“It’s easier to make a movie for nothing than with a budget.”

                                      Photo: Jess Husband
Producer, Peter Furst

by Carissa Pritchard

12 September 2011.

This bold statement from Peter Furst, independent filmmaker and soon to be lawyer, is being put to the test with his new project, Reservoir Cats, now in pre-production.

In his last project, Australian Pie, he raised $200,000 from friends and colleagues but learned working with a limited budget was harder than none. “When you have a budget, everyone feels they should be getting something. People feel they’re being cheated if you ask them to do something for free when someone else is being paid.”

Furst wants to inspire filmmakers to spend their time making films, not making money to make films. “Take catering as an example. We have to feed forty people a day for twenty days. Even on as little as ten dollars per person, how many first time filmmakers can raise $8000 just to buy lunch?” His plan is to ask local café’s to help out and Red Bull are already on board with refreshments. 

What about making a profit? “Any profit is going to charity – we don’t even have a bank account. We haven’t made money in the past, why not start with the intention of not making anything?”

Reservoir Cats is a remake of Tarantino’s classic, Reservoir Dogs with an all female cast. Why?

“I’m interested in challenging peoples prejudices, especially gender roles. We have a belief that all people are equal, until you see a woman doing something a man does.”

Will Furst prove his theory?

“Without cash, we can’t get public liability insurance and the City of Sydney won’t give permission to shoot without it.”

Can he find a way around it?

“I take pride in proving you can do the impossible.”