Micro-budget first-features launched the careers of filmmakers like Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins),
Joe Carnahan (Narc), Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem For A Dream), Marc Forster (Monsters Ball, Finding Neverland), Tim
Story (Barbershop, Fantastic Four) and Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow).
These first films all went through the offices of Next Wave Films, the former low-budget financing arm of The Independent
Film Channel. Now Mark Stolaroff, a principal of Next Wave, is sharing what he's learned from years in the trenches in these
in-depth, one-of-a-kind classes.
Micro-budget (under $250,000) filmmaking is unique. The methods, models and priorities are radically different from those
of studio projects or even "low" budget $1 million films.
In the classes offered students will learn the rules of micro-budget production critical to making this type of film
successfully, whether the budget is $200,000 or $2,000. No-budget professionals will offer their first-hand knowledge
of production, post production, marketing, and distribution. Clips from micro-budget films will illustrate specific tricks
and state-of-the-art techniques used by the most resourceful filmmakers.
These cutting edge techniques can NOT be found in a book, at film school, or in other film classes.
If you're through talking about being a filmmaker and ready to become one,
No Budget Film School is for you.
There are no courses currently scheduled for this year. To find out when the next class starts, please subscribe
to the NO BUDGET NEWSLETTER. Notification will be sent to subscribers as soon as a new class is scheduled.
COURSES OFFERED:
Course 101: "The Art of No-Budget Filmmaking"
This course gives filmmakers the tools and the confidence to make a feature right now, with the
resources available to them, however limited those resources might be. The class offers a unique overview of Production,
Post Production and Distribution from a no-budget perspective, encouraging filmmakers to throw out old templates of moviemaking. The approach
guides filmmakers to examine their own specific cirmcumstances--their limitations and their resources--and
reinvent the moviemaking process to suit their unique situation. Learn:
* How to design a great script that will cost little or no money
to produce
* How to devise a production that conforms to your particular
circumstances
* How to prioritize limited resources
* How to tackle post production, festival strategy and
distribution on a shoestring
* Much, much more
Course 201: "The Science of No Budget Filmmaking"
A detailed line-by-line analysis of the production budget from a no-budget
perspective. Topics include: Cast & Casting, Crew, Equipment, Insurance, Locations, Permits, Props/Set Dressing,
Vehicles, Makeup/Wardrobe, Camera/Format, Sound, Legal, and Miscellaneous Budget Items. The class will dissect the production
of the $50,000 feature True Love (a Sundance Screenwriters Lab Project), demonstrating the low-budget
tricks used--and the mistakes made--showing clips from the film and valuable behind-the-scenes footage, in this comprehensive
examination of a no-budget film. Learn:
* How to find great cast & crew with little or nothing to pay
* How to shoot in LA without filming permits
* How to get free locations, free props, and free equipment
* What formats, cameras, and editing systems to use
* Much, Much more
To find out when the next classes will be offered, subscribe to the NBFS Newsletter: No Budget Newsletter
FUTURE COURSES OFFERED:
Course 203: "Filmmaking Basics for No Budgets"
A course designed for the no-budget filmmaker who hasn't
attended film school and may be asked to wear multiple hats, or who wants to get a working knowledge of several different
departments to help him or her better prepare. The basics (as they apply to no-budget filmmaking) will be taught
in a number of disciplines by experts in each field, including: Lighting and Camera, Sound, Grip & Electric, Production
Management & Assistant Directing, Locations, Makeup, and Wardrobe.
Course 301: "Alternative Distribution for
The No Budget Film"
A detailed look at what to do with your film once it is completed. Topics include identifying
and nurturing core audiences, building a web site, festival strategy, marketing and promotion, DVD creation and distribution,
theatrical self-distribution, and more.
Course 303: "The No Budget Marketplace"
A detailed analysis of the
market for no budget films. Topics include: the history of the marketplace, an analysis of the market success of several
no budget films over the years; an analysis of the non-quantifiable success of no budget films (e.g., launching careers);
the perceived paths to revenue for certain representative films; the qualities successful films possessed that enabled them
to achieve that success; and more. This class is designed for the strategic filmmaker or producer who is deciding what kind
of film to make and trying to understand how that film would fit into the indie marketplace.
* You do not need to have taken Course 101 to benefit from any of
the other courses.
Classes will be scheduled in Los Angeles and in other cities across the country. Please subscribe
to the No Budget Newsletter to get the latest information on when these courses will be offered in your area.
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Testimonials...
" The No Budget Film School is designed for the moviemaker who possesses
nothing but a dream and a drive. If you take the course and can't make some kind of film at the end of it, you'll have no
one to blame but yourself. " - Peter MacNicol (Emmy Award Winning Actor. "Allie McBeal", "Numb3rs", "Sophie's Choice")
" Mark, I just wanted to say what a fantastic day it was... really amazing.
You are a great communicator and I will happily recommend you to anyone I come across. I love your passion and I think it
really comes through." - Gabrielle Kelly, Film Professor (Chapman University,
UCLA Extension, Los Angeles Film School)
" I really feel as though your class was one of the most pertinent and
truly useful filmmaking seminars I've ever taken, with immediately applicable and appropriate info." - Mary Jane Mullen
" What a great day you set up for all of us on Saturday--it was outstanding! And I really appreciated the fact that
you stayed afterwards to answer any final questions. It demonstrated your enthusiasm for the subject of filmmaking - and we
all got the sense that you genuinely cared about passing the torch and offering guidance." - Anthony Cistaro
"The best filmmaking training money I ever spent." - Amir Masud
" Your course on Saturday has already had a great impact on the feature
that I am writing and I am certain I will have a better film for it. It was a very inspiring day for me and I hope to some
day be in a position to better thank you for your generosity." - Ed Fowler
" The class was great. There was a tremendous amount of information
and encouragement for approaching filmmaking in a very liberating way." - Josh Schorr (2006 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship
winner)
" I wanted to tell you that I loved the No Budget Film School.
First off, you were very clear and informative. Your lecture was also inspirational and motivating because it made my
goal of being a feature length filmmaker very plausible." - Edwin Porres, Jr.
" I found your class really inspiring...you were masterful." - John
Chisholm
" You're The Man. Your philosophy is excellent and valuable." -
Glenn Gers, (Writer-"Mad Money", "Fracture"; Writer/Director-"Disfigured")
" Learned so much, I can't wait to get started." - Patrice Williams
" Just wanted to thank you for the class. You and your fellow panelists
were very informative and inspiring. I needed the "refuse to spend money" rule implemented into my brain and that was
achieved. Thank you for that!" - Victoria Bolt
"Great presentation. Overwhelming and thrilling! Oh yes, and extremely
helpful." - Kristi Moya
"I wanted to thank you, Ron and your team for the wonderful session of
no-budget filmmaking. The lessons learned will be put to immediate use." - Rodrigo Obregon
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| PETER BRODERICK |
Past Guest Speakers:
Peter Broderick (President, Paradigm Consulting; former President, Next Wave Films)
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| JOE CARNAHAN |
Joe Carnahan (Director, "Narc," "Smokin' Aces," "Blood Guts Bullets & Octane")
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| JODI HILL, DAVID GORDON GREEN |
David Gordon Green (Director, "Pineapple Express," "All The Real Girls")
Jody Hill (Director, "Observe & Report," "The Foot Fist Way")
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| MICHAEL CIONI |
Michael Cioni (Director of Operations, PlasterCITY Digital Post)
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| RON JUDKINS |
Ron Judkins (Director, The Hi Line; two-time Academy Award winner for Sound)
Rick Tait (Founder, 1245_VINE_Industries)
Marty Pasetta, Jr. (Producer, Sleeping Dogs Lie, 2006 Sundance Dramatic Competition) Henry
Barrial (Director, Some Body, 2001 Sundance Dramatic Competition) Mike Upton (SVP,
2929 Productions; Producer, Madea's Family Reunion, Akeelah And The Bee)
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| MIKE UPTON |
Jacob Rosenberg (On-Line Editor, Dust To Glory; Author)
Jacob Vaughan (Director, The Cassidy Kids; Producer, Editor, DP, Dear Pillow) Alex
Orr (Director, Blood Car) David Bruckner (Director, The Signal)
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| CRAIG ZOBEL |
Craig Zobel (Director, Great World Of Sound)
Ti West (Director, Trigger Man, The Roost)
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| TI WEST |
Joel Viertel (Producer, Conventioneers)
Todd Rohal (Director, The Guatemalan Handshake)
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| MATT RADECKI |
Matt Radecki (Director, TV Junkie; Founder, Different By Design)
Andrew Huebscher (DP, Crashing, What We Do Is Secret)
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| DANIEL CASEY |
Daniel Casey (Director, The Death Of Michael Smith)
Click here for more information on the guest speakers for the recent May 30, 31 class.
| "True Love" (click to enlarge) |
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| Behind the scenes of window smashing / As seen in the film |
Go behind the scenes of a $50,000 movie and learn how various no-budget
tricks and techniques were applied in pre-production, production and post-production.
| "Some Body" (click to enlarge) |
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| Scenes from the $3,000 feature, "Some Body" |
Hear in-depth case studies of successful no-budget films like The
Dark Knight director Chris Nolan's Following, made for $12,000. Instructor Mark Stolaroff's Next Wave Films
gave Nolan finishing funds.
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| FSI: FILM SCENE INVESTIGATION |
Analyze a scene from an actual award-winning no-budget movie, from script to screen: hear the scene read, get the opportunity
to identify and solve production problems, learn how those problems were solved in the movie, see behind-the-scenes footage
of the scene's set-up, then see the filmed scene in it's finished form.
| NO BUDGET FILM SCHOOL REVIEWED: |
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| Click to Enlarge |
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE REVIEW
| READ STOLAROFF'S ARTICLE |
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| "Production Value Is Overrated!" |
Read Mark Stolaroff's article from Film Arts Magazine regarding the importance of production value on low-budget indie films.
Click the link below to download a PDF.
Film Arts Article PDF
"The Realities of DIY"
Below is video from a panel I moderated in July 2008 on the realities of DIY production and distribution, for Lance Weiler
and Arin Crumley's DIY Days in Los Angeles.
There's been much discussion about the democratization of the tools, but what's really involved in taking your film from
a concept to something an audience will pay to see? How can you fight your way through the clutter and what are the pitfalls
to avoid when you decide to go it on your own?
Discussion Leader: Mark Stolaroff. Panelists: Arin Crumley, Ondi Timoner, Hunter Weeks and M dot Strange.
Hear a couple of interviews I gave on DIY production with filmmaker and blogger Paul Harrill on filmmaker Lance Weiler's Workbook
Project site, (an incredible DIY resource site). Click the links below:
The Workbook Project Interview on DIY Production with Mark Stolaroff, Paul Harrill, and Lance Weiler
The Workbook Project Interview looking back on 2007's interesting DIY films and distribution trends, with Mark Stolaroff,
Paul Harrill, and Lance Weiler
Click the link below to hear Instructor Mark Stolaroff's June 2005 Digital Production Buzz interview, as he discusses no-budget
filmmaking basics and No Budget Film School.
Digital Production Buzz Interview
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![A hammer tapping the edge of the glass shatters it](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.nobudgetfilmschool.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tl_bts_glass.jpg&target=tlx_new&title="True Love" (click to enlarge))
![Stephanie Bennett stars in "Some Body"](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.nobudgetfilmschool.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/sb_class.jpg&target=tlx_new&title="Some Body" (click to enlarge))
