![]() ![]() Klassen brought some of the heavy duty filming equipment for the shoots, and Hirschberg brought his knowledge and hands-on experience from the Loyola Marymount University School of Film and Television. ![]() So, how exactly can one make a film on an $8,000 budget? Well, for one, Hirschberg owns the boat featured in Counterfeiters, and there are only three primary locations, all shot in Marina Del Rey, California. Along with a committed performance from Hirschberg, a few of the standout performances come from Peyton Pritchard as Bridger’s girlfriend, Amber, Shawn Rolph as Bridger’s loyal friend, Jimmy, Robert McEveety as the foolish but entertaining Robbie, Noel Castellanos as the drug kingpin Jose, and Bridget Avildsen (daughter of the Oscar-winning director John G. It may have taken six months to film a 24-hour period, spanning 15 days of shooting, but the cast and crew were more-than up to the task. If you want to get your creative work out there, Counterfeiters is a testament to do-it-yourself, pun intended, filmmaking. It is as if, by sheer power of will, he made Counterfeiters by forgoing the usual steps that one takes to get a a film made he bypassed the studio system, skipped the tricky labyrinths that can make up the independent scene, and used his own production studio, Call It Pictures, to get the job done. As aforementioned, he also directed, wrote, edited, and starred in the film. Hirschberg co-produced Counterfeiters along with his gifted cinematographer and friend, David Klassen. Now, I can’t attest to the accuracy or effectiveness of this method (kids, don’t try this at home), but Hirschberg put in enough research into this process that fuels his Breaking Bad-esque empire, that it seemingly could inspire real-life criminals…but let’s hope it doesn’t. Why small bills? Well, vendors really only check large bills, so, Bridger figures if he sticks to counterfeiting smaller bills, then he’ll avoid trouble with the authorities. The result is a a bill that looks, smells, and feels like money, but one that wouldn’t pass the test of holding it to the light, as there is no plastic strip embedded into it. Essentially, Bridger’s method of counterfeiting entails bleaching one dollar bills, and printing fives, tens, and twenties onto the blank surface. It is at this point that he notices the blank sheet of paper underneath a dollar bill, and the idea is born. In Counterfeiters, Bridger discovers a unique way to counterfeit money by happenstance after his mother accidentally bleaches his laundry with money still in the pocket of his pants. With an engaging, well-structured story, naturalistic dialogue, an engaging cinematic world, and solid performances from a cast of predominantly non-actors, Counterfeiters is a proof that oftentimes infectious passion is the key ingredient to making a successful film. It is a no holds barred thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of its seat throughout its lean, 73-minute runtime. ![]() Hirschberg‘s directorial debut, Counterfeiters, was made on an astounding budget of only $8,000, making it all the more impressive that it’s a well-made film.Ĭounterfeiters is about a young man, Bridger ( Hirschberg), who, with no other options, is forced to submerge himself into a life of crime, inventing a DIY way to counterfeit money in order to save his dying mother ( Julie Simone). We’re not talking about modern independent films that cost an average of around five million to make, but rather, films that are made for under $100,000. ![]() It’s a business model that the Duplass brothershave perfected. More micro-budget films are being made and doing what many big budget blockbuster films can’t do: captivate audiences with their story, not their mind-numbing spectacle. Bryce Hirschberg, the writer, director, editor, producer, and actor behind Counterfeiters, has a promising future in the film industry.
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