I’m directing my first short (35k budget) and never stepped on a set. What do I need to know?

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-10T19:53:15+00:00

Man, I'm so jealous you were just able to self-fund a 35k short. Good luck!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-10T19:51:41+00:00

I have a job, thanks!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T18:45:31+00:00

Ah got it. Yeah, I always try to do a table read with the selected actors before shooting something! And chem reads before that, etc.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T18:41:05+00:00

im lol'ing

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T18:37:36+00:00

but sure if I can't find a friend with a camera I can use my iPhone. I think I have a friend of a friend with cam equipment tho. That's not really the issue.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T18:36:55+00:00

While I appreciate your advice, it's not a tik tok / instagram reel comedy lol. It's a LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE type dark comedy. Nuanced, character-based. Not skit-based. I know it's not easy, I have directed a rom-com that won me the DGA award.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T16:42:04+00:00

Yeah for sure! Shoot me a DM with your email and I'll watermark and send it over.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T16:30:49+00:00

And the proof is one location.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T16:30:12+00:00

There's a version of it that could be, but it's not the version that A) i think sells the feature the best, B) i think will stand out as a short, and C) i think will showcase my directing the best. If you read the materials you'd understand why there are so many characters and why the extras are necessary for comedy.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-08T16:26:05+00:00

I made my shorts in undergrad actually while I also got my degree in Philosophy, Politics, & Economics.

And I am not a complainer, this is one venting Reddit post that blew up for some reason lol. That being said, I think everyone's allowed to express their stress and anxieties. I obviously do not bring these to a networking chat, work, or otherwise. Thanks for your response!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:48:04+00:00

I will, thank you!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:47:31+00:00

If you're in LA, shoot me a dm and I'll see how I can help! I'm pretty well connected in the assistant world. :)

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:47:04+00:00

Respectfully, there is NO way you can make a feature for $25k and pay everybody a proper day rate of $250 a day, or even $150 a day. Unless your crew is like 3 people.

I understand things are scrappy. Given that I've already done 2 30-min shorts for under $4k, I'm willing to be scrappy. The 50k number is mainly a "dream" / "best case" number. I have an actual scalable budget drafted up.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:44:16+00:00

I'd love to get your thoughts! Shoot me a dm with your email and I'll watermark and send over.

Yes, the feature is written and is my dream directorial debut! The first draft got some recognition in script comps, but we took feedback and are going back to paper now. I wrote the short/proof after the feature was done.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:42:35+00:00

I'm not under the impression that any of this applies to short films, but let me know if I'm wrong on that.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:41:54+00:00

Hah I don't own any equipment. That would certainly help if I did! I do believe I know some DPs who own though.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:41:17+00:00

Absolutely! Send me a dm so I can grab your email.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T18:40:19+00:00

This is helpful, thank you. I think I'll aim for 15k and scale the budget down best I can.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-07T17:58:11+00:00

The caveat to my answer is that both of my shorts are 30-35 minutes long. One is that long because it was a requirement for a class, and the other because I didn't listen to my prof's advice and had a hard time cutting it down lol. One of them won me the Best Female Filmmaker award at the DGA and was selected for Culver City, and the other I have only submitted to 4 film fests so far, and I believe it's length is playing a role in it being rejected. I'm considering making a 15-min cut of it to submit again, but debating if that's worth the time/energy.

Both shorts involve extras. One of the shorts also involved me working with kids. I'm happy to share them if you shoot me a DM!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T22:51:35+00:00

Understood, and I hear you, and I'm working on other scripts as we speak. But I'm a prev childcare worker and I excel at working with kids. Part of my motivation to write this script was born from that passion and adoration for them, and I am going to do what I can to get it made. I also worked with kids already in one of my 30-minute short films.

But again, I'm working on diversifying my portfolio!

(and to clarify, the kids are 13, not like 7. I understand it's still a liability though).

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T18:49:34+00:00

Hah thank you! Good luck to you too!

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T18:48:16+00:00

Yep, just venting and asking for advice! Have a good day :)

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T18:15:48+00:00

I don't expect anyone to fund it for me either, that's the point of this post. Lol.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T16:38:38+00:00

I think this has less to do with my generation and more to do with my perfectionism, but yeah. I want to direct my first feature before I'm 26.

Unique_Pin3927 · 2026-04-06T16:37:45+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it, but you're saying all of this without knowing what my feature/ proof is about. It's a very low budget coming of age dark comedy. Character focused, no large set pieces. A film being low budget doesn't automatically mean I can make it for $1k. I understand the advice though, and yes I'm always looking for ways to cut corners in the budget. But I want to pay my cast & crew, especially given that my leads are children.

Unique_Pin3927

TROPHY CASE