What Is An Independent Film ?
An independent film or an indie film for the most part is a film without studio financing.
What determins the category of an independent film is its budget size. An independent film shot under $2 million dollars is considered a low budget film. A film shot under
$ 585,000 dollars is considered a modified low budget and under $75,000 is considered an experimental film. This is defined by the contract sizes with Screen Actors Guild. What most filmmakers shoot is under the $30,000 budget size. These are considered to be micro-budget films. Most of these films are the product of young filmmakers and very rarely get any sort of distribution. At best they are entered into film festivals and end up on the filmmakers shelf at home. As an actor it is important to understand what these films can do for your career or not. When you are submitting for independent film roles learn to ask questions. If it is a film school project expect at best to get a copy of the film
and perhaps a meal or two. It will have very limited distribution, mostly school screenings and if you are luck a small film festival. Student films are produced for the sole purpose of training Directors and crew. Do not expect to be paid. If it is not a student film and the producer claims the film has distribution, ask him/her where? Most of these smaller films will want you to work for no pay which is fine if you are getting what you want out of the deal. If, as an actor you feel that the set is a professional one, the script is great or perhaps they are shooting on 16mm , 35mm, High end HD, the benefit to your career is a copy for your portfolio. These small films can be very valuable when looking for an agent later on. Once you have a copy of film make sure
you find a good editor to develop a film reel to send out later. The best way to do this is post an ad in the Film & TV section of Craigs list seeking an editor. You will have no problem finding an editor who will want to do the job for credit on the reel and perhaps a small amount of money. You should not have to pay no more than $80.
The best way to launch a career as an actor is to become involved in as many independent films that have distribution or our being submitted to Top Film Festivals
actor. professional actor, acting business, acting agents, casting directors, acting schools, acting teachers, actor tips, how to become an actor, movie actor, film actor --- What determins the category of an independent film is its budget size. An independent film shot under $2 million dollars
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The reason why an independent film is so important to an actors career is that if the film has the proper distribution or wins awards at any of the top film festivals the actors involved begin to be noticed by Agents and other Production Companies. So when you are thinking of doing an indie film think for a moment how it benefits you. Please read my section on "Working For Free"
