Recently, I’ve been pondering what (if anything) separates “high-production” filmmakers from their “low-budget” competition these days. As video and filmmaking technology has advanced, and what was previously high tech has become cheap enough for your average videographer to afford, your average video has increased in quality. And “low-budget” filmmakers are putting out videos that would put previous professional efforts to shame.
Does a Smaller Camera Mean More Opportunity?
In my opinion, it does. Just a few years ago, you would have needed 10-foot cranes and dolly track trailers to capture a scene with motion. Now, electronic gimbals and even body vest stabilizers are available to the average consumer. Therefore, the ability to capture high-quality, movement-based footage is more available than ever. And that’s just one example of what a “low-budget” filmmaker can do on their own, with today’s technology. Even better, this technology is portable and compact – which makes it easy to use even if you’re a one filmmaker operation. There’s so much more that today’s filmmakers can do with so much less, thanks to how affordable video-making technology has become.
Can You Grow a Large Audience Without a Production Crew?
Once again, in my opinion, you sure can. People have more communication power in their hands now than they ever have before, at any other time in history. There’s a downside to this information overload, of course. Spending hours scrolling on your smartphone might make you more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and even just neck pain from looking down at a phone so much.
But the upside is that most anyone has the ability to make a difference in a matter of minutes online. For example, a handful of YouTubers recently got together to raise 20 million dollars to plant 20 million trees. It can be hard to put yourself out there online, but you have the power to (if that’s something you’re interested in). So you can show your work to thousands or millions of people for free – if you put the time and effort in. As long as your videos or films are good, you can find an audience.
There Is No Longer Such a Thing as a Low-Budget Filmmaker
A filmmaker is an artist that operates in three areas: the craft of filmmaking itself, psychology, and entrepreneurship. These days, someone can become a successful filmmaker at any level, no matter how fancy their gear is or how many people they can afford for their production crew. Publishing your work, getting noticed, and getting paid now comes down to your level of commitment and creativity, not your budget.
