Charles Band of Full Movie does a lot of shooting in Eastern Europe. I don't know about the budgets but he seems to be the modern Roger Corman. He has a blog so you might try shooting him an email and asking the question.

http://www.charlesband.com/blog

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Thanks RJ.I see so many good projects fall by the wayside because either they can't get adequate funding or there are too many catches to the funding.We have people with money but they usually come with a price,someone might want to back a film,but they want their 250 lb daughter to play the sex queen lead.

Marty Hamrick

Photojournalist/cinematographer

WJXT TV
Jacksonville,Fl

quote:

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Originally posted by jaxshooter
Anyone have a clue on how these things are financed?

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I can't tell if you're asking about the details of production financing or if you are stunned that movies this bad get financing at all.

If it's the former - these movies get financed the way all movies get financed. A script is written, a budget is drawn up and investors are offered shares. Or a company puts up the money based on the previous relationship with the writer, producer, director or actor.

In the case of Alien Abduction the budget was $500,000 and the producer, David Latt, had produced several films with Asylum.

In the case of The Black Gate, it was made for under $100,000 by several guys who put up their own money. Most of them are effects guys who write, produce and direct low budget movies from time to time. William Mesa, the director, is the VP of Introvision.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks Instigator,that answered my questions.

Marty Hamrick

Photojournalist/cinematographer

WJXT TV
Jacksonville,Fl

What a great question. And well answered by certified instigator. Further to your answer, is it possible to get funding based on a pitch and treatment rather than a script?

We are currently working on a film and find that as long as there is good structure there are usually better acting if our actors can improvise rather than working direcly from a script.

quote:

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Originally posted by Roy

Further to your answer, is it possible to get funding based on a pitch and treatment rather than a script?

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Sure. But it's MUCH more difficult. Unless...

If you have a solid track record of finishing movies on budget and on time that go on to earn a profit, very often the distributor that released your last movies will give you an advance.

But if you're asking about the first movie... It's possible but very unlikely. People who finance movies have thousands of projects to choose from. If you are competing for money with several other filmmakers who have a complete script and a full business, shooting and marketing plan, you are less likely to get the finding.

quote:

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We are currently working on a film and find that as long as there is good structure there are usually better acting if our actors can improvise rather than working direcly from a script.

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My suggestion is to make this improvised film on your own. Show that not only can you finish it, but that it's good enough to either place in several festivals or (better yet) get distribution and make money.

Then you can look for funding form other people.

Or, find someone with money to burn that believes in you and is more interested in the "art" than in the profit.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Getting some one to believe in us and having money to burn - inst that the holy grail?????

Were happy to complete our First 20 minute short film (at our cost and some assistance from friends) We envisage that the film will be complete by the end of May.

I understand that the film need to be distributed, however, as you seem to be a VERY well informed person, do you have any contacts or is there a website with "reputable" distributors listed.

My email address is roy?tmofilms.com should you not with to post contact details.

Once again many thanks for your assistance your knowledge is invaluable

I don't know any distributors of short films. I know people often "distribute" their shorts on line and I keep hearing that PodCasts of short films is the wave of the future, but I haven't seen revenue being generated. Exposure - sure, but no one seems to be willing to pay to see short films.

I don't. And I suspect even you - a maker of short films - don't often pay to watch the work of others. There just doesn't seem to be a way to make money on a short.

I hope you will share your film with us when you finish it in May.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

We will be sharing the first of of our short films over the internet - free, with an option to purchase the DVD. But there are plans to complete a few feture films in the future.

The idea is to release a few shorts, then go for the big one. hopefully make some money from the feture film as I (Like you) have seen so many tackey, crappy, rubbish films in Blockbusters and on the shelves of Walmart, and as jaxshooter stated earlier in this post, people must be making money otherwise they wouldn't do it.

Kung Phooey was an indie project, and was financed with very little money. It is one of my favorite movies. They made it professional by using simple tricks everyone can do like using a beach for a desert and only filming feet or using a basement for a warehouse.Go rent it (I believe it's a Blockbuster exclusive) And watch the behind the scenes to see how indie filmmakers do so much with so little. They don't need to be financed.

DeathToll is in shooting. Current budget- 100$, yeah, It's that sad.