Low Budget

If anyone suffers from lack of money, we speak of a low budget. For example, in the film-making business it is known that beginners freshly from the film-academies seldom have the chance to get at funds worth mentioning for their first films. But that does not neccessarily mean that they will get no support!

Sponsorship

Many well known actors and actresses support students from film academies when they undertake first steps in their carreers. Several well-known sponsors have been casted for far less money than usual or even played without any fee at all. The terms of these agreements have very often not been discussed. They often depend on good contacts in the business or the guts to advance a big filmstar with a good script. The supportive actors and actresses know well that the beginner of today can be the star director or cameraman of tomorrow. In many cases, the supporters have also started their carreers under frustrating circumstances and were supported by someone in the beginning. Many low budget films made it into film festivals and into the hearts of the public. Well known actors and directors, cameramen and scriptwriters have started on a low budget. Some of them made it to the top. Being there, they can sometimes rely on unlimited budgets – but the fun of the early days is gone.

Few money but lots of options

A low budget certainly limits the efforts and possibilities that any business offers. On the other hand, it enhances any form of creativity and forces you to improvise. An idea can be gigantic and visionary in its size – but that does not mean that you need gigantic equipment to bring it to life. It might well be useful to think small and big at the same time! The main question in a low budget case is: How can I transport my original idea in a way that does not force me to spend non-existent money on expensive equipment etc. In some cases, a low budget brings you into another country where prices are decidedly lower and your vision can be brought to life with half the budget you’d usually need. In other cases, the low budget has been the main reason why someone had to stretch the realisation of a certain project over several years because he had to work in the times in-between. However: A low budget makes it harder, but certainly not impossible!