Screenwriting : Question - scene budget. by David Mailman

Depends what you want.

If you want a good score from this reader, go for the drama.

If you want to sell it, make it cheaper.

Why is the scene so budget dependent? Out of curiosity.

The event is the loss of a treasure galleon in a storm. The expensive scene would film it on a ship. Rain, waves washing the deck, masts falling, sailors running back and forth, lifeboats, etc. The less expensive scene would be a few lifeboats on a beach with survivors describing what happened to the captain just before the ship sank.

Wouldn't I need a good score to get it made? Wouldn't the reader know the requirements of his producer?

What bout the storyboarder? Would he see things the same way or wouldn't he know the right cuts and FX that speak to the needs of the scene/drama?

Okay David, I misunderstood the idea of drama in your question. I thought you meant tension/drama. As in the thing that drives the story forward not action/drama.

We now have to define what sort of reader we are talking about. A reader that works for a production company. Which may or may not be thinking about budget. Or a reader for a competition/service, which is going to be looking for how entertaining the read is for them.

If you need a huge set piece for the story to work. I would say add it. But it sounds like you can remove it and replace it with words. Which in my mind says it isn’t needed.

If ure doing spec just do the best u can...nobody yikes about money there, it's just your craft capability...someone even buys it, they will adapt it to own budget...

In early "Lethal Weapon" draft, S. Black had chopper full of coke explode in mid air over Hollywood snowing dope right on the people cheering holyday season, even if Michael Bay read that scene, would say - wow...no... still script got made...with a showdown on a suburban lawn...

Good producers are always reading scripts as if they are organic. Everything is up for being changed to suit their needs right up to the moment the picture is locked.

Just write to show your uniqueness, your voice- that only you can do, so employers can hire you because you offer something special that they (employers) need.

Imagination on Paper dont cost money.

I like your quote, Dan ("Imagination on Paper don cost money").

M- I stole the quote from someone else :)

Dan M.You are not a thief. It is called barrowing:)

Famous person, Dan MaxXx?

I would call it "reusing" (???).