Strategy
Our goal is to produce feature length independent films for the mainstream industry. But can it be done? Good intentions are all good and well, however there must be a plan, a method of obtaining our goals. So has it been done before?
The answer is yes. Let us look at examples of how budget films have been produced and managed to make it to mainstream audiences.
El Mariachi
Robert Rodriquez’s first film made by himself for $14,000 at the beginning of the 90’s, as documented in his autobiographical tale “Rebel without a crew”. Rodriguez originally intended to produce this film for the Mexican video market, however it found its way into the hands of mainstream producers who were amazed at what this man accomplished with less money than it usually costs to make a low budget trailer. He was hired to write and direct, the better known Desperado, featuring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Not so much a sequel to El Mariachi (the protagonist is the same character), this is more a remake. The original film was shot on 16mm, with sound recorded wild, off-set in post-production. Rodriguez’s talent was clearly demonstrated through his first feature. Now with films under his belt such as From Dusk till Dawn to Sin City, the benefits of starting low and aiming high are clearly visible.
Open Water
An economically chosen script can often serve a low budget project. Director Chris Kentis financed this film himself, producing it for an estimated $130k and later selling it to Lion’s Gate for $2.5m. With only two principal actors, Kentis chose a script that would require a minimal budget but with an excellent script. Once purchased, work was required to bring the film up to release standards, this work was undertaken by the distributors. This investment paid off, the opening weekend for this feature took in well over $1m in the US alone, and soared in international charts. Films of this kind are also good launching points for acting careers, as everyone begins somewhere.
The Blair Witch Project
Probably the most memorable example of a low budget film breaking into the mainstream. This film was superbly marketed by the Directing team, who arguably were the first low budget team to truly demonstrate the awesome power of the internet as a marketing tool. This film succeeded because the method of storytelling was novel, the budget was low. Using an improvisational acting technique this film briefly moved the horror genre into a new domain. Of course it was the only one of it’s kind as films like this are unique. Any attempt to replicate it would struggle to further a branch of the horror genre that can only really be occupied by one film. Such was demonstrated by the sequel, Blair Witch 2. Other films which form their own exclusive niche would be Easy Rider. This feature cost $22k to produce and took in $240.5m, the world record for the highest budget to box office ratio for a mainstream feature, $1 spent for every $10,931 made. Blair Witch 2 the ratio was $1 spent for every $2 made.
Easy Rider
What could easily be interpreted as an autobiographical tale of stoners in the sixties, this film took off as it delivered something new to the American audiences of the time. It is what people at that time wanted to see. It was contemporary, it was gritty. It succeeded because producers realised in that case that the youth knows what the youth wants. Discerning producers can identify the difference between what their contemporaries would want, and what an audience would want, which often brings in a far higher return. A considerable budget at the time of $340k later brought back $60m worldwide.
Mad Max
The director of this tale went on to do Mad Max 2. Mad Max of course stands for itself. A cult classic to this day. Of course cult in this case means success on opening and then continuous steady returns over time. Our aim is not to make cult film, however once a film has succeeded in the mainstream and then it becomes cult, then this is the perfect formula. Cult thrives on depth, enough for fans to mine for generations, which often goes hand in hand with layering in production. Before the Blair Witch Project this film has the highest product to cost ratio of a motion picture, $1 spent to every $250 made.
So we can clearly identify examples of how low budget productions can launch into the mainstream. We learn from the examples that have been given to us. It all starts with the script. All of which at The Invisible Cinema are developed in house by the Director. Our tales are novel, they are based on something new that yearns to be told. We start with an idea and then turn it into a film. We do not start by wanted to make a film and then search for ideas on which to base them. This attitude we feel is our greatest strength. Though we are a low budget productions house, we are clear that our standards are mainstream, our work ethics firm and professional, our goals obtainable, our expected returns high, and above all our films an experience. We are here to stay, to create strong tales, consistently, and over time. By all modern means we aim to create careers for all who work with us and forge strong relationships with other production houses and distributors that do business with us.
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