Impact of budget on storytelling

“I think as a producer you have to stay very alert, especially in the low-budget world, to how the budget is impacting the storytellers.”

Excerpt From
Producer to Producer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low Budgets Independent Film Producing
Maureen Ryan
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Say you have a story, you believe it’s the greatest story never old (it’s not) but it helps you get through the day so you believe it anyway. Producing is all about turning/ acquiring the creative intangible gem of an idea that you believe is story into a fleshed out screenplay. One that can be green lit for production. Before it is, it remains in your head, so when you scream eureka, it can come right out!

Or you get a writer. Don’t pretend to be a screenwriter if writing isn’t your jam. It is a painful process that yields only after tremendous labour and creative zeal, both of which you might not have at the moment and that’s a okay. Don’t be stupid or arrogant enough to think you can do it all.

Get help when you can, if you can. There are people better than you in almost anything you can do, your job is to find these people. Then each of these creative components will bring in their creative energies into the mix and your end product will evolve as a result.

Not everyone can pull a successful Robert Rodriguez you know, know your limitations and plan accordingly. The next important figure that must be acquired is the director, because ultimately it’s their medium, and they should be be given as much creative independence as the budget allows.

This comes down to your faith in the director and the relationship you have cultivated with him, this will decide the risk you will be willing to put into the creation of your film.

Remember it’s a no budget indie feature, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t giving it your all.