I had this idea...

Here is an idea I had long ago. I couldn't see how to make any money by making a zero-budget movie. It just seemed impossible.

BUT...there was a spate of books at the time telling people how to make movies with almost no money. I figured the how-to books were where the real money was. Think of it as merchandising.

So just rush your movie into production. Back then, I would say film on Super8 and release the movie on VHS. Film without sound and dub. Then write your book. Or write the book first, either way.

And, once the book is published, you could even parlay that into a teaching job---an adult education course or, if you can manage it, a professorship.

Fortunately, mediocrity in academia is self-perpetuating. Professors who are already on the job have a say in hiring, and they don't want to hire some big shot who'll overshadow them. Some guy who made one terrible movie and wrote a book about it would be the ideal candidate.

Of course, those days are long gone. There are no more books on how to make a zero-budget movie because it's OBVIOUS how to make a zero budget movie. You buy a camcorder, then you make the movie.

I need a new idea. Some new scheme.