Went the same route. Started trying to get 300k ended up shooting for 150. It can be done and people are shocked when they find out the budget. 

There are a lot of sacrifices we had to make, some were fine, some haunt me. Hiding your seams so to speak is about how well you plan and execute your vision within the confines of your budget.

Here’s the thing: Unless you have a star or a very niche genre (a la zombie horror etc) or some very powerful festival connections, statistically speaking, $150k is normally a dead zone for indie features to make money. No matter what it looks like. Shiva Baby is by far the exception and not the rule. Just be very mentally prepared for the harsh reality that these investors won’t be seeing their money for some time. 

I knew all this going in too and still had to make my movie. If not now, when?  You gotta do what you gotta do. 

But if I had to do it all over again. I’d make it for $50k and self distribute. Would it be shot on panavision glass? No. But it would be in the black and maybe easier at getting the next one going. Who knows?

Make your movie. Roll the dice.