What are some different techniques in making an independent film?
There's a different approach to every film, big or small. And for independent filmmakers, every day counts, every dollar counts. You cannot waste anything whether it's time, or money, or resources. You have to really squeeze everything out of it in order to get the independent film made. Making a independent film, whether its a good movie or a bad movie, is one of the most difficult things to do in the world. People don't really appreciate it, they kind of take it for granted. They assume, "Oh yeah, they're famous people, they can just jump in front of the camera and make a movie". It doesn't work like that, so for independent filmmakers who don't have the huge studio size budgets, they have to try and do different things. They have to shoot in their own neighbourhood because they know they won't get harassed for location. They have to get extras from the neighbourhood to play certain parts who aren't trained actors. You have to sort of pull resources and ask for favours and max out credit cards. The directors of Hoop Dreams maxed out every one of their credit cards and didn't see a profit on their independent film for ten years or thirteen years after it was made. They didn't make one dollar on the independent film for thirteen years. They just poured their heart into it. It was nominated for an Academy Award, and there you go, that's the tradeoffs. So independent filmmakers have lots of different approaches with all being the end goal of getting the independent film made and trying to use every resource they have that's at their disposal.
