Gareth’s tips on how to make a film clip under $1000!

• Choose one location – shifting locations takes time and costs money
• Spend money on food  – especially if your cast and crew are volunteers
• Join the Media Resource Centre for discounts on equipment hire
• Put notices up at local film schools to see if any film students want to make your clip for free (they need the “on set” hours to graduate) Try MAPS, Flinders Uni & Unisa and AC Arts.
• Filming at night means lighting.  Stick to the daytime and you won’t need to hire lighting
• Make sure your location has power – generators are expensive!
• Never leave gear unattended – replacement cost for stolen or damaged goods!
• Build your set from the Salvos or pick up a few gems from hard rubbish collections (check dates with councils)
• Call on favours from friends and family and be sure to return the favour
• Avoid stunts, explosions, hazardous materials, special effects and fire arms. They are all costly and require payment of professionals
• You might have to budget for permits if filming in public parks etc
• Think about filming a live performance and pay for an excellent editor!
• Keep the concept/narrative simple
• It’s all in preproduction – script development, scheduling, casting, preparing a shot list, art direction
• Buy cheap 30 day public liability insurance – it will cover you in case you need to do any picks up or reshooting
• Buy a hard drive – you don’t want to lose that valuable data!
• Pay a camera operator who will supply their own camera
• Minimise the number of days shoot, this will reduce the cost of equipment hire and labour
• Keep cast to a minimum
• Keep total crew to a minimum. More people is more mouths to feed!
• Ask cast/band members to provide their own wardrobe items
• Think outside the square! Be resourceful.
• Be creative and see what sponsorship you can secure

AND! Don’t forget to apply for film initiatives offered by Music SA, such as Clip It & Vision and Sound. Happy filming everybody!!