micro-budget
Extremely limited funds
Micro-budget describes productions made with extremely minimal funding, typically films or other creative projects operating on a shoestring: Their micro-budget horror film was shot for under ten thousand dollars.
The term emphasizes resourcefulness and constraint—working with whatever's available rather than industry-standard resources.
A step below low-budget, micro-budget often signals independent or amateur work.
Produced outside majors
- shoestringCord for footwear
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- DIYAmateur home projects
- digitalOf discrete data
handheld · skeleton crew · natural lighting · film festival · Sundance · Clerks · crowdfunded · minimalist
Firmly stretched or fitting
- frugalSparing with resources
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- penny-pinchingExtreme reluctance to spend
economical · bare-bones · resourceful · cost-cutting · stretched thin · underfunded · cash-strapped · lean
Loaning tools for fee
- DSLRMirror-reflex digital camera
- deferred paymentBuying before paying
- profit sharePortion of business earnings distributed
- friends and familyPersonal social circle
post-production · editing software · sound design · music licensing · distribution · streaming · VOD · self-distribution
indie
Produced outside majors
- shoestringCord for footwear
- guerrillaIrregular armed fighter
- DIYAmateur home projects
digital · handheld · skeleton crew · natural lighting · film festival · Sundance · Clerks · crowdfunded · minimalist · raw
tight
Firmly stretched or fitting
- frugalSparing with resources
- constrainedForced into narrow limits
- bootstrapStart without external resources
penny-pinching · economical · bare-bones · resourceful · cost-cutting · stretched thin · underfunded · cash-strapped · lean · thrifty
equipment rental
Loaning tools for fee
- DSLRMirror-reflex digital camera
- deferred paymentBuying before paying
- profit sharePortion of business earnings distributed
friends and family · post-production · editing software · sound design · music licensing · distribution · streaming · VOD · self-distribution
- indie cultureindie film, indie rock, indie games, indie music, indie press
- indie filmindie films, indie film, independent, independent film, microbudget
micro-budgetblockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
high-budget · tentpole · big-money · lavish · extravagant
micro-budgetblockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
epic · spectacular · lavish · extravagant · star-studded
micro, budget, microbe, microbial, microphone, microscope, microscopic, microwave, microcosm