Have you ever been involved in a low-budget film adventure? The most common question you get asked is about the favours you pulled in to get it done. I have been involved in a few of these inspired journeys and I can tell you this has nothing to do with favours. It is a combination of lessons learned, careful planning, a solid vision, and most importantly, it is a function of good people. They say ideas move mountains, but the truth is, people move mountains. You don’t need a lot of money to write a book, compose a song, shoot a film or develop software. You need inspiration and many late nights.

One has to be in start-up mode to attack a challenge like this. It is guerrilla style film making and here is the rulebook :

No catering
No chairs
No portable toilets
No drivers
No trailers
No parking
No cellphone allowance
No assistants
No attitudes
No nonsense
No offices

And here is the methodology :

Plan, plan plan
Triple check all details
One week off, one week on
Triple check everything again
Find closest McDonald’s (toilets)
Find closest garage (coffee and food)
Find grass patch (chairs)
Back-up all footage
Pray for good weather
Have fun, take chances

Making a movie takes time. The film shoot though is the quickest part. First you got to have a vision. Then a script needs be developed. This is easier said than done. A good script can take a lifetime. A mediocre script can take a month. Then you got to plan the production. The longer you plan, the better. In fact, if you never shoot the movie you will be ahead. Ok ok, that sounds crazy, but consider that there is a 1 in 20 chance an independent film will work. So, if you want to win this game the best bet is not to play. Planning, planning and more planning. And then it starts: lights, camera, action! All through this, with a handful of crew.

After the shoot ends the long, tough stuff, begins, Yes, the edit. This is where the dream is made or broken. This is where opinions clash, chirps fly in every direction, and tempers flare. If you survive this part the next thing to do are screen tests. You got to have nerves of steel to listen to other people criticize your work, but that is the name of the game. You make a product, that no one has asked for, that no one really needs, and then you see if anyone is prepared to recommend it to their friends.

There is a big difference between making a film (production) and selling a film (the film business); just like there is a big difference between writing software and selling software. Yes, then starts the real work, distribution and marketing.

Not an easy thing to get right at all. In my view, nothing is harder.