How To Make A No-Budget Movie in 48 Hours

"One thing I love about writing a short film is that you can have a great idea and then write it, cast it, film it and edit it in no time at all. You can get a film online within 48 hours, maybe even less.

In August 2011, I write and produced Forecast, a two-minute short film written over two days and filmed in the same amount of time. It was directed by Lee Tomes of Create Film Productions. He wrote a blog post about the experience here.

It was a great learning experience for both of us, and we’ve both gone on to bigger and better things. But you improve as a writer and as a filmmaker by making films – and making mistakes – and growing with each piece of work. You don’t get to B without A, and in the majority of cases, A isn’t much cop. It’s what you take from the experience that counts.

The Inspiration for a 48 Hour Movie

In 2011, I saw the TV advert for the Home Office’s This is Abuse campaign and it really hit home. Personally, I’ve had no experience in this area, although I know people who have. What really hit home for me was the way it was filmed and performed, with the antagonist helplessly watching himself abuse his girlfriend. It’s an outer body experience of sorts, and as the question comes onto the screen: ‘If you could see yourself would you stop yourself?’ the message really hits home.

Shane Meadows, one of my all-time favourite film directors ever since I saw A Room For Romeo Brass around 2002, directed the TV ad. He said about the ad: “It’s a message I fundamentally believe in, and it’s what most of my films have been about – finding another way of leading your life.”

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