMDB

This is a great example of how you can use innovative cinematography to make a film enticing and stylised, - characters shot at a very low angle, extravagant dolly zooms (if you can afford a dolly), unusual framing. The clever editing of Brick helps with the compelling narrative by really keeping you on your toes. And as for locations, focussing on a high-school and Lynchian suburbia, it uses remarkably simple locations and set design. For example you will notice the looming presence of rubbish bags which adds an uncanny effect to it’s narrative. I’ve heard that rubbish bag props aren’t too expensive to source!

Grizzly Man (2005) Directed by: Werner Herzog

Grizzly Man poster Directed by Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog’s documentary film about the “Grizzly Man” Timothy Treadwell, and what the thirteen summers in a National Park in Alaska were like in one man’s attempt to protect the grizzly bears. This film is full of unique images and a look into the spirit of a man who sacrificed himself for nature. It tells the story of the character entirely through archive footage that Timothy shot himself. Editing of course is one of the most important aspects of this film, given that it was made from more than 85 hours of “random” footage. We’re not suggesting that you spend the next thirteen years of your life in the wild to make an award-winning low budget film, but this masterpiece documentary, narrated by Werner Herzog’s stunning voice, is a superb example of how to apply exceptional storytelling skills in the editing room to make a beautiful poignant film.

Kill List (2011) Ben Wheatley

“Kill List” Poster, Directed by Ben Wheatley

Nearly a year after a botched job, a hitman takes a new assignment with the promise of a big payoff for three killings. What starts off as an easy task soon unravels, sending the killer into the heart of darkness. The narrative of this film is very mysterious, gripping to the extent where you can’t take your eyes off the screen or pause for a toilet break. Hidden in this film’s plot is a very impactful metaphor for domestic violence. The use of low light and night-time shooting is essential for the look and the terrifying theme and works well to add to the suspense, as this movie is undeniably scary. A well thought-out story with beats in all the right places. This is storytelling at it’s finest.

Good Time (2017) Benny and Josh Safdie

“Good Time” Poster, Directed by the Safdie Brothers

When a bank robbery gone wrong lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City’s underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail. This film is the definition of what happens to your body when you have anxiety. It’s filmic look, it’s bright colours, it’s gruesome images and incredible soundtrack by Oneothrix Point Never accomplishes something out of the ordinary: it makes the audience get behind a character that has no redeeming qualities and doesn’t really have an arc.

Stills of Robert Pattinson in “Good Time”

The writing in this film is one of the most important aspects. This film reminds us that it’s essential to make your protagonist connect with the audience in some way, make their motivation clear so that the viewer is compelled to root for them in their endeavours.

So although finance and budgets have to be considered to realise a production, you can vastly improve your low budget film, not by spending a week trying to secure that extra bit of money or that other piece of fancy grip, but by really crafting the story and carefully considering how you are going to engage with your audience every step of the way.

Written by Abril Ostiglia, Edited by Arabella Burfitt-Dons