How I made a successful no-budget feature film.

[@mgummelt]

As someone who’s made no-budget films for more than 25 years, this is all great advice. (Especially back when we shot on actual film and every second of film shot was money spent).

[@theseanwardshow]

I'm getting ready to make a short as a warm up exercise before I make my feature. As I watch I'm finding out that I was following a lot of your advice without realizing :)

[@KryptosChain]

*I'm considering multiple shorts to get a bigger audience and see if it's getting support first and possibly sponsors and then a feature film if there's demand.*

[@FlightPatternProductions]

I've contemplated giving up film making so many times, but your channel has reinvigorated my passion for it and why I love making movies. Thank you so much for the awesome content you put out. It's really an inspiration.

[@renelegaspi6851]

Appreciate the straightforward tips and realistic expectations and what to cut back on and what to focus. Thank you.

[@watsonryan907]

Dude you don’t how how helpful this was! Thanks for the awesome info. I appreciate it all. I legit have 6 grand to make a movie. I’ve done a ton of short films on my channel and done well in festivals but am taking. The venture into making a feature

[@StandardStoryCo]

Love it, good luck!

[@watsonryan907]

@@ffalcoff Wow! Thank you. I’ll go read it and get back to you

[@KryptosChain]

*The key tip (at least for me) was towards the end, where you mentioned that I should do it on a topic that's searched for. That's such a great tip, especially if I plan to publish on KZbin since the existing subscribers / viewers will watch it and if it's good, KZbin will recommend it to others who are already heavily searching for those types of topics, thus work the snowball effect. I'll have to put that into practice as I got some ideas. Thanks so much!*

[@josiahfilmmaker1872]

Good stuff! Love the advice about making a practice short film before the full-length piece. I'd only thought about something like that as a proof of concept to build momentum, but I love the educational aspect of it as well-getting the easy mistakes out of the way :)

[@jayaywhy01]

Man, I have to say, you're such a nice honest guy, I just love listening to you talk about film making. Your videos are really inspiring, and your advice invaluable. Thank you, and keep it up.

[@wannabetarkovsky.]

I saw Bad is Bad and I'm really amazed at what you guys pulled off with such a low budget at such a young age.

[@SwaySkits]

I normally do skits but I have been working on some scripts and created a short film. Just found this channel the other day and I want to say thank you for your input. I have been taking notes since I found your channel. Thanks for what you do.

[@noahbeiter]

Thank you man, I don’t know how I stumbled onto your channel but I did about a month ago and you are just amazing. Thanks so much for your insight and honesty. You’re inspiring me to get off my ass and finish my short films hopefully you will see it one day!

[@TheFalconking]

Thanks for sharing your inspiring experience. I´m prepping my 4 th feature film and hopping this one will be THE ONE, and watching your video really help me focus on the important stuff. Thanks for sharing, man.

[@motivationtheoryrunning]

Love this chat, I am a running content creator with a love of filming my ultra marathons and turning them into "short" films. I have gotten better over the years and have goals for even more improvements into documentary style running films. Just did one about doing a 100 mile race that I am pretty proud of. Anyway thanks for taking time to walk people through all the things!

[@jackwain367]

Thanks for these. I want to do a no-budget feature in my semi-rural area in the outskirts of London. Thanks for inspiring me!

[@fumft]

Five great points. Neatly condensed. Well done, Kent.

[@gormanlee935]

Your films inspire me so much. The best out there on youtube imo.

[@StandardStoryCo]

Thank you!

[@KutWrite]

Hi Kent! The movie had me riveted. Yes, it could use some trimming, but the story and most of the acting carried me through. Special kudos, of course, to Chris and Kevin. Wow. They're really friends! What a nice touch of reality. It probably explains one of the moments I really liked, when Ray slaps Jesse's palm and Jesse doesn't know how to react. Don't know if you're still reading comments, but I had a few on the film's actual YT page. One shot that impressed me was that vertical crane (in video we'd call it a "pedestal") going up from the ground floor into the attic of the house. It was clean and smooth with no jarring breaks between the resets. I also liked the "Steadicam" shot following the little girl with those cute tap shoes up the stairs, knowing what she was going to find in the attic. Good move not showing her reaction. I could go on. As an author of two novels and many short stories, I have explored writing a screenplay, but probably will leave that to someone else if my books are picked up. I wish you, your crew, cast, and family all the best. Daniel PS "Standard" in your name made me think of the porn photographer at the heart of the book/movie "True Confessions."

[@christophermoonlightproduction]

Great video. I made my first feature on a 7D as well.

[@michaelbonesmusic]

Not sure I got the order the same but here's my COLE'S NOTES 0. Work backwards with what you have access to/can use for free or little cost (including cast and support friends as well as locations and resources in your network) 1. Story 2. Audio Quality 3. Consistent lighting setup is stylistic if you cannot afford more equipment 4. Be OK with and even lean into the "mistakes" or things that don't go quite to plan 5. Find a way to share or gain publicity on your project so it can be discovered 6. Lean into the "look" you can achieve with your existing equipment 7. Be fun to work with, easy going and don't stress out the crew with long days or pushing too far I have been having fun experimenting editing some of my music videos but I want to get more into visual storytelling Thanks for the inspiration!

[@StandardStoryCo]

If this was helpful, you should also watch this video on the 5 reasons my 2nd no budget film failed - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5rKdod9mZ5goJo

[@tomwatson7626]

Ha, it's that painting dude! Literally just started watching his channel a couple days ago. I recognised the Tony painting immediately 👍

[@StandardStoryCo]

Before he was Paint Coach he was co-creator of most of the films on this channel

[@natejohnston365]

You should do a video about how you went from the first cut you debuted versus the final release.

[@jackschaberg4970]

Congrats on completing the feature regardless of the budget. I watched it, and it’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t distract from your accomplishment. For the record, I’ve made three features for a total of probably $5,000, so yes, it can be done.

[@ramdogproductions]

Well done. Yes, Philip Bloom is awesome! Congrats! I produced a game show for club DJs for years.. Start small and slowly bring up the production value wins every time ;-)

[@StandardStoryCo]

Always a good idea!

[@nickworks]

Big fan of BAD is BAD! Excellent behind-the-scenes video, too! Also, "Failure 2 Launch 2 Judgement Day 2" could be a great movie

[@NoahPopejoy]

I'm planning a no budget feature myself and I've found this video supremely helpful!

[@sharikrizwan8714]

Do you need a script. If yes then we can work together

[@JebbAdams]

Thank goodness you exist! Thanks for your top-notch tutorials! Peace!

[@NicoleSeelig]

I just watched this - great stuff, and very mature topic for your age at the time.

[@JoeSuba1]

I just did my last two full features with under 10g and Everything this Young is saying is TURTH!!!

[@haklguru_Portfolio]

Bravo! I experienced your short film some years ago and just realized… Fantastic story excellent acting and filming especially considering the budget! I find your videos educational, easy to watch and once again very professionally done with the budget that you’re using. The knowledge you’re sharing is priceless!

[@JonathanEBoyd]

Very Inspiring Solid Tips as always Making a short film of the feature film is a very solid approach , also universal lighting a Real time saver

[@DefacedProductions]

Great straight talking channel , keep em comin.

[@fuji.affair5522]

Pure inspiration!Even the noah baumbach movie „frances ha“ was shot with a canon 5d! Its the story, characters and setting, which counts!

[@NoahPopejoy]

I showed my mom "Bad Is Bad" a few years ago. And I only just now learned that film stuck with her a lot. She apparently still thinks about it from time to time.

[@Bat_Boy]

The US should to have high school film class, where they produce a short film by the end of the year.

[@acoraberry3718]

Your video was inspirational to me. Thank you for sharing your advice. Wishing you the best in your future projects! :)

[@andrewharris7517]

Electric.. You ,Spike and Robert are inspiring.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Thank you Ace!

[@CheeseGrease]

I have 6000 reasons why this isn’t a “no budget film.”

[@AllanRochez]

lol

[@projectchaser]

Informative video nice. Would be cool if he did an update video on the budget and the breakdown.

[@yannberte8291]

Very good way of thinking dude !!!

[@jgo1961]

Good advice. I filmed ion a missile silo once.

[@yoshamell]

dope vid...

[@scottlighthiser]

Love this! Great job!

[@tpmboom1]

Great video, great advice. I'm a fan.

[@Lenardx]

Thank you!!

[@themasteryourdaddy.6307]

what camera/camcorder did you use?

[@lukeey2011]

To me that was a master piece. I would of payed to see it. good luck for future.

[@andrewharris6347]

I just noticed the Australian flag on your wall. Why the Australian flag?

[@TimeCodeMechanics]

Naked dinosaurs was way funnier than it should’ve been. 😆

[@Corina-dq2my]

How did you manage to gain camera man and staff (crew) and film equipment?

[@harrycahill2140]

Good luck to you as filmmakers guys.

[@emmanueln.54]

Depends on what you mean. Work on someone else's project and learn from them. Do many of those. Take classes, watch videos, and eventually you can create your own project

[@captainxsgamingandotherstu4194]

this was very helpful

[@filmsflip]

I would love to see a video on how the views accumulated and how the retention is and about the "cheddar:" coming in and what are your plans? Has this brought you any new opportunities?

[@failedfilmmaker]

I second this ! Let us peak at some numbers, we are super curious. A video we made about how much we made on our feature on KZbin, did very well. People like chedda numbas’:)

[@Orangeflava]

@@failedfilmmaker where is that cheddar video?

[@alvonagustinojunior]

Hey dude 👋🏽 Alvon from Australia 🇦🇺 Canberra. Cuteently trying to produce my pilot, action, Sci-fi. My question is, how were you able to put on prime video or is Vimeo the way to go for indie filmmakers? Thank you 😊

[@fillipelezo]

That was great!

[@jacoblawrence6580]

Great tips! Do you have a recommendation for a good quality camera? I can't decide between a DSLR or a mirrorless. I know the camera is not as important as other things but if you can help in any way I greatly appreciate it. The most I am willing to spend is $700, but would be happy to find something a little less expensive. Thanks again!

[@StandardStoryCo]

I’d have to do some research as I’m not up to speed with what’s out there right now. But really, don’t spend too much time worrying about it, just get one you can afford. The camera model is not what’s going to make or break your early films. Once you get one and get some experience with it you’ll learn what you need or don’t need for your next camera, and the next, and the next…

[@jacoblawrence6580]

@@StandardStoryCo Thanks. That's kind of what I was thinking. I was thinking about either a Canon DSLR or Mirrorless camera. I have watched different tutorials and have heard about the black magic cinema cameras but not sure if I can afford. Really want to find something less than $700. Thanks again and I love watching your films.

[@SFCFilms]

Just knitpicking here :) but if you had a budget of $6000 then it's not a no budget feature. Still an awesome feat but I prefer accuracy when looking at video titles . Just my opinion.

[@VincentStevenStudio]

$6000 is nothing. Not even for a short. A simple studio indie drama or comedy can cost up to $3 million.

[@jbmglobalmediaproductions4229]

Hi there ken thank you for your comments and advises via your you tube ... I want to shoot a film about a family within the hospitality industry situation/drama , but i don't have a big budget or gears ...in fact i may be able to rise about $ 15000... whats your suggestion to use as far as cameras etc...thank you , awaiting for your response ,,, john BM

[@Rasiganteam]

Thank you so so so much

[@ytwetethx]

I saw Bad is Bad years ago!! Loved it!! Would you be able to read my script and let me know if it's good enough to start filming?

[@shailendratheactor]

Thanks🙏

[@gregsonfilm]

If it was given away for free, where did that "cheddar" come from? Where did that "back end" payment come from? And if you could, what sort of % for back end did you offer your DP (or anyone else)?

[@Ringofsmoke00]

Most likely from distribution platforms like Amazon Prime that pays out when people watch. Ones with ads, but thats merely my guess.

[@pawsitivenooz]

Do you have your own editing equipment? It's what I don't have so I need to complete my film but can't buy equipment nor don't know where to edit and ADR

[@LandofJapan]

subbed so fast

[@johnnyvalentineparker]

Would love to know the lenses you used?

[@dannoringer]

Very inspiring. But how do you start your film making career at age 70 ?

[@PhilipAJones]

With a camera and a vision. If you're 70, you probably have some very REAL stories you can tell.

[@gravelandtar]

Hi there, I am shooting my first no budget film. The film is 61min at the moment. What can be concidered as a feature (time wise).

[@RealDreadfulDiaries]

I"d say feature film is 90 minutes. But there are features running 70 minutes too.

[@amrita7350]

Your video is the only youtube video I have ever fully watched without skipping, other than songs😅

[@jayaywhy01]

Oh, and, "Bad is Bad"...What a great movie.

[@noamay]

Is you are done with filming a documentary, what is the first thing you should do if you want to distribute/show it to the world?(and want to earn money with it if it's possible....)emailing filmfestivals? How to connect with them?

[@grantgreyguda]

👍 👍

[@thegeekclub8810]

Great video! I’m wondering, how did you make money off the movie if you gave it away for free on KZbin?

[@juandager5220]

It made the bulk of it's money on Amazon Prime (Prime Video): 00:17 (Through ad revenue, I assume)

[@mychalsimmons4177]

So Dope

[@Robroy333]

You’re in Virginia? I’m a feature filmmaker of 24 years now living in Virginia

[@FRED-sr4me]

What's Chris last name and the guy with the red face what's his first end last name

[@MSKARRAGEKFJP]

YOUR AW$OME BRO ! = MAKE MORE OF THAT TREAL TV "HOM1E" !

[@MakaMuseTv]

You had me at Tremors 2. How do we become friends? lol. I'm in NJ, I'm Sami Rye, this is my Hail mary to see if you will reapond lol.

[@Bamfilms23]

Did you make your $6k back for the movie??

[@StandardStoryCo]

Yes we ended up somewhere around $50k in revenue

[@misterg2201]

@@StandardStoryCo awesome, was that mostly from Amazon?

[@mikekillagreen9432]

@@misterg2201 Next you gonna ask him to turn his head and cough.

[@birdonfiremedia]

love the Aussie flag

[@hedydd_ioan]

14:24

[@cobymarcum1442]

👍

[@jeezlouiseproductions]

Hey man - Would you want to work together on a film?

[@thedogs3467]

You’re my new Bible

[@bluerabbit1236]

How did you make 50k in profits with no distribution and putting it up for free???

[@StandardStoryCo]

Amazon streaming royalties & KZbin ad revenue

[@mariapelzer8005]

"No budget" = still have a budget that most people don't have

[@domonkosalmasi2533]

That is not "No-Budget" when you have 6k on your hands😬

[@mikekillagreen9432]

True. Lol

[@Danceeagle9725]

If you’re looking at it from an industry standard, that’s less than no budget. However if you’re just starting out with this whole film thing (like me lol), it’s an inconceivable amount of money for a creative project

[@Historyprops]

In USA , industry Standart , under 5 MiO is low budget..... Lol... You don't get much for 6 k, even if nobody is paid

[@Manny2times]

@@Historyprops actually you get about 2 -3 days with a small crew

[@Historyprops]

@@Manny2times but that's in most cases no movie

[@marcosdominguez7633]

3 years later and still 6M views, weird

[@liamchristenson9091]

Why the Aussie flag?

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

What? You had $6K? You were rich! ;-P Hey, a smartphone and memory cards, and you're good to go...

[@Riurelia]

Sounds easy when you don’t live in the middle of nowhere like I do.

[@davejohnson-yi2rk]

I'd love to know where he is in his career 3 years later in 2024.

[@shaeshae7990]

20 bucks and a bag of bud is fair

[@greglyon1402]

First, let me say that I thought your video was an excellent presentation. But next, I have to call BS. You did not make your video for $6,000. You only paid out $6,000. Creating a rough budget, at $200 a day pay (minimum wage at 12 hour days) plus taxes and workers comp for 18 days. Your minimum crew and limited number of actors was at least $30,000 to 40,000. Preproduction (script, storyboard, shortlist, etc.) is difficult to calculate not knowing how much time everyone spent planning the shoot. During production (house rental, food, camera and lights) cost money as well. Then there is post production with editing, sound, color, etc. All of these costs money. So no, you did not make your film for $6,000. But through, what I like to call, Beg, Borrow, or Steal you managed to limit your out of pocket costs to $6,000. And for that, I applaud you. I recommend watching Bowfinger (1999), starting Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, Heather Graham and other stars) a Hollywood film about a producer that has very little money, but manages to make a ultra low budget film with a major star. Quite hilarious and creative.

[@gregoryhickey-dh3qo]

Why do you have an AUSTRALIAN flag in your background .

[@blingdaddyx]

"no budget" 6k dollars, ok bro

[@r.benjamin.bacharach163]

so good information!! zanks!!💯

[@mychalsimmons4177]

So inapuraryibal

[@cinemaismywife]

Hi , you have awesome videos and I subscribed recently to you. I tried getting the film production templates but I didn't get any email. I submitted my email by navigating to your website.

[@StandardStoryCo]

Check your spam folder and email [e-mail] if it's not there

[@MSKARRAGEKFJP]

X-AKTLY ! = DAT PART