Comments on: Why a $500 CAD budget is bull

By: Verdi

Verdi — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:31:19 +0000

This is exactly the case I was making when Rocketboom supposedly cost $20 an episode. People thought I was an ass for pointing out that there are other costs that aren’t being counted. It’s also the same reason why there is no such thing as the $99 music video either.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:27:07 +0000

Well said Casey.

The craft of budgeting should be learned from the start. Only with a budget will you know what you’re worth!

By: John (Fee501st )

John (Fee501st ) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:06:06 +0000

@Casey Yea, they took advantage of us gamers! They knew if it was Half-Life related, it would promote itself!

By: Bill Streeter

Bill Streeter — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:57:52 +0000

Every few years some low budget movie comes out and makes a big deal of how CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP they made the film. Most of the time it’s at least a little bullshit–as in this case as you point out above. I sort of the opposite category of film that brag about how expensive they were to make. But really all the audience really cares about is, is it any good? It really doesn’t matter how cheap or expensive a production is if it sucks, and thats the REAL bottom line.

By: Matt Campagna

Matt Campagna — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:53:41 +0000

The first time foray into the indie scene, a $0 budget is easy to claim. But that’s assuming your time is worthless. My feature film (that you were awesome in) was made for $12,000… until you consider the $200,000 worth of free time and gear that was “donated” to it by me and my brother. Kinda makes selling it for a quarter million bucks a bit less of an awesome deal

But ultimately you learn, and my next one has my own paycheck and gear built into the budget. The first “$500″ movie is always cheap because time isn’t money… yet!

But nothing makes your $500 movie look cheap like casting high-school students in every role.

~Matt

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:42:59 +0000

@John: Hahaha! I agree about the acting… but keep in mind that they were doing it (apparently) only to test out new post-production techniques. If this wasn’t a Half-Life-related video, we gamers wouldn’t all be going so crazy about it!

By: John (Fee501st )

John (Fee501st ) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:39:20 +0000

Yea, very good points. You could make any production cheap if you exclude certain expenses. I Hope they spend $1000 on the next one for some acting classes, the actors seemed stiff to me.

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:37:11 +0000

@Gord: The video is still up on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1UPMEmCqZo You can also check it out on their web site here: http://www.purchasebrothers.com/Purchase-Brothers-v2-hl.html It’s BEAUTIFUL!

By: Gord McLeod

Gord McLeod — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:32:18 +0000

Ugh, the video is no longer available! That sucks, you got me so curious. Interesting stuff to know about the costs of doing this sort of thing, too. I’ll stick to games; can’t say they’re cheaper to make, but at least I have some idea of what I’m doing. heh. Great post!

By: Rick Rey

Rick Rey — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:27:09 +0000

It’s a very dangerous thing for filmmakers to keep pushing the zero budget angle. It’s completely unsustainable and all it does is make it harder to pull together REAL resources if and when you have the intention of doing anything after you call in all those favors.

Yes it is possible to do something on a tiny budget, but people need to get paid! If not you should adjust your budget as if you are paying them, even if it’s $100/day. And if you are deferring payment, well that should be disclosed if you’re going to make a big deal about how tiny your budget is.

Otherwise, you are hurting yourself (and the rest of us) in the long run.