Learning from what others have done is a valuable trait in any producer. When you see what others have accomplished and how they did it, you can then take those ideas and modify them into something of your own. That's one of the reasons why a project profiled on Apple's Pro/Video Web site is so interesting. It offers a myriad of "Wow, that's a great idea! How can I use that?" moments.
In this case, the profile is of a film titled "Able Edwards," which has been described as "an amalgamation of Citizen Kane, Walt Disney and Howard Hughes against the backdrop of 'Things to Come.'"
What make this retro-themed story about a cloned outer-space CEO make one sit up and take notice is not so much the film itself, but the method in which it was produced. It was shot on miniDV in front of a greenscreen and there were no sets. All of the action takes place in front of backgrounds composed of photos scanned from architectural books borrowed from the public library and then Photoshopped into unique environments. While this method isn't much different from the extensive computer-created environments used in "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," it is an ambitious effort that shows what a little persistence and creativity can accomplish on a low budget.
The $30,000 budget resulted in a 90-minute feature film that was produced entirely with prosumer-level equipment. This ambitious offering demonstrates that the days in which independent and low-budget filmmakers had to settle for small locations and small production value are past. Technology, hard work and a commitment to excellence makes a big-budget look possible for even the low-budget producer.
That said, even with the tools of greatness at our fingertips, "Able Edwards" still drives home the point that it isn't the tools that make for a successful independent film - it's the story and the performances in front of the camera that will go the distance when the day is done.
Apple - Pro/Video - Low-Budget Sci-Fi Epic
Able Edwards Project Website
