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I'm just saying don't force yourself to write a micro budget script all the time. Write some without holding back or open some up so they are low to medium budget. Be flexible, be daring.
But, Mark, these are my zone. There is almost precisely zero daring in me. I write low budget on my shorts because all my scripts boil down to two people talking in a single location. That's my area to claim.
Just for the hell of it, I went back and looked at all the shorts I have submitted to SS to see how many are a single location with 1-3 characters. It came out to 14 out of 17. Sometimes, you just need to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
With that said (moral of the story), don't constrain yourself to fit what other people want you to write. Write what you want you to write.
Another thing about MICRO BUDGET scripts... usually they come with a MICRO BUDGET price tag too for the writer... I feel like most of my script sales have been like garage sale prices! Not really complaining.. just saying.. the filmmaker that does not have money to spend on the film... is not going to have much to spend buying the script...
That’s a great point Dena. The typical rule of thumb is that 1% of the budget is allocated to pay the writer. If you have a micro budget at $100,000, that’s $1,000 total for your writing, unless you’ve negotiated some backend deal for a percentage of the profits, which SPOILER ALERT never seem to happen. So ask yourself if you’re willing to spend a ton of time working on a 90 page script for a small sum. If you’re doing it just for the experience and credit, great, go for it. But just go into it with eyes wide open.
Gary
Some of my scripts:
Bounty (TV Pilot) -- Top 1% of discoverable screenplays on Coverfly I'll Be Seeing You (short) - OWC winner The Gambler (short) - OWC winner Skip (short) - filmed Country Road 12 (short) - filmed The Family Man (short) - filmed The Journeyers (feature) - optioned
But, Mark, these are my zone. There is almost precisely zero daring in me. I write low budget on my shorts because all my scripts boil down to two people talking in a single location. That's my area to claim.
Just for the hell of it, I went back and looked at all the shorts I have submitted to SS to see how many are a single location with 1-3 characters. It came out to 14 out of 17. Sometimes, you just need to understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie.
With that said (moral of the story), don't constrain yourself to fit what other people want you to write. Write what you want you to write.
My post was more aimed at features but you are correct. Write what you want to write and what works for you.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
When it comes to micro budget scripts. What's everyones view on that figure? For a short or feature? And would you include your own fee too?
I've produced three micro-budget short scripts. They cost around $2,000 each to make. That figure includes all of the post-production but does not include things like promotion, submitting to festivals and competitions.
I've got a director friend. He tells me for features, $50,000 will get you one basic location and a few actors so in theory, you can do it but in reality, you'll should try and raise $100,000 at least.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
I seem incapable of writing big budget scripts. My mind just can't think big like that. If someone said, they would pay me a million dollars to write a big budget sci-fi thriller for example, I would have to decline because I know I just couldn't do it. I'm sort of naturally stuck in the low budget arena, but that's okay with me. I write because that's what I like, not because I'm trying to launch a career. If newbie filmmakers want my scripts, that's fine. I don't ask for a lot of money and I'm happy to maybe help them get their director/filmmaker careers started.
When it comes to micro budget scripts. What's everyones view on that figure? For a short or feature? And would you include your own fee too?
Everyone knows you can make a film for no money. All you need is a camera and some friends, but if you want to make something that doesn't come off as too amateurish, I think you need to have decent equipment and people that know how to operate them. A cast that can act at least a little bit. I typically spend about $2000 for a short film. I consider that micro budget for a short. I know some people who spend 15-25K for a short. They also look better than my films. They look "pro". Then there are films that go to the big film festivals and end up at the Oscars and such, that can cost close to 1M. Typically, those films are from other countries and are state funded. In Sweden for example, the state funds much of the media TV and film there.
I'm the opposite in that I seem incapable of writing small budget scripts.
Yet every blog/article says the same thing: if you want to break in, write low budget horror/thrillers. I am very stubborn but the sheer volume of people saying it has started to wear me down.
When I read these break-out limited location scripts, I'm often awed by how good they are. Stuff like Buried. I liked it, I learned from it. But I don't necessarily feel confident to write them.
Then I read million dollar budget myth/action/fantasy scripts from relatively unestablished writers and I'm shocked by how godawful they are. Snow White and The Huntsman is garbage. I have not read Robin Hood but it has an 18% RT score so I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it sucks. The Nutcracker and The Four Realms... need I go on?
I realize Evan Daugherty and others probably worked hard churning out thrillers beforehand and honing all other aspects (pitching, networking, etc). But I can't shake the thought that if you just write an action script that's not hot garbage you can make headway.
Feel free to tell me I'm completely wrong though. I will listen at least.
Feel free to tell me I'm completely wrong though. I will listen at least.
I don't think you're completely wrong, but think of of it this way. If you write low budget stuff, doesn't have to be like Buried, but still few locations and few characters and it's thrilling or scary. Horror and thrillers are easiest to sell, but I know people from here that have sold dramas and rom-coms too. Write them good enough so that someone might want to make it into a film. It probably will not turnout to be a memorable film, but you'll have at least another credit and more experience writing features. Repeat this over and over. Eventually, you'll have a long enough imdb list that you can with confidence contact anyone in the industry because you have some proof that you're not a complete amateur. That's actually pretty big, because you're taken seriously right away. At least that is my experience.
Thanks for the info. I respect your experience and talent!
At some point, I'm gonna have to stop wondering and just write one for the hell of it. I'm actually writing a rom-com right now for someone, but don't know what will come of it. To your point, I think just finding a low budget horror/thriller concept that's more in my wheelhouse will help. Not necessarily Buried, or stuff like Ouija... but Housebound I could get behind.
Not saying I can actually do something that good. But it would be an enjoyable learning experience at least. I realize I need more experience just in general.
Okay, no more complaining. The hangover is gone, the walls aren't closing in so much... back to writing!
A person can write both. Doesn’t have to be only one side. Just that the micro budget has a better chance of getting picked up.
Congrats Dena.
Gabe
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/