Below are links to supplement the IFP Microbudget Filmmaking course. If you haven't taken the workshop and you're not sure where to start, try the books first!

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BOOKS: PRODUCING

Film and Video Budgets 6th Ed.

The Independent Film Producer's Survival Guide: A Business and Legal Sourcebook (3rd ed.)

Producer to Producer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low Budget Independent Film Producing

Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry: From Negotiations to Final Contracts (3rd Ed.)

Clearance & Copyright: Everything You Need to Know for Film and Television (4th ed.)

Contracts for the Film & Television Industry (3rd ed.)

The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers

Think Outside the Box Office

 

BOOKS: GENERAL FILMMAKING

Alternative Scriptwriting: Beyond the Hollywood Formula, 5th Ed.

The Filmmaker's Handbook

Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics

Film Craft Course: The Location Sound Mixer  

 

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EQUIPMENT THAT AGES WELL - MY MICRO KIT PICKS


LIGHTING:
Ikan Small Interview Kit Can fly under your seat as carry-on, small lights are battery powered, which comes in handy in tricky locations.


AUDIO:
Marantz PMD661 Audio Recorder - Easy-to-use, solid state recording with 2 XLR inputs

Zoom H6 Handy Recorder - Easy-to-use, solid state recorder with built-in mics and XLR inputs

Schoeps Colette - The Cadillac of Microphones for location audio

Sennheiser ME64 Microphone - with K6 Power Module - inexpensive mic for on-board or boom work

Sennheiser ew 100 ENG G3 - Wireless Lavalier Microphone Combo System

CAMERA
Manfrotto 504HD - w/546B 2-Stage Aluminum Tripod System - Great fluid-head tripod for a range of camera weights

MeFoto GlobeTrotter - Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Kit - Light-weight, compact tripod

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BASICS

Why Make a Microbudget Film? - Filmmaker Magazine

IFP Screen Forward Screening Series Films

John Cassavetes Award - Independent Spirit Award Nominees (Wikipedia)


DEVELOPMENT

Copyright and Public Domain - Helpful Resources - Self-Reliant Film

15 Steps To Take After You Finish Your Script - Filmmaker Magazine

A Massive List of Upcoming Grants All Filmmakers Should Know About - No Film School

How Films at Sundance Are Kickstarting Their Way to Better Distribution - No Film School

How to Find a Producer - Filmmaker Magazine

List of 100+ Indie Producers - NoFilmSchool

Producers Code of Credits - P.G.A.

Code of Credits - Theatrical Motion Pictures - Producers Guild of America

Here's How to Crowdfund Successfully - Indiewire

8 Things I Learned From My (Failed) Kickstarter Campaign - Indiewire

Guide to Creating an LLC for Your Independent Film - FilmmakerIQ

Filing and Amending a Form D Notice - SEC

SEC Rule 504 / SEC Rule 505 / SEC Rule 506

Can a "Friends and Family Round" include Non-Accredited Investors? - Strictly Business

13 Ways to Cast A-List Actors in Microbudget Films - Filmmaker Magazine

SAG Contracts Summary - SAG Indie

 

PRE-PRODUCTION/PRODUCTION

Insurance for Filmmakers (place #1) - Fractured Atlas

Insurance for Filmmakers (place #2)- Film Emporium

Script Breakdown - HowToFilmSchool

A Step-by-Step Guide for Breaking Down a Script for Production - No Film School

Scenechronize - Free online scheduling software

5 Tips to Find Professional Crew to Work for Free - No Film School

How to Find, Hire and Work with Crew When You're On a Budget - Vimeo

10 Steps to Setting Up a Payroll System - US Small Business Administration

The Five Payroll Basics Every Employer Should Know - Square TownSquare Business Resource Center

How to do Payroll Taxes and Process Payroll Yourself - Square TownSquare Business Resource Center

Storyboard Template - Self-Reliant Film

So You Can't Afford a Wardrobe Designer - Filmmaker Magazine

When a Permit is Required and Fee Info (in NYC) - Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

Do You Need To Remove Company Logos From Your Film? - No Film School

Legally Speaking: Trademarks in Film - Script

Is That Fair (Use)? Third Party Trademarks in Film, Print, Video Games and other Media - Bennett Law Office

Every Filmmaking Form You'll Ever Need - No Film School

A Dozen Useful, Low-Budget Camera-Related Items - Self-Reliant Film

15 Essential (and Inexpensive) Tools for Wardrobe, Hair, & Make-Up - Self-Reliant Film

DIY Catering Part I: 5 Essential Tools under $50 for Low-Budget Film Catering - Self-Reliant Film

DIY Catering Part II: 4 Easy Ways to Go Green(er) - Self-Reliant Film

 

POST-PRODUCTION

Freeware, Shareware, and Cheap Mac Software for Filmmakers

10 Stages of Post-Production, from Data Storage to Deliverables

DISTRIBUTION

Five Film Reviewers On Screening Films - Filmmaker Magazine

Five Film Reviewers Advise Filmmakers - Filmmaker Magazine

50 Unmissable Film Festivals - Variety

10 Best Fests: A Directory - IndieWire

9 Tips for Maximizing Your Film's Success on the Festival Circuit - IndieWire

5 Tips for Filmmakers on How to Navigate the Film Festival World: An IFP Film Week Report - IndieWire

When To Say No to a Festival - The Film Collaborative

A Conversation with Alex Ross Perry - Hammer 2 Nail

How To Understand and Negotiate a Film Distribution Contract - Filmmaker Magazine

Declaration of Independence: The Ten Principles of Hybrid Distribution - IndieWire

How a Small Distribution Company Gave a Tiny Holiday Movie a Successful Release - Sundance Institute

When Leaving Distribution Offers on The Table is Your Film's Best Bet - Sundance Institute

Nine Lessons for Self-Distributing Filmmakers with No Money and No Experience - Filmmaker Magazine

IndieGame The Movie: The Case Study


INTERVIEWS

Biggest Challenge, Best Lesson: I Believe in Unicorns Director Leah Meyerhoff - Filmmaker Magazine

Making the Last Fuji Super 16 Feature: Leah Meyerhoff on 'I Believe In Unicorns' - Filmmaker Magazine

Memories of Afterdevelopment: John Magary on Making The Mend - Filmmaker Magazine

“The Odds Were in Our Favor to Fail”: Krisha at the BFI London Film Festival - Filmmaker Magazine

Family Plot: David Lowery Interviews Krisha Writer/Director Trey Edward Shults - Filmmaker Magazine

Behaving Badly in Nathan Silver’s Stinking Heaven - Filmmaker Magazine

The LOL Team: SRF Interview - Self-Reliant Film

New Voices: An Interview with Josephine Decker - The Notebook

How the Filmmakers Behind Sundance Hit 'Tangerine' Shot on an iPhone & Got Cinematic Results - No Film School

 

OTHER RESOURCES

IFP - The Independent Filmmaker Project

SAG Indie: Sample Contracts and Resources Page

©opy®ight: A Few Helpful Links

Fractured Atlas

Fractured Atlas - Discounts