Making the Low-Budget Feature Film - Filmmaking Training

MAKING THE LOW-BUDGET FEATURE FILM

Lead by LONDON TO BRIGHTON, THE COTTAGE & CHERRY TREE LANE producer Ken Marshall of Steel Mill Pictures

On this 1‐day seminar, participants are given a highly detailed and comprehensive analysis of all areas of low‐budget film production, by a producer with more experience and success in this area than most in recent years (typified by his credits).

The day is heavily interactive, and prior to the course, participants submit short, embryonic proposals for low budget feature projects they are intending to develop, which they then receive feedback and project‐specific advice on during the course workshop at the end of the day.

The seminar is specifically candid, intending to arm participants with significant knowledge of all areas of low-budget feature film production, from early development through to ancillary revenue streams.

COURSE OVERVIEW

10:00 – 11:10 Low budget filmmaking and Producer’s role

• what is a “low budget film”?
• recent success stories
• routes to becoming a Producer / setting up a Production company
• sourcing and developing projects / slate
• 10 steps to putting a project into production (script to financing)
• Development scenarios
• Q & A

11:10 – 12:00 Getting your film financed

• realities of low budget filmmaking and state of industry
• routes to financing your film – advantages and disadvantages
• Distributors, sales agents and financiers
• How to approach funding bodies

DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDIES

12:00 – 12:20 FILTH – adaptation of a novel by Irvine Welsh

12:20 – 12:40 SONG FOR MARION – written / to be directed by Paul Andrew Williams
12:40 – 13:00 Q & A

13:00 – 13:30 Lunch

COMPLETED FILMS CASE STUDIES

13:30 – 14:45 LONDON TO BRIGHTON (2006)

• Origin of project
• Physical production insights
• Finding completion funding from UKFC, dealing with a distributor and sales agent
• Completion Budget
• Positive critical reaction
• Lessons learnt
• Anatomy of a Scene
• Q & A

14:45 – 15:45 THE COTTAGE (2008)

• origin of project
• development
• closing finance
• production insights
• UK distribution strategy
• Mixed critical reaction
• lessons learnt
• Anatomy of a scene – clip
• Q & A

15:45 – 17:00 CHERRY TREE LANE (2010)

• origin of project
• development, closing finance, and production insights
• UK distribution and sales agent strategy
• Difficulties in generating revenues
• Lessons learnt
• Anatomy of a scene – clip
• Q & A

17:00 – 18:15 PARTICIPANT WORKSHOP

• Pitching session
• Feedback on individuals’ feature film project proposals

18:30 NETWORKING DRINKS

Further course dates, accepting bookings now:

- Sunday 20th February 2011
- Sunday 1st May 2011
- Sunday 26th June 2011
- Sunday 21st August 2011
- Sunday 23rd October 2011
- Sunday 11th December 2011