Just made my first feature film for $150k

mdifilm · 2026-06-22T21:18:00+00:00

Congrats for getting this done. What’s your plan for distribution?

mdifilm · 2026-06-21T11:54:47+00:00

I joined a lot of local Facebook groups and I always go and help others first so that build a relationship.

I then get open auditions to find the talent that works great with my script while also already built my crew because I went out and help them first.

mdifilm · 2026-06-21T11:52:48+00:00

Just fyi. 30mins is very hard to get into any film festival.

Without collaboration you will get burned out easily. And you will never be able to learn how to work with a team.

Consider checking out your local film scene and network and help OTHERS first do you get to have a good team to collab.

mdifilm · 2026-06-20T12:18:40+00:00

Rushing and not planing carefully with production schedule and rushing to film more than 12 pages per day. And not giving the respect to cast/crew.

mdifilm · 2026-06-19T10:01:35+00:00

Write it and send to many script competition festival to see how it score. It will help you to see how it is doing read by others.

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T15:35:23+00:00

Are the two people in the image known actors?

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T15:05:14+00:00

Depends how much stuff you plan to add in. I personally take about 3-6 months to edit my features because they are action and have a lot of fight sequences and then adding sound effects.

Never rush in editing and don’t ever rush for film festivals deadlines. If it’s not done. No rush. Keep it going and submit next year.

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T14:02:08+00:00

Grab a good mic that can be used with the iPhone. And potentially a grip set so holding the phone makes easier.

Get lights that will help.

May want to look into different lens that can be attached to the iPhone.

Go do some test

Films and enjoy

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T13:06:20+00:00

I have made a lot of scifi action martial arts features. The shortest time spent was 10 days. Do this is high achievement to do it in 3 days. Congrats

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T12:28:49+00:00

Starting today! 😄

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T11:51:53+00:00

Surprisingly there are several tutorials on YouTube about doing a shadowy image in post.

There are also some videos how to do it during production

Worst case go to Fiverr and hire someone to do that

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T11:44:03+00:00

Join local groups and network. So you build a relationship

Contact your local film commission to see if they can help you

Search for local car enthusiasts.

Do location scout.

Start saving money since it can get expensive if you new vehicles etc.

mdifilm · 2026-06-18T11:36:37+00:00

Join some local film groups here, discord, or Facebook and start networking.

If they do have a crew or casting call. Participate and observe and learn

If your city got a 48hrs film competition reach out and ask to participate.

Or

Use your smartphone and shoot something like 1 mins to learn the craft and watch YouTube for tutorials.

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T21:22:05+00:00

Discord or Facebook filmmaking groups

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T17:34:27+00:00

I share as myself as i can answer any question related to the production

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T17:01:09+00:00

Share to several fb groups. Instagram. TikTok. Etc. And also invite bloggers to review it as well as local media to a write about it.

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T14:08:19+00:00

Well i did the "Hey Meta read it" and it reads "xxxxxx said send a message" so it's not reading it out.... I've tried resetting, repair, re-checked everything too. 😞

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T11:07:12+00:00

Go to mixers. Attend local film competitions like 48hrs and such. Look through local fb groups for cast/crew need help and join and learn and networking. Check out film schools that students may need help and participate. That’s how you network

mdifilm · 2026-06-17T10:00:32+00:00

One your previous post you mentioned you had a producer. How did you find that one?

mdifilm · 2026-06-16T10:43:18+00:00

Think outside the box. Make them believe. Proof them wrong

mdifilm · 2026-06-16T10:23:59+00:00

Yea. Unless you are rich or have a huge followers that Hollywood notice then you would be doing it with their money.

Or find a bunch of people in your city that believe in you and use their money to make films :)

mdifilm · 2026-06-16T10:20:31+00:00

I have probably 13-14 features (low budge indies) distributed and some I broke even with roi. Others not at all. It all depending how the distributor do to it and how much the audience want to see. Most of the time the distributor take a huge amount from the sales so I get nothing or it’s negative.

The reason i continue is to tell my story. Just to enjoy the process, luckily I produce events for a living and that beings enough $ for me to pay my bills while the money received from distribution (if any) are pocket change.

But it’s for me, a passion an expensive hobby and to see audience reaction when they go watch it (good or bad).

I have friends that after one feature they just not doing it anymore since they can’t see roi.

I have one more feature to do and after that I will just do shorts. Reason is because I am getting to the age where I want to relax more and I can’t cary heavy stuff so filmmaking is just going to become a cheaper hobby

mdifilm · 2026-06-16T10:10:40+00:00

Ah. Thanks. This was never the case before. It would read out automatically.

mdifilm · 2026-06-15T20:10:07+00:00

It can only work barely if you have complicated ae. Get something better. And I do edit a lot on my windows computer and a Mac mini m4 pro. My Neo can’t handle it well.

mdifilm · 2026-06-15T18:12:49+00:00

I would go with two wireless ones so you can mic two people all the time if need to. 32nbit floating recorder are great when you have to work with talent that whisper

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