How To Make A Great Film With No Money: Seven Tips From A Tropfest Winner

We’re partnering with the HP Future Filmmakers competition to take a look at the winners and their stories, and topics that matter to aspiring filmmakers and movie fans.

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Take a gawk at the latest Hollywood blockbusters, and you could be forgiven for thinking that filmmaking is only for sickeningly diamond-encrusted millionaires who enjoy splashing bazillions on jaw-dropping special effects and the same old plots we’ve seen before.

But it’s actually entirely possible to tell original stories on a shoestring budget, even if you’re a broke-ass student living in a crusty sharehouse and your greatest creative achievement to date is the successful serving of “gourmet” baked beans (you know, with a little Tabasco and avocado).

Melbourne filmmaker Julian Lucas, 27, started out in exactly these kinds of less-than-illustrious circumstances. But he now co-runs his own production studio with longtime collaborator Jarred Osborn, Wildebeest, and last year won a swag of cash and equipment after taking out the top gong at Tropfest, Australia’s largest small film festival, with his dark comedy Granny Smith.

We grilled Lucas for his top tips on getting started in the filmmaking industry with next to no money, no gear, and (sometimes) no idea.

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#1: Splash Out On A Cheap DSLR, Or Borrow Gear From School

First up, you’re going to need some equipment to shoot on. Lucas says some universities have super flash cameras — sometimes worth up to $80,000, incredibly — that students can hire for free. But even fairly cheap digital SLR cameras shoot full HD video these days.

“My biggest tip is buy an DSLR, always take it with you, and start learning how it works,” Lucas says. “I remember when I bought my first lens and it was a disaster, but you gradually learn. You have to be a bit stupid and eat humble pie; turn up with a lens on that looks ridiculous. Just start shooting and learn from your mistakes.”

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#2: Travel, Trawl Instagram, And Go For Many A Sunday Drive

Lucas says one of the easiest shoestring budget hacks is noting and screen-shotting possible locations while going about your day-to-day life, so you always have a bank of awesome filming options.

“Instead of spending money on set design, you can research and scout an epic location and let that be the hero of the film,” he says. “At one point we found this quarry down the coast; it was free use and we built a whole film around that location. Using natural environments saves a lot of money and quite often creates the most visually intense and beautiful images.”

Co-directed by Jarred Osborn and Julian Lucas, Finnigan — a collaboration with Finnigan Swimwear — was made with the tiny budget of $1250.

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#3: Coerce any and all of your talented friends into working for you

When you’re first starting out, your friends are practically obliged to help you out for peanuts because, well, they’re your friends. Plus, they probably secretly want to be famous.

Lucas says that even now he still collaborates with mates as much as he can. Practically the entire cast and crew of his Tropfest-winning film Granny Smith was made up of friends. “Making films with your mates makes the whole process so much more enjoyable,” he says.

But if your friends clam up in front of the camera, hunt out someone a little more professional using websites like StarNow, or by scouting for talent at NIDA, the Victorian College of the Arts, or even local stand-up nights.

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#4: Become The MacGyver Of Your Own Film

At least in the beginning, Lucas says its wise to try your hand at every part of production, from directing and camera work to editing, so you begin to understand the film process.

Naturally, you’re going to run into problems, which is where our old friend YouTube can lend a free helping hand. “That’s a great source to troubleshoot and learn a new skill quickly,” Lucas says.

Another co-direction from Lucas and Osborn, the clip for Chiefs – ‘Stay (ft Nick Acquroff)’ was made for just $500.

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#5: Get Your Grant On

If you’re desperate for some upfront cash, Lucas says crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Pozible are an option. Try applying for government grants, too — though you’ll probably have to jump through a bunch of bureaucratic hoops.

He also recommends websites like Genero.tv. “Filmmakers get access to bands and briefs so you can pitch ideas and get grants,” Lucas says. “It’s a good way to keep your hand in filmmaking without having to spend your own money.”

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#6: Allow Yourself To Make Shit Films, Repeatedly 

Lucas says one of his most important learning curves was getting out there one summer as a novice, and making a “chaotically bad” film. “You can learn from other people, of course, but I think just getting out there and making absolute rubbish is sometimes the best way,” he says.

“You get the footage, chuck it into the edit suite and realise why it didn’t work. The next time you go out, you’ll make sure you get that close up or whatever. I think sometimes people get bogged down with not knowing enough, not trusting themselves to be able to create something. I fully support grabbing a camera and just getting out there.”

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#7: Stick To Your Guns

One of the most crucial things a new filmmaker needs is completely free: persistence. “Sometimes it’s digging into your own funds or getting up at 4am three mornings in a row,” Lucas says — but committing to doing your best is how you start to get noticed.

“The best part is that moment when you finish. You think back to the journey you went on, all the favours you asked, and you’re like, ‘Shit, we made something really cool for not much money’. It gives you faith that when you do get access to those bigger budgets, you’ll be equipped to nail it with half the budget and then spend the rest on a holiday to France or something.”

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Vote in HP’s Future Filmmakers competition, to help your favourite filmmaker win a cash grant — and come up with taglines for the finalists’ films in the #HPTagIt competition, and you could score great prizes too, including a $5,000 Flight Centre voucher. Head here to get involved (and for T&Cs).

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Koren Helbig has written for New Internationalist, frankie, Kill Your Darlings and The Lifted Brow; she blogs from She Makes Magic and tweets at @KorenHelbig.