Making a $0 Indie Film in 4 Weeks (What Could Go Wrong?)

We challenged ourselves to make a $0 musical short film in just 28 days, for a real film festival competition.

This is Part 1 of our 28-Day Musical Challenge, where we document the process of making an indie short film from scratch under extreme time pressure.

In this episode, we break down:

• The film festival prompt and competition rules (including the “no generative AI” restriction)

• Why we chose to make a musical short film on a zero budget

• Writing the script during a 12-hour car ride after procrastinating

• Turning Dungeons & Dragons mechanics into political satire

• How we’re composing original music with no budget

• Why we’re pre-recording vocals instead of recording live

• The importance of “kill your darlings” when writing a short film under deadline

If you’re an indie filmmaker, screenwriter, or creator trying to:

• Make a short film quickly

• Meet a film festival deadline

• Shoot a musical on a budget

• Avoid common indie filmmaking mistakes

• Document your filmmaking journey

This series is for you.

New episodes follow the full process, from script to casting to production to post, and whether we actually pull this off.

Real mistakes. Real budgets. Real indie filmmaking.

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Show links: 

Filmmaker of the Week, Adam Smith: https://www.wishingwhalesmotionpictures.com/ _____________________________________

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