How We Made an Alien Fan Film With (almost) No Budget
In honor of the new Alien Earth series, I teamed up with my buddy Jimmy G (aka The Italian Guerilla Gorilla) to create a short Alien fan film—with no crew, no budget, and just the gear we had on hand. What started as a fun collaboration turned into a full VFX experiment that shows what indie filmmakers can achieve when they plan smart.
Below, I’ll break down how we made it happen, from previs to post-production, with answers to some of the most common questions indie filmmakers might ask when tackling a project like this.
How do you make a sci-fi fan film with no budget?
The short answer: you use what you already have. For us, that meant an iPhone 16 Pro, a pop-up green screen, a 3D-printed prop, and Jimmy’s custom Weyland-Yutani SG shotgun.
Instead of relying on a big crew, we kept it lean—just the two of us—and focused on planning shots carefully so we could maximize our resources in post. Pre-visualization in Blender played a huge role here, letting us test shots, find story beats, and solve problems before we ever rolled camera.
Can you really shoot cinematic footage on an iPhone?
Absolutely. Every shot in this project was captured on the iPhone 16 Pro, paired with a DJI Osmo Mobile 7 for stability and the Blackmagic Camera app for full control of settings.
Was it perfect? Not quite—some shots were grainier than I’d like. But for a two-person guerrilla shoot, the iPhone held its own and gave us footage we were proud to work with.
What’s the best low-budget lighting setup for indie VFX shoots?
We didn’t use cinema lights—just smart, affordable tools anyone can grab on Amazon:
Black+Decker LED Work Lights – our main source for backlight and green screen lighting.
EMART LED Photography Lights – USB-powered fills, powered by a Jackery Power Station for flexibility on location.
This simple setup let us light scenes quickly, stay mobile, and still create a cinematic feel on a tight budget.
How do you add a Xenomorph on a budget?
When you don’t have studio resources, the key is to keep it simple:
Use free or affordable 3D models for previs and blocking (we tested a free low-poly Alien before upgrading to a detailed TurboSquid model).
Minimize interaction between actors and CG creatures to reduce complex roto or animation work.
Focus on a handful of close-up shots with strong lighting and depth of field to really sell the effect.
For this film, I also 3D-printed a mini Alien figure as an on-set reference for lighting and framing.
How do you create realistic props on a budget?
Jimmy built a motion tracker using a 3D-printed kit from Etsy, but it lacked a working display. To make it more believable, we added an electroluminescent panel inside so it emitted real light during filming. Later, I comped in the screen graphics in After Effects, making the prop feel authentic both in-camera and in post.
What VFX software and assets did you use?
Here’s a quick breakdown of the digital tools and resources behind the film:
Blender – previs, environment design, and animation.
After Effects + Mocha Pro – compositing, rotoscoping, and screen replacements.
ActionVFX, FootageCrate, FXElements, KitBash3D – stock elements, atmospherics, and environment assets.
By combining previs, smart shot choices, and stock VFX libraries, we were able to finish the entire post-production in about a week.
What gear did you actually use on this shoot?
Here’s the exact gear list with links:
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What’s the biggest takeaway for indie filmmakers?
The most important lesson is that planning is everything. Pre-planning your VFX shots doesn’t just save money—it gives you freedom on set, helps you work around obstacles, and allows you to roll with the punches when things go wrong.
You don’t need a big budget to create something cinematic. You just need the right mindset, the right planning tools, and the drive to make it happen.
Want to go deeper into VFX planning?
📕 Check out my book Shooting for VFX: Your On-Set Guide to Saving Money in Post-Production — where I cover how to break down scripts, prep shots, and avoid costly mistakes in post.
👉 And don’t forget to subscribe to my buddy Jimmy’s new channel: YouTube.com/@gorillajim and check out the FULL FILM BELOW
