By David Farrier
Filmmakers around the country now have hope of getting some serious cash to make their idea a reality.
Low-budget films are notoriously tricky to fund, so the brains behind the 48 Hour Film Festival have come up with one easy way for one film to get the money it deserves.
Paranormal Activity, Supersize Me and Clerks were all made for less than $100,000, now the Film Commission and New Zealand On Air have teamed up to dish out $100,000 to one good idea.
“This is a logical extension of the previous work I’ve done amped up to the next level,” says Ant Timpson from Makemymovie.co.nz.
The idea is simple: Kiwis submit their synopsis, and make a movie poster.
A combination of stuffy industry types and the public then decide what idea gets the $100,000, and then they have to make the film in under a year.
“We're gonna do this web series that will follow the whole thing, so despite the fact I loath reality TV…”
The project will be a reality TV show as well, but online. Ah the media landscape - so confusing these days.
Anyway, the main point is funding a film that can be made on a low budget and a film that people will want to see. After all, this is taxpayer money.
“Finding an audience is the hard part…I'm from a music background and the idea of making an album to suit an audience is mental, but for some reason with a film it's different,” says Hugh Sundae.
Films rely on bums on seats, not cheeky internet downloads. That is how movies like Paranormal Activity end up making $230 million.
3 News