I made my first "no-budget" feature film in 2008. My son has made four "no-budget" feature films since then. Two have world-premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival. One world-premiered at the Tacoma International Film Festival.

Cost for production of films: "Daylight Saving Time" - $5,000 but that included the cameras and equipment. "Senior Prom" - $500, "The Historic" - $500. "Finding October" - $3,000 but $1,000 of that was for music rights. "Superpowerless" - $500.

To view these films - go to www.dashboardfilms.net

My two cents:
1. Get talented people involved - not just friends and family.
2. Figure out the locations you have access to and write your story around those. (For my son's film "The Historic" we had access to a 100+ year old movie theatre.)
3. Learn editing or hire a good editor.
4. Learn sound or hire a good sound guy.
5. Figure out your music beforehand. My son's film "Finding October" used songs from various artists.
6. Get a production assistant on board ASAP to walk you through things and be a sounding board.
7. Thank EVERYONE.