Charlie Productions : How To Make A Film For Nothing

To get this right we have to really think about the meaning of nothing. After all, what's the real difference between "we did it all for nothing" and "we did it all for nothing", other than whether one's face is happy or sad upon delivering this news? Because to have something for nothing means that at some point, another thing besides that something has been seriously undervalued, to the point where it is reckoned to be worth nothing.

It's funny, this boasting of making a film for nothing - but then, we all gawp at the tiny amounts films cost, from Kevin Smith piling $10,000 onto credit cards to make the enjoyable "Clerks", Robert Rodriguez going through scientific tests on his body to raise a similar amount for the entertaining "El Mariachi", through Jonathan Cayouette spending $218.32 to make the terribly dull "Tarnation", and on to the guys who made "Colin" for £45, which I haven't watched, not really being into zombie flicks.

None of these are for nothing, of course.

So, how do you get to make a film for nearly nothing? It's a simple case of begging, borrowing, and garnering all the favours you can possibly get. The less money you've got to spend, the less you can have - unless you can somehow get it for free. There is of course a certain amount of morality involved in how far you want to go of course. Most of the time we've tried to pay expenses and to feed everyone working on the shoot - people are giving up their time, it's always felt like a step too far to ask them to actually pay to do it. But if everyone's so enthusiastic that they're up for that, I guess that might be ok, as long as everyone knows the score. There was no way we'd be able to pay for people's flights out to Jersey for the Branchage 48Hr Challenge, but it was an exciting thing to be involved in so lots of people wanted to come under their own steam. Likewise, the cast and crew of "Colin" brought their own packed lunches on the shoot, and I'm guessing most of them were walking to location rather than flying.

Basically for every person you need to persuade to lend you a) their time, b) their property or c) their money - or indeed all three - there are three simple questions going through their heads:

So to get stuff for free... You need to define "nothing".

1) You'll be giving up "nothing", so why not? (this works in terms of a) people and b) property having days when they are not working (easier with freelancers, the unemployed and hired property that regularly doesn't get used on the weekends, for instance), and in terms of c) people with money they can invest instead of paying the taxman the very same money).

2) "None". "No" pain. Honest. (this is all about reassurance, but in two different ways - for a) you should be making it an attractive proposition for people giving up their time - it'll actually be loads of fun to be a part of it. You won't feel "nothing", in fact you'll have the best time of your life. However, for b) it really is all about "nothing". It needs to be almost as if it hasn't happened. The property will be kept in perfect condition (here, we've got someone dedicated to looking after it who knows it inside out), it'll be back on time, polished and ready to go, it'll be in better condition than when it left... And for c) it's both - the money will be all that is needed, here, see the budget, we won't be begging for more having pissed it away to only get halfway through, oh and come down to the set, you could have a small part somewhere maybe...)

3) You'll get something. Not "nothing". This is where "nothing" plays a big part. Because people need to weigh up just how much they're giving up for you with 1) and 2) in order to win it back with 3)... But -1-2+3= 0. Nothing.

So what are you really offering? The people want a career out of this. A credit's ok, if it means they're doing something they've not done before. If they've done it a load, it's worth nothing. A DVD, a t-shirt, these are nice, but if they're not proud of the film they're worth nothing. Love, excitement, fun, enjoyment, pride in their work and in the whole - that's a life worth living, even if a career isn't forthcoming. The property wants to be hired out next time, at the full rate. Or hired out more because you've shown it off in industry magazines. It wants to be loved by people with money thanks to you. And the people who own the property want to feel love, excitement, fun, enjoyment, pride in their property and the work it created. And the money wants to make money babies. Probably. Although sometimes a tax loss is a tax loss is a tax loss, and that ain't a bad thing. But in that case love, excitement, fun, enjoyment and pride in the work become the be all and end all for the people who've given you that money.

That's what means your film wasn't just for nothing, even if it was.

Charlie Productions believe passionately in doing things and always trying to stop in time for tea.

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