Filmmaking without a doubt is an art form, and that art form can be done right here at home. Most, if not all of the films that are released into theatres these days are “big budget” films. “Argo” for example, went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture while “The Dark Knight” made $158 million in its opening weekend alone. But just like there are different ways to paint a canvas, there are different ways to make a film.
Every once in a while you see films like “Pulp Fiction” or “500 Days of Summer” that were filmed on relatively small budgets and produced independently from the big studio system but still made it into theaters and sustained a healthy income of ticket sales. Different brush strokes, same painting.
Raul Cantu, a Creative Director for Valley PBS here in Fresno, has been working within the television and film industry for quite some time now. He has even gone as far as producing his own short films independently here in the Valley.
“Unions. It really all comes down to that. When you go the studio route, you have hundreds of people working for you, and everyone has their set job,” said Cantu. “When you go indie, you just pull a few friends together and everyone does two, three maybe even four different jobs.”
He remembers a few years ago that independent films were being produced in and around Los Angeles and the unions were upset because the independent productions were taking them out of the job.
“Who are they to say that’s the only way a movie can be made? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the art form in the first place?” said Cantu
Chris Lofing, a Nebraska native, now lives here in the Valley. At the age of 23, he and his business partner Travis Cluff have independently produced not one, but two feature films in and around the Fresno area. They’ve also started their own production company under the name Tremendum Pictures.
“We knew there was an opportunity to do this in Fresno,” said Lofing. “There are lots of people here in the Valley that still view filmmaking as an exciting experience and something that’s fun, not something to make money off of.”
Lofing and Cluff recently finished production on their second feature film that was entirely shot here in Fresno.
“It really is exciting to see your plan become a reality. When you take on an endeavor like making a movie, especially something of the feature film capacity it’s a lot of hard work, but if you stick with it and are willing to do it, it’s a really satisfying feeling to see it all completed,” said Lofing.
Within recent years, independent filmmaking has become more and more accessible to your average person. With the large amount of relatively inexpensive digital filmmaking equipment available on the market today, almost anyone can pick up a camera and become the next Martin Scorsese.
The immense cost of post-production work has also been simplified with the creation of digital editing software like Final-Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere which is readily available for download onto your computer so you can start slicing away like the best of them.
And, with innovative funding platform sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, obtaining the money that you need in order to make the next “Gone with the Wind” is right there waiting for you; all you have to do is ask for it.
“If you’re going to go indie, go indie. We don’t live in L.A., not every guy bussing tables is trying to be an actor. But we have acting houses here,” said Cantu. “It is possible. Go to those places, network, and make friends. Find people that are as passionate about it as you are … They’ll help you fulfill your dreams, because they’ll be vicariously fulfilling theirs. But most of all and arguably most important: you’ll have fun.”
