Is 350K really a shoestring budget?

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Calling $350K a "shoestring" budget seems like it's probably the opinion of someone used to shooting in LA on film with Union actors and crew. ANy of those elements will suck through $350K like a Hoover.

This movie looked fantastic, but it was shot on video, right? Hi-Def or 24p? That's why the look impressed me so much.<---I stand corrected. I just checked the closing credits and the movie was in fact shot on film. Kodak stock to be specific. It still looks good, I'm just not as surprised they achieved that look. And from watching the behind the scenes (where I spotted the camera prompting me to check the credits) I can see where $350K went. Multiple cranes, trucks to tow the car and a camera rig on the side. A fairly large crew. They spent every cent.

The answer is yes; 350k IS indeed a "shoestring budget" for any american film. (European films have financial backing from their own government, allowing filmmakers freedom to make the film they want without having to worry about backers and investors, who ultimately have a say in the finished product.) I recently saw a Romanian film called "Elevator." the film had an unbelievable budget of UNDER $1,000! the whole thing is shot inside an elevator, with a cast of 2; and it is a very impressive film. Money doesn't buy talent, or artistic vision. Look at Michael Bay's despicable catalog of work, and those trashy films all cost millions. Dante Tomaselli is a talented director with a love for classic Italian horror, and "Satan's Playground" is an effective horror film, that does well with it's small (by American standards) budget. His film "Desecration" is one of my favorite Italian horror movies; it is a beautiful, atmospheric film, appreciated by people who know what a horror film should be.

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