Making a low budget horror film is a great way for an aspiring filmmaker to gain experience. Depending on the film's distribution, it may also be a way to get noticed by a producer with deep pockets and powerful contacts in Hollywood.

There are a few quick and easy steps to making a low budget film. First, by talking about your budget you can determine if you are making a low budget film (up to $5000) or a no budget film (up to $1000). Each has a specific audience in mind, each has there own pitfalls.

Whatever you do, don't listen to someone who tells you that you can't make a "real" movie for under $1000. Tell them to go rent THE LAST BROADCAST, of visit www.nobudgetfilmschool.com and check out at least 100 films that got picked up for distribution and were made for under $1000.

I can also point you to ten or fifteen websites where filmmakers just like you are making real money (a good living) off of low budget films they produce in their own backyards. So piss on all of the naysayers.

Now to the steps:

Script

Actors

Financing

Equipment

Editing

Scoring

Duplication

Distribution

All of which can be accomplished using FAME.

F ocused

A ction Plan

M odel Success

E experience Success

Figure out what kind of budget you have to work with, and plan your film around it. Decisions must made early on regarding what type of horror film you can afford to make. Above all, do a high estimate of costs to avoid going over budget. I prefer your first 5 films be under $1000 bucks.

Why? Anyone can come up with $1000 bucks. Heck, get ten actors together, toss in $100 each to cover expenses, and you've got your budget covered. Just don't blow it! You're going to need some of it later.

Making a film has a learning curve to it. Like any other habit, it takes time to develop and get good at it. So you should practice. Some people say practice with shorts. Okay, but it's hard to sell shorts. You can post them on Youtube and drive traffic to your site, but why are you making movies in the first place? You want to make money, so you can make more movies, so you can make money, so you can-

All right, you get it. Great. Plan your budget carefully. Feed everyone, especially since they're working for free.

SCRIPTING

Find a good script that you can work with, or write one yourself. A decent script is the backbone of any film.

Especially with horror movies. You can spend all your time on blood and gore, but without a good plot and believable characters your audience won't care.

Keep your locations to a minimum, and make sure you have access to locations.

Get creative, and avoid the typical clichés found in the horror genre.

If you need someone to write your script for you, send an e-mail to lowry.cd@hotmail.com. I'll work off of your idea for small up front money and a piece of the production pie. Plus, I'll tell you how to market your film to make all of your money and more back.

If you do write your script yourself, use a 30 beat outline. 10 beats to set up your movie, 10 to play it out, and 10 to solve it. Each beat is a 3 minute scene. Be original. What haven't you seen in a horror movie? Not sure how to execute it? Send me an e-mail for help.

ACTORS

Cast your film according to the script you have chosen. If you've decided to make a campy, cheesy horror film, grab any actors who are willing to follow you on this journey for little to no pay.

Use friends, and family. Use Craigslist to find actors. Offer to trade to work on their pet projects if they will work on yours. This works with cameramen too.

Do not forget the power of the network here. If you are not tapped into myspace or Facebook or some social network, get tapped. Search for actors in your area, and make them your friends.

Have everyone working on your film make a page and join your friends and put their friends in to expand their network. Some of my friends have thousands of people in their network. You can use this to your advantage later.

Use the best actors you can find. Everyone wants to, or wanted to be a movie star at one point. Don't abuse your actors. Treat them with respect and dignity. Feed them. That's very important.

CAMERA

Purchase or rent a decent digital video camera.

You are not ready for film yet.

Get a 3 chip camera (or get a cameraman who has one off Craigslist. Trade for Associate producers credit)

Back in the days of "Clerks" and "Reservoir Dogs," all action was shot on film and if you lived in places like Boise, Idaho, you were screwed because no one rented pro-level cameras. But now, almost every small-budget indie film is being shot on handheld digital hi-fi cameras-you can get a great rig at your local electronics store-you don't even have to rent them anymore, you can just buy them. The other advantage to digital is no traditional film, and you can ask any film producer and they'll agree, film will drain your budget almost immediately.

LIGHTS

Digital needs light, but if you're shooting after dark, what can you do? Shoot lots of close ups, and get two clamp lights from a hardware store. Set them up on C-Stands with 150watt bulbs to throw light on a scene. Use cardboard to create strips of light (barn doors). Your cameraman's experience will be invaluable.

Best of all, when shooting on digital, just play it back, and watch it to see how it looks.

I recommend shooting tight, and fast. This is better for all involved. Try to use as much light as you can get away with.

As a director, you should have a shot list for each scene in the script, and an idea of how you want your film to look in your head. Stick to your shot list.

Special effects and make-up.

Fake blood is easy to make with most recipes that you'll find on the Internet consisting of food coloring and corn syrup. Get creative with your effects, like using ground beef to simulate mutilated flesh or condoms full of fake blood to simulate intestines and entrails. I've included a blood mix at the back of this book.

Use make up on your actors. Highlight eyes, and powder faces. Don't go overboard. For your very first low budget film, don't use a clown, or an elaborate killer's disguise. Michael Meyers had a William Shatner mask spray painted white in Halloween. Cost? $5.

STORYBOARDS

Live and die by your schedule. Break each scene down by location, cast, and props. You'll most likely be shooting out of sequence, so shoot all of your living room shots in the same night, then all of your bedroom shots, all of your bathroom shots and so on and so forth.

Make extensive lists, and notes and keep it in a three ring binder. Your script should be marked up, highlighted and tabbed.

Each scene breakdown should include everything you need in the scene, and storyboards (a visual shot list). If you shoot the film in your mind first, it will be easier to shoot on set.

The great thing about low budget horror scripts is you can be creative. Need to set the mood of a stalker? Set the camera up outside of a bedroom window and be his POV watching the hot lead actress undress (yes, nudity helps in sales!) Put some leaves and branches in front of the lens (turn off auto focus!).

Change angles. Be careful with handheld, it makes us dizzy. Use a tripod. Use bags of beans to plant your camera on a level surface. Experiment and explore.

Shoot lots of B roll. B roll are shots of cars driving up and parking, landscape passing by, the little things that will make your film look polished in editing.

Your actor brushing his teeth before having the toothbrush shoved through the back of his throat, spraying the bathroom wall with blood? Show him putting toothpaste on the brush. Trust me, it adds realism.

EDITING

Edit your film using one of the computer-based editing programs out on the market today. Make sure to set the tone of your horror film during the editing process. Post for an editor on Craigslist or do it yourself. Follow your shot list and notes and cut quick, then go back and make adjustments.

SCORING

This is the music you use on your soundtrack. Find a local composition student (they're on campus) and have him score your track. Find someone who plays guitar and use their original music. Get releases.

In fact, your production notebook should have releases for actors, locations and music in it at all times. If you get picked up by a national distributor, you'll need them. If you distribute by yourself, you'll need them.

You should also keep a file for every contract with every actor regarding compensation. Most people will work for Free if there is a reward at the end in sight. If you make money off of your film, you should share that money with the people who helped you make it.

Be sure everything is in writing!

DUPLICATION

If you're selling this film yourself (and I can think of ten reasons why you should and ten ways to make it happen fast) then just grab some DVD's on sale and burn off copies 20 at a time. Put them in disc cases with printed cover art and they're ready for sale. Need cover art? Find a local graphic designer to do it for $20.

DISTRIBUTION

I think a film made for $1000 - $5000 should be self distributed, but don't forget to ship some copies out to your favorite production companies in LA. You will make money if you sell 100 on your own (easy as pie!) but you will get a production deal and move up in budget if people like your work.

I can help you here as well, either through introductions, or acting as your distributor. Send me an e-mail with distribute my film in the subject line and let's talk. I'll do all of the work, you cash your checks, or we'll come up with a marketing plan together that puts cash in your pocket the first weekend your film is complete!

BLOOD

Whether you produce amateur horror films or have a weakness for pranks, fake blood can be a wicked ally. Unfortunately, finding the right concoction can be tough. With so many recipes to browse, you may find yourself in a bloody overload. Here's a simple recipe sure to make those stomachs swoon.

1/2 cup water

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

4 tbsp. corn syrup

1 tsp. red food coloring

2 drops yellow or green food coloring

Blend the cocoa powder with your water first. Warm water works best and should be mixed thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

Combine corn syrup 1 tablespoon at a time into your mix until you have the desired consistency. Real blood is slightly thicker than water and readily drips when splattered across any surface.

Add food coloring sparingly until you have achieved a deep brownish-red appearance. Adding green coloring darkens the blood, while red brightens it.

Mix your ingredients well and let them settle for a few minutes. The longer the fake blood sits, the more it will settle to the bottom, just like the real stuff!

Skim off the scum or residue that appears on top with a spoon or paper towel.

Test your blood's consistency. If it appears too runny, add another teaspoon of corn starch and remix. Conversely, if it is too thick, add small amounts of hand sanitizer, knowing that the blood will no longer be edible.

Pour it over your victim's body or splatter it across any dry surface. The fake blood should darken and dry like the real thing.

Experiment with your own recipes. There are tons of ways to make fake blood. Try experimenting with the following ingredients: red gelatin, vegetable oil, peanut butter, glycerin or anything else you can devise!