When Morgan Evans and Patrick Noth sat down to craft *Micro Budget*, a comedy so independent it practically runs on hopes and dreams, they accepted the challenge of creating this masterpiece on—wait for it—a micro budget. After all, who needs financial backing when you’ve got sheer determination and a friend or two willing to fill the gaps?
Evans, who has been seen darting around with The Onion and directing the likes of *Broad City*—because apparently no one warned him about the pitfalls of corporate cost-cutting—found himself suddenly freed from several projects. It forced him to channel his inner DIY filmmaker and control his destiny, rather than let some faceless executive decide his future. Spoiler alert: They decide they need stars—not just any stars, but colossal ones, because why not?
Fortunately, these two had a network that dates back to their days of fart jokes and improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade in New York, where future legends (or at least people who won’t go hungry) like Neil Casey and Bobby Moynihan honed their craft. These friendships proved invaluable, as they corralled some fairly recognizable names to fill roles in *Micro Budget*. It started as a friendly favor and quickly escalated into a full-blown star-studded affair.
Before they knew it, they snagged Chris Parnell—a SNL and *Anchorman* regular—and the brilliantly quirky Maria Bamford. Throw in a dash of irony, and you have a film that’s shamelessly self-aware about its budget, yet heartily loaded with talent. It’s practically a comedy buffet where the only limiting factor is the price.
*Micro Budget* makes its debut this Saturday at the Calgary International Film Festival, which is so prestigious they even have a label reading, “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” High hopes aside, what’s a film without a flavor of delusion? Noth stars as Terry, a wannabe auteur with grand ideas that are as misguided as his belief that he can snag an A-list star for his low-budget flick.
But here’s the comedic twist: they really did manage to persuade a big-name celebrity to play a cameo—and no, it isn’t the guy who gives away free hugs. In fact, to maintain that sweet element of suspense, we’ll refrain from dropping names here. But let’s just say, they might need to invest in a larger billboard for that credit.
“We knew we had to swing for the fences on this one,” Evans explains, clearly not one to shy away from lofty goals. Initial pitches to his agents yielded names that, while recognizable, didn’t fulfill his need for *the* big-name close. “The stakes were high, and if we were on the cusp of truly embarrassing ourselves, I at least wanted it to be in style.” Cue the producers, who decided to work some serious magic—and suddenly, they were sitting at the same table with one of the world’s most recognizable faces. Truly, this project had gone from “Let’s see if this works” to “Well, this escalated quickly.”
Of course, even in a micro budget setting, everyone was paid the identical paltry SAG-AFTRA minimum. Yes, including the aforementioned A-lister. “He got the same rate as everyone else,” Evans quips. “Apparently, he just loves comedy.” Once on set, the mysterious glob of fame was nothing short of professional—seriously, it was like watching your high school classmate nail a presentation after you barely crawled through the theoretical book report.
And the film possesses more than just stellar performances; it’s filmed in this stunning Malibu home that even boasts an ocean view. It feels like *Micro Budget* was shot during an extravagant vacation minus the price tag of a trip to the beach. Evans humorously credits the location to his girlfriend, whose late grandfather was none other than Peter Marshall of *Hollywood Squares* fame. Yes, you heard that right; it’s the kind of serendipity that even the best script couldn’t conjure up.
Ultimately, *Micro Budget* is aiming for distribution, and we have our fingers crossed that potential buyers won’t be too shocked when they realize they’re signing up for a gloriously chaotic ride through the world of indie filmmaking. Let’s face it: everyone loves a good underdog story, especially one with a hint of irony and quite possibly, some serious chutzpah.
