Creating an indie film is such a fantastic way to start your journey as a producer. I don’t want anyone to be confused and think that an indie film is any easier to produce than a large budget feature. Usually, you’re having to do about ten jobs on your own, which of course can be a lot more challenging! But it can definitely teach you a lot about filmmaking.
I am going to share some of the tips about producing that I wish I knew when I first started out.
The Script
This is arguably the most important part of your project. The script is your story. Without a strong story to tell, you won’t have a vehicle for your film. Make sure that the script is ready to go. There is nothing worse than getting on set and having a poorly written story, or worse, one that isn’t complete. Work with your creative team (screenwriter, director, and other producers) to make sure you make the necessary tweaks so you won’t be trying to fix the script or plug story holes when filming comes around.
The Budget
You might need to get creative on where your money is coming from. If you are lucky enough to have one major source back your film, then you are ready to create your budget. But for many, you may need to think about crowdfunding (gofundme or indiegogo), or grants to raise the amount you need.
Once you have your funding, make a detailed breakdown of where each dollar is going. The more specific you can be, the better. Make sure you leave a little wiggle room in the budget to allow for unforeseen circumstances. The filmmaking process is a long one, so you do not want to be hit with any financial surprises that you can’t handle.
Casting and Crew
My biggest tip when it comes to choosing your cast and crew, is to think about what kind of people you want to work with. You will want to look for people who are just as dedicated as you are to the project. You will also be spending a lot of time together, so hire people who are kind and generous, both in and out of work.
Have Contingency Plans
Maybe it’s sickness that goes around the team, or a miscommunication about a rental – but whatever it is, delays in your schedule will pop up with regularity. Make sure you plan for these as best as you can. You can’t predict what will happen, but you can have some things in place to make sure you can get back on track. For example, in your prep work see if your filming locations are available for extra dates if needed. This way if you need to reschedule a date, you know in advance if it is possible or not.
Marketing and Distribution
Once your film is complete, the next step of being a producer is getting people to see the project. There are plenty of ways to market – from posters, to trailers, to social media, to websites or press releases.
The biggest mistake I see with new filmmakers is that they forget to think about the marketing until the end of the process. You need to plan for it starting on day one. The earlier you start, the more material you can collect from the whole process to use for marketing. (For example, behind the scenes videos). You also need to work on building up an audience. This is going to take some time – so the earlier you start the better.
You Got This!
It is important to remember that your job as a producer is to think about all of the business aspects of the film. This will allow your creatives to focus on doing their best work. With all of the pieces of the puzzle put together, you can be sure of creating the film of your dreams!