Train spotting Case Study

Low budget film making: tips and advice
Resource film making= using pre existing resources to make a movie
Would base entire script and budget around which resources are available

Budget 
Work out how much money is available then list possible locations to film
Look for locations that are free or easy to gain access to
Actors that would be willing to work for free/cheap
In the list you should probably use friends and family that actually have interest in acting or those who can act. Also list possible experience
List of equipment: own camera, free camera to use, lights available
List of props that will be available/pre existing possibly interesting/unique objects that can be used for the script
Any local events such as gun shows or parades can be used to increase production value of the movie. Wouldn't be too hard to gain access to these aforementioned venues

Writing the script
use 4/5 main locations for the feature films. Short film would require 1/2.
Minimise the distance so there would not be too much spent on transportation costs
Minimise the amount of characters in order to minimise the risk of actors dropping out and for there to be less of a hassle
Do not write roles that require too much acting and to write roles that are in their comfort zones
Manage the number of scenes using extras
Do not write a large amount of scenes that take place at night as it is very hard to light these scenes properly
Avoid writing a lot of scenes using SFX or CGI unless it can be done by yourself
The time to practise is with short films or side projects. Not to use on something that is meant to be shown to the public

Location Scout

The more planning in advance will be better for everyone. Especially if your'e using people for free.

Train spotting
Budget: £3.2 million
Director: Danny Boyle
Writer: Andrew MacDonald
Producer: John Hodge
Film is based on a Scottish Novel Train spotting both of which have the main premise of the Heroin addict anti hero Mark Renton who attempts to rid himself of the habit, despite a lack of co-operation from is similarly inclined friends.

If someone is planning to write a movie based on a book, they would need to secure the rights to the book. The screenwriter, producer and directed contacted the author ,who allowed them to use it, but Noel Gay (TV production company responsible for Red Dwarf) didn't have plans to even film Train spotting, but wanted to be a co-producer which caused a collision between them.
Scott Rudin (producer of Sabrina and The Firm) offered the three $250,000 to film whatever project they wanted. Channel 4, who were financing the entire film, refused to give the three any money until the entire issue was sorted. They did however have the author on their side saying they were "the greatest Scotsmen since Kenny Dalglish and Alex Ferguson"
Deal was eventually done for two percent pf the film's budget (£30,000) and Noel Gay would not have any decision making but would instead get a share of the profits and a name check in the credits.
Pre production usually lasts 4-7 weeks depending in the budget meaning:
Casting
Location Scouting
Costume designs
Shot Lists
Story boarding
Risk assessments
They made a list of the top talent available when casting and knew who they wanted to play certain roles

Props
A lot of the trainspotting props were found in charity shops and donated by cast members which helps with the budget. There were large uses of baking powder and glucose to emulate heroin
Some of the costumes were the actors' own clothes

Brigsby Bear

Staffing
The film, without the Producers, Co Producers and executive Producers had a relatively small crew due to the very low budget of the film and small cast. This is because the majority of the film's special effects (usually where a large amount of the budget goes) were made to look cheaply made. The film only had four major actors with only one huge actor being Mark Hamill who didn't have a big amount of screen time keeping the movie's budget to a minimum.

Locations and sets
It was filmed in Salt Lake City, Utah and the very few sets that were used were either in buildings, in parks or made to look like it was executed by amateurs

Legal Costs
The producers would only have had to pay the state of Utah for state charges. They would also have had to pay Star Trek to make a reference to them and various music companies for the rights to their music.

Transport
The studio would only have had to pay for the cast and crew to get in and Utah

Resources
The Production company would have had to pay for cameras, computers, lights for outdoor shots at night with relatively cheap as everything used in the film was meant to look like household items apart from costumes specially made for the movie however they were designed to look home made.