How to Make an Indie Film : Writing Your Own Script for an Independent Film

[JoshMezzProductions]

If you write a script worrying about budget you'll block out great ideas from coming in. The real tip is be creative. Make as many films as possible to get better. When they get good, you can start getting money. When you get money, come back to that expensive film you wrote a few years back.

[julianleemcfarland]

I think this guy's great... some of the advice is obvious, but if someone didn't think about it enough, they might miss it. Give him a break, he knows what he's doing and is trying to help others. If you don't like it, don't comment. Why do you people talk about things you dislike more than things you actually like? Thanks for the videos... it helps.

[FundiNation]

if any one is looking to contribute in a big project, look up the venus project

[bodydoubleprod]

I wrote my own.

[MDubBeezy]

Forward to 1:10. That's when he begins offering ideas and vaguely touches on how to write a script. Change the title please, it's irrelevant.

[SilverCinema]

One way to write - 1. Read screenplays until they come out of your ears. 2. Write. Write all the s@#t out of your talentless fingers. 3. Study film posters. 4. How many mistakes have you made? Go make some more. 5. Be watching movies. 6. Shoot a short film, no matter how horrible. 7. Come up with an ending that means something. 8. Work your way there in screenplay form. 9. Rewrite it. It probably sucks. 10. Shoot it or sell it. 11. If this doesn't work, try anything.

[afewbravemenfilms]

this is very useful. i am trying to make an independent movie and i have shot some trailer teasers. i have shot the trailer teasers all from the same location but you can't really tell or can you? please have a look and leave a comment.

[SuperBlackheart7]

I'm an indie writer/director and this guy knows his stuff.

[musiclyrics091]

@SuperBlackheart7 hire me!!!

[Wasabirock55]

I am in the process of beginning an indie movie with my friend Jacob, it's gonna be fun but thanks for the helpful tips

[fallenone202]

Check out the recent film made by 30 year veteran of low budget filmmaking, Mark Pirro, "The God Complex." It was shot for under $1000. I'll try and attach the trailer to it.

[blackWarlord12]

may i ask can i use microsoft works for writing a screenplay please get back to me

[entace]

@blackWarlord12 I think you mean "Microsoft Word" and yes, you can use anything you want, it would be harder because if you want an industry standard screenplay you would have to format it manually.

[blackWarlord12]

@entace well i have microsoft office word can i used that to write scripts

[entace]

@blackWarlord12 yes

[mastergradeone]

yea..were you get actors?

how do actor/actress cost? is it hourly?

[entace]

@mastergradeone You can find them on many sites like "Star Now" or "Craigslist"

They will most likely ask to be paid by the hour but if you supple food and transport they sometimes are more than happy to work for free and of course you can just use your friends.

[guitarmad103]

i'm trying to make an idie movie i can't get the money and how do i get actors

[entace]

@guitarmad103 I would say if you just get a great story and great audio it all you need. then go on craigslist and find some volunteer actors.

[TheKirby75]

I did it !! Check out "Kirby Little's The South African"...great up and coming indie action short!!

[supersorvig]

Great tips thanks!

[filmmaker419]

thnx

[shamanphoto]

whoa whoa whoa man white balance.

[dallasluce]

hahaahha, dum ass

[TolveNick]

before all this you should white balance your camera...

[kane5250]

Hey everyone! Independent film makers Zack Zortman and Steve Kane here. Check out our newly released comedy, Colonial Commandments. Its the story of a psycho wannabe Revolutionary War colonel who terrorizes a college student. Simply type Colonial Commandments in on your Youtube searchbar and hit enter. The film is broken into 5 parts so be sure to watch them all!

[jayoung472]

Okay, I have a plot, theme, characters, locations, and a story. If you want to know about the story let me know.

[btwall60]

I have a FULL 90 minute screenplay for a "chick flick" which are in short supply in Hollywood. It can be filmed 95% INDOORS and has NO CROWD SCENES. all i need is for someone to BUY IT FROM ME

BT

[pkrska]

Post it some of it on youtube to show what you have done. Get interest for it through other channels. If there is enough hype on it, then someone will notice you. Advertise yourself. It's not enough to say it's good. Show a trailer for it.

[btwall60]

thanks, it's called

Thats Where the Money is

the song and the INFO is on my youtube site,

thankss

[mes13519]

Contact me here. I'm looking for a good script, my budget is a 3 mill grant I recently got.

[btwall60]

I cant reply to u, it says there is a lock on your "friends" anyway, the song is on the site "thats where the money is"

the cost of making it, against the UP SIDE , is really big,

thaks

[jera3]

you can't get anybody to buy your film, 'cause you don't have any copyright-theme to release it. As 20th century fox, etc. You just made a low budget film

[djcapture1]

I was thinking the same :/

[lefty13sst]

then you'd be filming his view of a story. not your own. why even bother just someone elses movie

[Bahzad23]

ok

A. I was kidding.

B. No actually it wouldnt be someone else's story. It would be my own story-just someone else writing it for me. If you've seen the ending credits of a movie, then you will know that there is someone producing the movie, another directing the movie, and another writing the movie.

[DOOMRPG]

That is cool!!

[icefiredarksector748]

At first, I thought that writing mine own script would mildly challenging.

Then I read the original Peter Briggs script for Alien vs Predator. Nothing like the actual movie. I could write a script for months only for to be discarded.

Hollywood......

[SquirtySquirtcom]

thanks for the insight

[pEng860661]

Wanker

[zixzup]

cool!! i've never tought about this!

[BroyhillVideo]

So true on the location and resources, thats the biggest challenge.

[bubbabubbabooba]

this was completley useless. The guy makes suggestions, but gives no examples.

[UEMstudios]

@bubbabubbabooba it's expert village. what do u expect? experts? LOL

[lespaul201]

I have a friend that is in the movie industry, but i am trying to learn how to get a copyright release for a book that I want to make as a professional movie. Does anyone know about this?

[AGooglyMoogly]

I don't have industry nous about the legalities of securing movie rights for a book, but here goes...

You would need to obtain permission by contacting the publishing company with a formal letter, outlining your desire to base a movie on the book in question. Contacting the author directly might yield satisfactory results.

Seek out a quality entertainment contract lawyer for advice as well as the terms concerning royalties. A fee for this is money well spent.

Lawyer = Essential

G'luck!

[lespaul201]

thanks

[jaimeone1]

you need an option agreement.....for a year while you try to make it into a movie

[OMGmyFACE]

I had a film teacher tell me to mail a physical copy of the script to myself to serve as a copyright. Apparently, it names you in possession and dates the material. A lawyer is key but it's a good thing to try if you're like me, a filmmaker with more of a debt account than any actual money.

[JDAFilm]

I know you wrote this some time ago, but figured I would toss in a comment in case others run across your tip

Yes, that's known as a poor man's copyright, and it does stand up in court, though not as a water tight argument. Mail it to yourself, keep it in a safe deposit box somewhere, and DO NOT OPEN IT. If need be, then, you can demand the court subpoena the bank to open the box, and remove the article, which then has the date that you mailed it to yourself, as well as being unopened

[JimboWHO]

Sounds like somebody has read Stu Maschwitz and Robert Rodriguez.

[alwdley]

Thank you!!

[MSMDirector]

Thank you very much!! This is a great video on film making. Very helpful!