Over the weekend I finally got a chance to watch Pioneer One. It’s a half-hour drama television series with one notable exception: it’s not shown on TV. The series is available for free to download from Vodo via bittorrent networks and is being funded entirely by donations.
The series is the brainchild of the folks who produced The Lionshare which was also released on Vodo. What starts off as what seems to be a terrosist attack turns into something much stranger as a CCCP cold war relic returns to earth. And what’s in that capsule will dramatically change history. I’m not saying more than that, just watch the trailer.
PIONEER ONE “Pilot” Trailer from Pioneer One on Vimeo.
I have to say that while the quality of the series isn’t on par with something that spends more than a million dollars per episode, they do really get a lot of bang for their ($6,000) buck and they have a very interesting premise which I hesitate to call science fiction. There are parts that are a bit slow and some of the acting is lackluster. That said, I’m far more interested after watching the first episode of Pioneer One than I ever was after watching the premiere of V.
The other reason I’m keeping my eye on this is that it’s a really interesting experiment in media financing and distribution. Can you truly create a sustainable television series outside of the studio system and deliver it for free? I honestly don’t see how they’re going to make money from this, cast and crew are probably not being paid, but that may not be the point.
My hat is off to these guys for attempting this and getting some pretty great results. Click here to download and donate.
Have you seen Pioneer One? What did you think of the pilot and the distribution methods?
Ah yes, another week of awesome filmmaking links!
Monitor your Canon HDSLR Wirelessly
A clever setup lets you monitor and control your Canon remotely.
More Free Plug-ins for Final Cut Pro from Idustrial Revolution
5 new free plug-ins for Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, Motion and Adobe After Effects called Freebie Pack1 were updated and made available this week from Idustrial Revolution.
The LOVELY Post Flow
The post flow from the indie pic “What’s Up Lovely”
Do you want your video to look like film?
What is film look? Do I need it and why? How do I get it?
Maverick Attitude To Indie Filmmaking
Being a maverick filmmaker is cool so long as you understand what it takes to succeed in the movie business.
When your screenplay is written, the next step is to read what you wrote. I like to use checklists to figure out what needs to be improved and what I’ve nailed. Here’s a general checklist you can use to gauge your script:
What else would you add to this checklist?
Yes, I missed a week of links! So today you get a list of the last two weeks of fascinating film stuff! For links on demand, just follow me on Twitter!
Filmmaking Tools You Can Use Today
A list of useful, no-fluff filmmaking tools.
The Hidden Tools of Comedy
Six tools to help you create a comedy.
Affordable Apogee HDMI adapters for Apple Display Port
Display port to HDMI converter for $65.
A Real 3D Budget
DocumentaryTelevision.com breaks down the cost of shooting 42 minutes of documentary in high-quality 3D.
No Budget Film Making (or Buy Your Own Damn Camera)
Making your film for almost no budget.
DIY shoulder rig for DSLR video, with clever focus puller
Cool custom-made shoulder rig for DSLR camera’s.
Got any cool links? Leave them in the comments!
Making a movie is expensive work and a lot of indie films are lacking in the budget department. I know I’ve had my share of $20 short films, and most of that went to buying duct tape and pizza. Here’s a quick top 10 list of stretching your budget!
Write the script with only one major location. By one location, I don’t mean in one room (although that would make it even cheaper!) but in one place where you can setup all your gear and not have to move it, like a house or a school. There are a lot of rooms in a house so it gives you ample changes of scenery but because you won’t have to travel from location to location, you can shave off several days of production and travel expense.
When you write your script, keep in mind the free props you might have access to. Your friend has 2 replica AK-47s, then you can write an action sequence where your main character is being chased down. Roto in some muzzle flashes and voila! Production value at almost no expense!
Don’t finance with credit cards! I know that there are a lot of stories about people using them to finance their films, but the interest rate will kill you! However, if you’re going to use them despite my dire warnings, use a points card. Preferably one that gives you some savings at a grocery store.
I have a bunch of friends who are hired filmmaking guns. I’m finding more and more people who own their own lighting gear, camera and editing suites. These are your new best friends and you will shower them with whatever it takes to get them to help you out.
A lot of times you can barter and trade one thing for another. Want to shoot in a location that you can’t afford? Why not give them a production point. If your film does well, they will get a piece of the profit.
When you have to pay for something, ask for a lower price. Sometimes all it takes to get a lower price is just to ask! Other times it’ll take a bit more persistence.
The less time you spend working stuff out on set the faster the production will go. Tape and harddrive space may be cheap, but time isn’t! Try to get your team working as a well oiled machine and plow through production as fast as you can!
Never underestimate the power of coupons! Food on a no budget film becomes currency, and never ask your cast and crew to pack their own lunch, you will have a riot on your hands. So cut those coupons to keep that catering budget as low as possible! Oh, and those points on your credit card for the grocery store? Yeah, here’s where they come into play too!
By cheap cold cuts and generic sliced bread. The key to this one is get the deli to cut the cold cuts as paper thin as possible. Stretch that meat as far as it can go!
Sounds counterproductive doesn’t it? The fact is that non paid cast and crew are more willing to abandon your project then a paid cast and crew. The cost of reshooting half your movie because the actor playing your main character quit halfway through production may be more than paying your actors from the get go. You may not even have to pay them that much, just the act of paying them for their work shows how much appreciate them.
Any tips on stretching your budget? Let us know in the comments!
