So you want to make an indie film?4 Pending your goals for it, you might already have all that you need to begin.
Rather than renting expensive camera equipment, some indie Filmmakers turn to their smartphones, which have impressive recording capabilities. From there, they might then ask their friends or family members to perform as the characters the Filmmaker themselves have created in an original script of their own. They can shoot the film in their home and then edit it on any number of free editing software platforms currently available. Once they complete post-production on their film, they can upload it for free to Vimeo or YouTube for distribution.
The above exemplifies the simplest – and likely cheapest – manner in which to make an indie film.
But for many Filmmakers, they want higher production quality or more expensive locales or wider distribution to reach more viewers. All valid aspirations. In that case, it will take more time, effort, and again, money.
How one decides to bankroll their indie film depends on their available resources and risk threshold. Sure, maxing out your credit cards to pay for your project is one way to go about making an indie film, but it comes with a host of risks that can significantly impact your professional and personal life. Which is why finding independent investors and crowdfunding to cover budgetary needs have both become highly common avenues for indie Filmmakers.
In both scenarios, it might take months or even years to secure the necessary funds for a film to be made. Hence, why indie filmmaking is always a hustle.
What makes an indie film unique?
Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)
What often sets indie films apart from more mainstream projects is the intimate nature of them. Because of their smaller budgets, indie films usually focus more intensely on the storytelling aspect of their projects rather than visual effects, A-list celebrities, or other elements that both indicate higher budgets and can detract from the story being told.