Edward Burns' ultra-low-budget relationship film "Newlyweds" will be closing-night attraction at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, TFF organizers announced on Monday.
Burns says he made the film in 12 days for only $9,000, and explained the process on his Twitter account, along with photos of the bare-bones production (left). The Filmmaker Magazine Blog also rounded up the details: Burns shot on his own camera, had his actors do their own hair and makeup and wear their own clothes, and didn't use lights or boom mikes during the 12-day production.
The film's world premiere will take place on Saturday, April 30, at the conclusion of the 12-day festival. This marks the sixth time (out of 10 films) that Burns has premiered a film at TFF.
“Tribeca is my home in every sense — it’s where I live, and it’s also the place where I have been so proud to show my work,” said Burns in a press release announcing the premiere. The writer-director-actor's other films include "She's the One," "The Brothers McMullen" and "Sidewalks of New York."
"Newlyweds" deals with a young couple whose honeymoon is disturbed by the arrival of other family members. The film stars Burns, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Max Baker, Marsha Dietlein Bennett and Kerry Bishe.
On Twitter, Burns gave a breakdown of the film's budget — $5,000 for actors, $2,000 for insurance and $2,000 for "food and drink" — and explained why he made the move to the tiny budget.
"I went hat in hand to the money guys for years," Burns tweeted. "Just couldn’t do it anymore."
Another tweet: "True, you do need a few grand. But you used to need a few million."
The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival festival begins on April 20. More information is available at www.tribecafilm.com.
