Proof of concept works! Whether they are photo stills or a short film. Making a feature film is expensive and time-consuming. So break it down to the bare minimum. Can’t afford a proof of concept video yet? Or a short film? Start off with a photo shoot! What better way to start envisioning your film than doing a photo session that reflects the mood of your screenplay?
Last year I got hired to do a pitch deck for a paramedic mental health documentary/feature film by my filmmaker client Clint Dubose. I could have used stock photos but nah! Just because I’m a Line Producer who does film budgets doesn’t mean I’m not a filmmaker first! I wanted to go the extra mile. So I called a few actor friends, my SFX makeup artist, found a brilliant photographer, and a small-town fire department who gave us the keys to the city! We got fire trucks, cop cars, an ambulance, and real first responders! All for free! Chief told me if I had given him a few hour’s notice he could have gotten us a helicopter!
I must have spent $1,500.00 out of my own pocket to make this happen.
Not everyone can afford my pitch deck package but there really isn’t any excuse not to start making some visual manifestation of your screenplay! Not visually gifted? Talk to a photographer or DP! Call a few actors and do something! And for the love of cinema do not use AI!
Now if you do need a film budget or pitch deck send me a direct message! I’ll create something amazing for you!
1 Comment
Raouf Zaki · October 16, 2023 at 1:32 am
Nice article and a very practical approach using pro photography. How viable is a proof of concept short in your opinion to securing funding ? Can you give us real life examples on how shorts in the past two years led to securing funding for a feature ? Thanks a lot
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