OK, you’ve moved to Los Angeles, started taking acting classes, and had you headshots done and printed. You don’t have any experience yet and can’t get your foot in the door with an agent. So you have been reading Backstage West and submitting headshots to casting calls. You’ve gone on numerous auditions, and even have had supporting roles in student films and no-budget films. But you are not being cast for any lead roles.
Don’t despair or get discouraged. Do what other actors in the same boat have done: Make your own movie and cast yourself in the leading role.
Sylvester Stallone did that. He ended up with Rocky and an Academy Award. Director Robert Rodrigues shot El Mariachi on 16mm for $7000 and went on to be a director of many major Hollywood movies like Spy Kids.
I can’t tell you all the steps involved in making a movie, but obviously you have to start with a script. Find one somewhere or write it yourself. There are books and even classes out there like one called something like 24-Hour Film School. You will have to assume the role of producer. You also need a director. If you have a comrade, one person can be the producer and the other the director. Both can take leading roles.
Since this is your first film, you want to make a short film for film festivals. The shorter, the better. Don’t attempt a feature length film the first time out.
You will not be shooting on film, but on digital video. Ten years ago small films were shot on 16mm film. Film is very expensive to shoot just for film and processing. Around year 2000 no-budget independents switched to miniDV. Today there HDV cameras from Sony and Canon that can be had for a couple thousand dollars.
You will have to learn as you do it. If you went to film school you probably already know what the steps are in the three phases: pre-production, production and post-production. Cast will work for copy, credit and meals. Crew will be mostly volunteer, buy you will probably have to pay a D.P., Gaffer or Key Grip. Your biggest expense will be renting lighting and grip equipment. There are gaffers that have equipment to rent when you hire them.
Today with the cost of digital video cameras so cheap, there is nothing holding you back from producing your own film.
Want a quick way to learn how to make a movie? How about Dov Simens 2-Day Film School
