Hi. I have a few questions I hope somebody can answer. I want to make a short film on 35mm. I've estimated that it will last around 3 minutes, so I will need film stock for twice that for covering shots, more takes, etc. But I'm fairly new to the realities of doing this. So I would like to know roughly how much 35mm film stock would cost at around 6 minutes, I don't know stock lengths unfortunately (I hope someone can explain it). How much it would cost to hire camera equipment; camera, lighting (all outdoors, so I hope to keep lighting to a minimum) sound, etc, and the use of a dolly and track for one day's shooting. I will also need to an editing suite for one day to cut it. I have it all storyboarded and I hope to shoot it on video first just to get a feel of what I'm trying to achieve.
Any help will be very much appreciated.
Many thanks
2:1 is a very, very extreme shooting ratio. I did a short on 16mm a few years ago and even only doing 1 or 2 takes of each shot we ended up at 6:1... getting below 5:1 is hard.
Frankly I wouldn't even consider shooting a short on 35mm unless you can afford decent lighting, production design etc; in which case you can afford a shooting ratio much higher than 2:1.
There is very little acting in this piece. I know the terrain where I will be shooting very well. I have it all storyboarded and hope to shoot it on video first to iron out any problems that might occur. So without sounding arrogant...I hope to keep to a tight 2:1 shooting ratio.
Would you be able to explain possible costs if I choose to shoot on 16mm?
Cheers
I'll go out on a limb, but shooting on 35mm is in the region of approx. $10,000 per finished minute at a scrape.
I have no idea what the proces are in the U.K. but I can find out for you if you like.
35mm runs at 90ft per minute
400ft. reel: .56/ft - $225
Processing: .26/ft - $104
Telecine: $200 to $300/hr (This is lab time, NOT running time.)
You can do the math.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
My per finished minute figure includes crew for shoot, lab time and post.
Thanks for all the info. I don't need a crew, I have a couple of well trained monkeys aka people who will work for free. How come user 'hethwhell' quotes around $10,000 and user 'certified instigator' quotes under $1,000?
quote:
Originally posted by TheDeerHunter
Thanks for all the info. I don't need a crew, I have a couple of well trained monkeys aka people who will work for free. How come user 'hethwhell' quotes around $10,000 and user 'certified instigator' quotes under $1,000?
My quote is based on a fully paid up crew for 35mm shoot, including gear, lab and post and brought to screen on a per minute basis. Its actually very low budget when you think about it. Has been done and is still being done, but HDV is killing it.
Certs quote was more based around film stock and lab costs.
Im quoting in Dollars, but based in Ireland. Over here its working out at around 7-8 thousand euro per finished minute on 35mm. But not many are using it. My figures come from low budget films/ads shot at Ardmore Studios on 35mm.
What would the cost be shooting on 16mm in comparison? I would be making it in more guerrilla style than completely professional.
Down with the union!
Once again I don't know the UK prices. Here in Los Angeles:
16mm color negative: $200 per 400ft reel
Processing: .15/ft
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
If you want detailed prices you'd probably have to call around and ask. Colour Film Services in Perivale (West London) used to be the company that most low-budget film shoots used for processing a few years ago; of course few shoot on film anymore.
