How to make a horror movie with a low budget: tips for independent filmmakers

To quote Rocco Nisivoccia Jr., “The genre itself is the star, and that’s why horror works so much better if you’re independent,” This one line actually sums up the entire blog. It is actually possible to make horror films with limited resources. Even, there are examples of successful filmmakers who started their career with making horror movies and made it big in the industry. Like James Cameron, or Francis Ford Coppola.

As convenient may it sounds, you need to resort to few tricks to make your movie reach to the audience. Below are the tricks:

P.S: Just remember, even if you are aiming for film festivals, you still need to make a good film first. So do not ignore this writing:

1. Get a good story

Write a good, smart story. In the writer’s room, always have the option of plan B. By smart filming we mean, DO NOT keep elaborate, grand shots that you cannot afford (financially and time wise). Delete any segment which includes drone shots, pan shot (up-down) or extreme close up. All of these require high quality camera, crane and high budget. Green screens should be off your list.

While writing for shooting outdoors, keep a backup plan. You cannot control weather. We can recount many instances where, sudden rain or snowfall stopped the whole shooting process. It was the only smart directors who had a backup script who could save the day.

2. Build a family, not a team

We often mention this; an indie filmmaker must build a family and not a team. Your cast & crew need to be faithful, trustworthy, and equally passionate about work as you are about your film. They need to trust your vision. Build a team, who are willing to stand by you, through thick and thin. Wfcn. co has so many talented work professionals who can be that family for you. And the best part of it is: they know what they are doing.

For instance, Quentin Tarantino has an exceptional knack for casting Leonardo DiCaprio. He has grown a special trust in his acting skills. He is comfortable, working with him, and you can see the result for yourself.

3. Spend your money right

This is not our opinion originally; we saw this on The Hub blog website. It is a brilliant option. They said that an independent filmmaker should focus on getting their teammates good food. A well-fed team can perform also really well. If you could build a good relationship with them, even if you have technical difficulties, they will help you overcome them.

The next thing they mentioned is good transportation. They should not pay a penny to get to the workspace. They are already working for you, some even be volunteering for you. So the least you can do is provide them with good and free transportation.

4. Go big on film promotion’

Save a chunk of your film budget for film promotions and marketing. As a wise man said once, “Filmmaking is not just an art nowadays, it is a business”. To run any business you need to gather as much attention as possible. Promote your film on social media, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, etc. You can self-promote your film on WFCN’s own OTT Platform- CANVAS. Film Festivals are also a golden opportunity to promote your film.

These tips should clear your doubts about low-budget horror filmmaking.