According to Michael Hirsch, a lifestyle correspondent, in his article How To: Produce An Independent Film, there are four steps to the process of making a movie and getting yourself started on the road to Tinsel Town:

1. Development
2. Pre-Production
3. Production
4. Post-Production.

Of course, it would be ridiculous to expect fast cars, mansions, and hot starlets all at once. Instead, experts recommend that you start with humble goals, such as producing a great film at a budget of under $200,000 but not less than $15,000, and treat it as a valuable learning experience on the way to a future career in film making.

Attending an introductory film production class and local film seminars will be very much helpful. Also, studying books on filmmaking, especially those by successful producers, reading film industry magazines, and checking out websites will also do you a world of good. Watching DVD commentary tracks of your favorite films are also advisable. The Project Greenlight series, in particular, shows how not to produce a film.

Let's now go to the steps.

1. Development

   There are several things that you must do. Firstly, you must set up consultations with a local entertainment lawyer who has a basic understanding of entertainment law, but who is junior enough to charge you rates in line with your budget. Secondly, you must become familiar with the concept of deferment, which is a payment deferred to the back-end of the film, payable once the film is sold. Deferring part of the cast and crew salaries is a good way to keep your budget low. Thirdly, you must buy a killer script (Read: inexpensive to shoot, subject matter familiar and close to your heart) since a great movie depends on a great script. You may put up advertisements soliciting for scripts in film publications and listings at local film schools. You may also check out spec script websites. Do not forget to option the script since it gives you the exclusive right to make the script into a film for a certain period of time. Lastly, find a director and a rich investor.
   

2. Pre-Production

   For pre-production, putting together a good crew is first. Film students or professional crew people with limited experience are ideal, as long as they are proficient and diligent. Paying $25 for film students and up to $100 for the most experienced crewmembers is advisable. Also, a shooting schedule of six-day weeks with one day off for three to four weeks in total is ideal.The next thing to do is scouting for suitable locations for filming. Paying for locations should be avoided as much as possible. Best locations can be secured by having the owner sign a location release contract. Finding the best deals for film equipment that you will need to rent, such as a camera and lighting packages, is also important.
   
   Actually, one secret in keeping your budget low is to shoot your film on digital video instead of 16mm or 35mm film. Not only will you avoid paying for expensive film and film processing, you can also buy a digital camera for roughly the price of renting a film camera for a week.The last thing to do for this step is auditioning actors. Great actors make up for a good film. Skilled theater actors are a good choice for they will often work for next to nothing just to land a lead film role. You can hold the auditions yourself and advertise for actors, or hire a casting director to do it for you.

3. Production

   Now is the time to start filming and don't stop until you've shot the whole script. Let nothing stop you from finishing the entire script- come rain or shine. Stick to your shooting schedule since additional shooting days mean additional expense. On days when you're shooting outside, make sure you have an indoor location available just in case it rains.
   
   Also, don't forget to keep everybody happy and motivated since you're not paying much. Feeding your cast and crew good food every six hours will do the trick. Make sure everybody will have enough time to rest for tired people can become irritable and prone to accidents.
   
   Finally, avoid the following: shooting on or in water because it's potentially hazardous for your cast, crew, and equipment; animals and child performers since neither takes direction well and both bite; and firearms for even shooting blanks can be deadly.

4. Post-Production

   Now that you're done with production, take a week off to recover. Afterward, find an editor with experience with feature films and begin editing the picture portion of the film. This means cutting out pictures that aren't essential to the story. After this, do the same for sound and music. And you're ready to sell.

The first step in selling your movie is to join film festivals. Sundance, Toronto, Los Angeles, and South by Southwest are the top festivals for independent films like yours.

If your movie does well at any one of these festivals, chances are you will be able to sell it for distribution. It will help you attract a reputable Producer Representative, who will be the sales agent for the film and negotiate any distribution agreements.

Now that you have followed all of the steps, good luck and see you in Hollywood!