Low-Budget Documentary Tips from a Passionate Filmmaker

A filmmaker and YouTuber recently shared his experiences making low-budget documentaries, including those about Bigfoot, in a video on the Film Courage YouTube channel. I was excited to delve into his insights and share them with our fellow Bigfoot enthusiasts. J. Horton, the filmmaker in question, emphasized the importance of passion when creating documentaries. For him, connecting with the people involved in the project is crucial, regardless of the subject matter. He takes a journalistic approach to his work, often not paying for interviews and relying on his own equipment, such as an Audio-Technica shotgun mic and Sennheiser lavalier mics, as well as a Zoom H6 or H4 for sound. When it comes to writing documentary scripts, Horton doesn't follow a traditional structure. Instead, he prefers to let the interviews guide the narrative. He allows the questions to lead to new topics, often resulting in a different direction than initially anticipated. This approach has allowed him to create documentaries quickly, often in just a week from shooting to post-production. Horton's Bigfoot documentaries have been financially viable for him, but he stresses that success may vary for other filmmakers. His main piece of advice for those looking to create low-budget documentaries is to know when to walk away and consider a project "good enough." Treating the process like an assembly line can help independent filmmakers create content more efficiently. As curators for Squatchable, we encourage our readers to watch the full video to gain a better understanding of Horton's experiences and insights. By embracing a low-budget approach and focusing on passion and connection, filmmakers can create engaging and informative documentaries that contribute to the ongoing conversation about Bigfoot and other cryptids.