Screenwriting : Have you ever written to a budget? by Craig D Griffiths

Yup. it was 3 years of my life. 1 year to write, 1 year of prep, shoot, post and 6-9 months later to sell. (btw, these distribution checks come in payment plans stretched for months and years ). We wrote a screenplay based on locations we had access for free/cheap, access to post-production facilities. Once we committed full-time (quitting our day jobs), more Industry Strangers helped us because we weren't bullshitting.

What did I learn? People in this field respect Do-ers. Book theories don't apply in real world situations. It's a blue-collar job. Also, don't do this alone. You need your core circle of peers and family/friends' morale support for days/weeks when shit looks hopeless.

A feature movie opens doors. I had my first and only meeting at CAA Agency because the Suits there wanted know about our next idea.

Every screenplay should be written with a budget in mind. Working on no budget shorts working on no to low budget independent films makes working to a budget even more crucial.

Doing that right now, so can't comment on results yet. It's a thriller set in a single room, 4 characters for the entire film (trying to keep it under 80/90 pages), minimum number of props you can buy anywhere, wardrobe a bit period, but nothing impossible to source.

The idea is that I'll be able to make it next year with my own money (would be my feature debut). So quite interested in hearing what other people have to say!

Hi Craig,

I made a pilot with a 40K budget. That was a while back, and it today's dollars it would probably cost 100K. I wore a lot of hats - financier, producer, director, writer, all-around gofer. I had a great crew -union folks, good actors - and a great theater owner who gave me a break on some props and sets. He even made a "Behind the Scenes" - documentary for me.

I learned the importance of story-boarding (which I had done and which saved me a lot of time in editing); surrounding myself with skilled crew (my camera operators, sound and lighting people were all very skilled); having several cameras at different angles (which I had); and sharp writing (which I failed at.) And I only went over budget because I didn't take into account how a rainy day could cost me like an extra $500 an hour (which it did), and because I didn't realize how much booze people could drink at a wrap party (they can drink!).

Not including that we eventually got kicked out of the restaurant where we had our wrap party, It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience, all things considered.

I know a few people who made films in the 200K - 500K range. They were all a bit off in their original budget productions, too. Big studios go over budget, too. A lot of things certainly have to go right to come in under budget.

Best fortunes with your 10K project, Craig!

Thanks all. I have written a few things for ultra low and low previously. I have even made a few shorts.

That is the reason I am sticking to a drama. Very low production design costs. I can feel this forum maturing over time. The comment Chris made about having a budget in mind made me smile. There was a thread a while ago and people commented it was a writers job. Only line producers know how to cost a movie. We have moved beyond that.

I am lucky having project management experience. I know the tools and techniques to keep things on track and in budget. My best issue will be casting. Getting some good talent in front of the camera is always a challenge.

Like DanM says. A lot of prep.

Been there, done that, several times. Yes, it pays... for years. Just got a $436 royalty check in the mail from a long ago one.

Network & Resources. Not sure how the writer unions work in the UK. But in the States the WGA has events that non-union writers can attend, join a screenwriters group, take an acting class, etc. If you don't have a connection in the industry, you have to develop your own. That goes along with "pay-to-play" pitches until you find someone that will champion your work. The more exposure you have the more opportunities you're exposed to.

All the time.

We are a bit lucky in Australia. There are interesting Government funds. Plus our local networks have a bit of a preference for local content. So there are good opportunities for their streaming services. They will want to buy all right to help recover their costs. But if they makes me a profit, no matter how small it is a bonus.

@Craig If low budget drama, a universal theme would work. Eg First date, last minutes of someones life, lovers tiff, etc ....ICONIC moments in personal lives. Two actors, one location. Its not impossible to do horror eg Paranormal Activity, one room and few actors but you want drama so go with emotion. Making audience “Feel” anger, sadness, excitement, suspense is not dependent on expensive equipment or locations. Go with your flow.

Debbie Croysdale the Hostage is just three men in one room. Two cops trying to beat a confession out of someone.

I have a half baked SciFi at the moment. Not sure about that.

I am toying with one person is dying but wants to live, the other person wants to die but is healthy. Or something like that. Not sure of the scenario. There is a unused Prison up the coast. I could rent a bit of that cheap enough.

Stargazer

From house to yard.

Get out of the evil box lay in the grass from desperation. Retrospect and intro spect to revelation as you lay looking up to the stars.

Find peace and after retrospective and introspective thinking get up, nearly return and as you nearly reenter the most beautiful box around realize the easy box of aesthetic is not the box you belong perhaps also realizing you no longer need a box as a box is not freedom or home anymore.

I once saw what I thought was heaven high upon a hill at Malibu. An immense mansion under construction.near some fish sign. I wondered was that status? However the ocean breeze did feel like home.

I wonder is a stargazer much different than one gazing into the immensity Mother Earth's tidal force just below the stars?

The parallel of the ocean and stars both make us feel the humble humans in nature as we are.

Two people in the most beautiful places of their respective communities thousands of miles apart yet not so different in status besides money being born in their respective not so different neither really privileged parts of the world where complacency tears them both apart reaching out to the mother of earth and father of stars to guide them.

Doable on a 10g budget I think anyway.

Interesting comment/idea. Have you written these. I can see a few considerations, such as multiple locations.

Craig. I have written to budget before but the lowest one was just under a million. I kept it low because if I had to I could produce it myself.

Hi Dan. Aussies are a frugal lot. With Government grants we would build a space program for a million.

I have had a director approach me. I know which script. I’ll need locations (3) and some cast (4).

I have equipment already. Expensive hobby.

Director i worked with just introduced me to a two hour feature he made with absolutely no money (some catering expenses aside). He has several Macedonian film stars in it, plus around 20 other characters, plus 50 extras and it was shot on dozen locations (outdoor/indoor)....so yes, it obviously can be done. Question is...what to do with it? Having no real production company behind it, limits it's possibilities for distribution and festival promotion of the size such project deserves. Not to speak of selling possibilities. My point is such films as scripts are spec ones and aside showing them as your portfolio, there's no much bright future in them in means of getting the money or real exposure to the world. But again, writing spec script is somewhat no great deal of time waste. But doing spec. feature, loosing months and months of my life, day by day, just to show it to family and friends....I would't do that....anyway, good luck with the project!

Thank Kiril.

Two brothers from UK, stage 32 Members, made a movie called COSMO with 0 money, took them 5-years to finish and they signed a distribution deal with Gravitas VOD, limited theatrical screening in Los Angeles.

My Accountant introduced me to a guy who's made over 200 horror movies- a producer, writer, director, financier, CEO of his own prod company. He doesn't care or want to play the Hollywood game, happy doing cheap schlock horror, lives in a mansion.

...Sounds like the USA counter-part of Uwe Boll.

I have assisted a number of Gorilla film makers regarding rewrites to assist them and this is what I've learn't from my limited experience.They usually want me to cut the script down to 80-90 pages but maintain the narrative.They still get a 2 hour movie but a shorter shooting schedule and more shots that are actor free.They have few to only 1 location and minimal actors.That may be a car or a house etc with only 1 on screen actor with the story told through phone calls,texts etc.The ones that seem to be more successful and I'm talking about movies here made with 1 x $5000 maxed out credit card.Have been either Genre films obviously horror in particular or specific to something that interests a sizeable group of people and was directly marketed to those people usually by direct FB advertising and other social media marketing tools.Obviously in micro budget film making you're looking at streaming as your most likely distribution.The only thing I've learn't is that the 2 most important things to ensure a watchable no budget movie is good sound during production and professional editing in post production.Hopefully something their is of use.

Yes, I wrote to a micro-budget - turned out pretty darn well (it's on Amazon Prime now). But...lesson learned was that if you're writing a drama, unless you have recognisable talent, it's near impossible to make back the investment and no one in the industry cares about it. You're not "in" until you've written a film with a known name...i'm sure this is different for horror etc, but drama that was my experience.

Outstanding news that drama is getting visibility again.

Thanks everyone.

Yeah its cool drama making bit of comeback on screen. Drama never died but for last few decades has been mainly in theatre, obviously there have been drama films (mainly historical) but way less than action/horror. Craig, I think the unused prison sounds cool, I would experiment with all options you thought of, and have two cameras running. Don’t censor yourself before you get in there and don’t go in with a “blueprint”. CJ your right that many writers don’t know costs/logistics involved in shooting a script. I had to go on “Producers” courses to get full picture. LOL And nearly fell asleep at desk.

Craig,

How many outlets for films do you have in Australia? Do you get cable stations like HBO/CInemax/Showtime/Starz/Epix/BET/Lifetime/The Hallmark Channel, etc? I'm assuming you have access to Neflix, Amazon, Youtube, Apple, Hulu, etc, who also make original films.

I ask because we get all of those here, and smaller, low-budget dramas are on them quite frequently. Plus, we get a lot of Straight-to-DVD, which we can rent, purchase and stream. And now there are at least a few other web sources for original programming - free and premium - like Shudder, Vudu, etc.

At least here in the states, we have so many different avenues of choices today. I can see how some people might not be aware of it all - I know I'm not. There just isn't enough time in the day to be aware of it all. Even though all of the increased competition makes it harder for each producer to reach profitability on any given produced film....there hasn't ever been a better time in the history of the world to be in the film/media business.

Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, all!

The big ones are common, Netflix etc. The others will

be consolidated by a local company. Less than 27m of us. Think Canada with Kangaroos.

The good thing is we have a guaranteed local content minimum of platforms and commercial networks. That means there is a good chance of get sold to a TV network or local streamer. To comply to legislation may are compelled to by Aussie content.

I am guessing that is why we are a great kindergarten for Hollywood. We to get play with the big kids toys before leaving home.

"Dog Juice" - every film, no matter what the budget is, needs the same amount of entertainment. It takes the same amount of time to watch a $200 million blockbuster as it does your no budget film. So you need better ideas, more plot twists, better dialogue, and whatever you can come up with to keep people interested. I always use DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED as an example. That film is packed with twists and suspense and shock moments... and it's 3 people in 2 rooms. All of the elements that are entertaining and free are WRITING.

So Craig, are you gonna make a $10K feature, yes or no? We can talk all we want about genre, budget & distribution but you gotta commit to the idea you are making a movie.

$10K isn’t much. Shouldn’t stress you financially. It’s hobby money. Can’t even buy a decent watch for $10K.

Wonder what the new galaxy phones will do with the right rigging. Especially 3 or 4 of them with external mic rigging. Still would cost a few grand but I wonder. Choose natural light one about a foot off the ground angled to avoid distortion, one about a foot above head height, one each vertical/horizontal axis and figure out a four screen mirror link and meld edit. Probably a dumb idea and would only work for small world shorts. Should work in 50ft-100ft dome parameters with a few hundred yard back drop mildly detailed focus.

Maybe.

It would be fun to play with and figure out that 4 mirror screen meld edit linking each aspect/view.

Dan MaxXx Apple Watch owners would disagree.

Anyhow, I own a bit of Blackmagic gear (L series lens, ND blah blah) and some Rode audio. So basic photography is covered. I have a PC dedicated to editing. So I can produce a professional image with professional sound.

I have a script that has limited locations. Which I like.

I also have a single room horror. Which I am not keen on.

I am super confident that I can write my way out of any corner or production limitation.

So the long slog. Picking a script (of mine).

Location scouting.

Casting.

Rehearsal

and everything else.

But yes 10k

I am never relying on luck. I know I am a fool using my own money. But 10K is an amount I can burn. If I recover it over 2 decades it is fine by me.

Zero known talent is the plan. Casting is going to be super important. I was flicking through some of my old script and found the script. It is a 53 page test I did. I write a first draft as a test and leave them for a while.

“Waiting” is a story about a two gangsters in the 60’s. One white, one black. They have been doing a run collecting money for their boss. Their car is broken down on a lonely country. They are talking about their prospects and the chance of stealing from their boss. It ends with one outsmarting the other one, taking the money and making it look like the other guy. I can see where the story is lacking. It will end at about 95 mins I am guessing.

Thanks for all the comment and debate. I’ll update this thread as I go. If anyone wants to read the script when I have done a few draft drop a comment here.

Craig - sounds like my old Spy Vs Spy script based on the Mad Magazine characters (Jack Lemmon was attached).

C.J. Yeah luck is not a sound business plan but for $10K US, I could put together a pretty strong short with some B/C actors; profitable? Highly unlikely. Not worth the economic risk but could be a good passion piece.

Passion piece for sure. Every script sounds like another script.

There is nothing new under the sun. It is all execution. We haven’t discovered any new ingredients, but chefs keep finding ways of combining them in new and interesting ways.

This drifts across racism, pride, mistrust, arrogance and betrayal.

This is just two guys in and around a broken down car talking for a few hours.

Craig, film a feature shot 4K, in focus, with separate audio tracks for dialogue, music, effects. All the master tapes labeled, E & O policy, minimum 80-mins run time, and I'll buy your movie for $10K.

I don't care what genre. Just 80mins, in focus with separate audio tracks, maybe 1 or 2 wide establishing shots of Aussie landscape. My offer is good to end of year... unless the watch Industry tanks like stock market :((

Thanks Dan. I have all the above. I love my Blackmagic 4k, My Tascam, Zoom and Rode gear. A collection of Canon L series glass.

I need people and time.

My book Outline for Retreats (which uses my book Funding for Internship and Scholarship) teaches companies how to scale on any budget.

I always write with a basic budget range in mind.

I suppose parameters are the same for any creative endeavor including film, movies, live-action pieces, screen or television.

How small or large such parameters are expanded or perhaps contracted and simplified are still reflective.

Perhaps that's it.

If you create something reflective of yourself that can be consumed and watchable all it becomes in worse case scenario is learning.

Maybe a hobby is just doing whereas learning from that hobby could be much more for not only yourself introspective but getting others to notice reflective potential.

Just the way I see the world and many may sayers may say what's this fellow jabbering about but hey naysayers are reflective in the industry as well.

Actually I have kinda moved on from just the visual wanting to create in the immersive not because and because I failed and evolved reinvention wise.

Maybe I suck as a screenwriter spending ten years or so at not chasing a dream but building a foundation to reality of fantasy.

I know where I belong and it is putting my eggs in one basket but the basket of eggs are of such a multi-colored multiverse I'm fine with that.

My divulging and indulgence really isn't with screenwriting per say anymore..

I watch Stage32 for about a month or so more or less for something to do.

Good luck Craig and all I really am leaving Stage32 for quite the while. I even block posts as tis' the season is here.

STAGE32 and many within did help me find and know myself.

Peace out all.

Michael Lee Burris

"I will never stop driving a creative revolutionary wheel of desire and determination always needing GENUINE help along the way."

Hey MLB, I have left a few times to take a breath and consolidate my own understanding.

I hope you get everything you want to do, done.

I learned how to write budgets while getting my degree. It is a great skill to have. I have had a lot of people ask me in pitches what the proposed budget is. It's an answer you should have.

Budget? Budget? Oh, yeah, that's a money thing isn't it? Doing independent work for so long my budget is how much pizza I could order. One production I offered my actresses parts of the costumes I got for them. "Come for the scripts, stay for the pants."

Always. Filmed my own feature almost a decade ago for under $5K and it showed ; ) It was an excellent experience as I wore all the hats in order to get it done. Even had it picked up by Maxim Media. In between writing screenplays for more expansive budgets, I have been waiting for the next low/no screenplay idea to shoot myself - hopefully this time with a better budget - and a wonderful idea came to me, which I have now turned into a polished 90 page screenplay with two main actors, one main location and very limited SFX. Do it! Best. Chris

Congratulations on all your successes!

Just signed a deal with a UK production company for my first script “The Valley”. Look like my personal project goes on hold.

Dan MaxXx when I do shoot it. I’ll send you a copy. You may want to help sell it (for a few of course).