Independent Films That Win In Film Festivals And Launch Film Makers Careers - By: Jon Young

Over the last few decades there has been a growing trend in the success of Independent Films. The most successful niche are the indie Horror movies, but there are numerous other films to succeed going the independent low budget route. Most of these films have won awards at the top film festivals and later launched the careers of the film maker. Although horror films are the most profitable they seem to be the least effective type of indie film to launch careers.

Probably the most popular of the low budget indie films of all time is Reservoir Dogs. The film had a bunch of stars but was made on just slightly over $1 million dollars. Quentin Tarantino went on to become one of the best known movie makers of his generation and has filmed more than one cult classics, such as pulp fiction. It was Reservoir Dogs that put him on the map. Originally the film was going to be made for $30,000 dollars without stars.

This past year one of the best independent films is called Monsters. It cost just $500,000 dollars to make and was done in an unconventional way. The film maker didn't have a shooting script but instead just an outline of the scenes he wanted and cast just two actors. He took a film crew and the actors to Mexico and Costa Rica and started filming with just $15,000 worth of equipment. When he found locations he would then cast locals for the bit parts in the movie. When he finished principle photography he put together a rough cut and then re shot 20% of the movie. The most impressive part of the production was the FX which the director did using Adobe products with more than 250 effects he ended up with a pretty good looking product on a really small budget.

Another success story is El mariachi (1992) by Robert Rodriguez. His approach was to write a story based on props that he had. His budget was around $7,000 dollars that he earned by doing clinical drug studies. The story was based on a guitar, a gun, and a dog. Who would have known that the film would launch a franchise with very successful bigger budget sequels. The movie was entirely in Spanish and his idea was to sell it to the Mexican market to raise money for a bigger budget project. After he had no interest in the film he was able to sell it in America to Columbia. The movie went on to win awards in the the film festivals and launch his career.

These are just a few examples of low budget films that launched the careers of their film makers. These movies have won top honors in film festivals and get distribution. Something to think about if you would like to become a film maker. This strategy has worked in the past and might be right for you. The call it working outside the Hollywood studio.

About the Author

Jon Young works for the website Video Film School. If your interested in more tips and information on how to get started making a low budget movie you should visit that site.

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