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Lesson 9: Keeping It Low Budget
Post your assignments here.
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7 Replies
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Frances’ Budget
What I learned doing this assignment is a great way to take budgetary considerations into account while either writing my script or working with a producer.
Here are the ways I could decrease the budget of my project if it is required:
MAIN VARIABLES
Number of characters
Special effects
Number of pages
SECONDARY VARIABLES
Weather — Rain, snow, wind
Night scenes
Extensive Make-up
Here are the ways I could increase the budget of my project if it is required to quadruple my budget:
MAIN VARIABLES
Number of Locations
Expensive locations
Number of characters
Special effects
Number of pages
Special sets
SECONDARY VARIABLES
Rights to music, brands, books, etc.
Weather — Rain, snow, wind
Night scenes
Extensive Make-up
Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots
Extensive Make-up
Archival Footage -
Marni’s Budget
WHAT I LEARNED: Budget does not have to be an obstacle to creating a well-developed story.
MAIN VARIABLES
• Number of Locations – a single building
• Expensive locations – warehouse or record facility anywhere (including Canada)
• Number of characters – 5
• Special effects – none
• Number of pages – under 100
• Crowd scenes – none
• Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – chases only on foot, no trained fighting required
• Special sets – noneSECONDARY VARIABLES
• Rights to music, brands, books, etc. – none
• Explosions and Firearm – none (or we see a firearm, but it never fires)
• Kids — shorter work days, tutor on the set – NO KIDS
• Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – NO ANIMALS
• Weather — Rain, snow, wind, tornados. – indoor only, so protected
• Water and underwater scenes – none
• Night scenes – it is shot at night, but indoors so there is overhead lighting available
• Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots – none
• Green screen work – none
• Extensive Make-up – unnecessary (just scrapes, bruises and some bleeding)
• Archival Footage – none
• Anything else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance – minimal people, might need some liability insurance depending on the location availableMAIN VARIABLES
• Number of Locations – Majority of story happens at facility, but we could use external scenes to ramp-up the tension at the facility
• Expensive locations – If a real records retention facility was available for the movie
• Number of characters – 10-12
• Special effects – Could add some fire effects
• Number of pages – 115-120
• Crowd scenes – Could have spectators at the end when the authorities finally arrive
• Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – Shooting, falls from heights, show Wallace in fight
• Special sets – ???SECONDARY VARIABLES
• Rights to music, brands, books, etc. – Takes place on Xmas Eve, so some festive music
• Explosions and Firearm – could add firestarting or electrical overload that results in explosion
• Kids – Not needed for this story
• Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – Not needed for this story.
• Weather — Rain, snow, wind, tornados. – Have chase scenes outside in bad weather
• Water and underwater scenes – Doesn’t fit with the story
• Night scenes – More external scenes at night would raise the budget
• Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots – Could do special drone shots of chase scenes or to show what is happening at opposites side of the building simultaneously
• Green screen work – Could use a green screen to create height situations to protect actors
• Extensive Make-up – Wallace’s death could be played up greatly
• Archival Footage – Lysha could find old footage that ties in the Board member to the crime
• Anything else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance – Working more with heights, adding some high-speed movement to the scene when the break-in happens, amplifying the opener where the person with the information is on the run from the Trio, have some speaking roles for “employees” at the facility when Lysha gets there – perhaps an unfriendly exchange between her and the Director of the faciilty -
Gina’s Budget
What I learned doing this assignment is… Working on what I could remove or add in order to change the budget helped me reimagine my story in both versions, and made me feel that if a producer asked me to do this, I would not only be comfortable (and not afraid) of this process, but I also have a better idea of what cuts or additions will work.
DECREASED Budget:
MAIN VARIABLES
Number of Locations – keep set designs minimal so one “lab” can be rearranged to represent multiple areas of the base
Number of characters – Combine tech and security characters into one character and get rid of one of the scientists, bringing the number of characters from 6 down to 4
Special effects – cut down the number of species of marine life in the lab to reduce CGI time
Number of pages – Keep the script between 90 – 100 pages max
SECONDARY VARIABLES
Explosions and Firearm – no firearms, no traditional explosions, just glass shattering and water pouring into the room
Kids — shorter work days, tutor on the set – can just talk about kids if needed, and have photos on phone
Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – Marine life is CGI, no other animals in the script
Water and underwater scenes – can switch from an underwater base to an “underground” base, either utilizing an abandoned building and blocking windows so there is nothing of the outside world showing, making it look underground, or building a set consisting of two rooms and a hallway or two, that can all be interchangeable to look like a labyrinth of corridors and rooms deep underground.
Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots – Can remove initial shot above the ocean that plummets down in to the deep leading to the underwater base (some of that would be CGI as well)
Green screen work
QUADRUPLED Budget:
MAIN VARIABLES
Number of Locations – add a communications base either above ground on the coast or above in a large ship/vessel in the ocean, add the locations of the people the scientists in the ocean are communicating with (family, clandestine organization/mercenaries, etc.)
Number of characters – Keep the main 6 characters, add a few supporting characters in the underwater base, add a communications base with other tech and scientific people working there, add family they are talking to on the surface
Special effects
Number of pages – increase script to 120ish, add scenes with the clandestine organization and what they are up to
Crowd scenes – still none
Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – add fight scenes between Mac and the mercenaries coming to get them, add underwater stunts, scuba scenes, etc.
Special sets – underwater set for scuba and underwater fight scenes
SECONDARY VARIABLES
Explosions and Firearm – add a couple of explosions as the base is falling apart
Kids — shorter work days, tutor on the set – can have scientist talk to her child on face time
Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – would still keep marine life as CGI
Weather — Rain, snow, wind, tornados.
Water and underwater scenes – add scenes outside the base in scuba gear and/or the one-person underwater craft (mini sub) for data collection
Night scenes
Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots – can add the rescue of the scientist and security guy out of the ocean
Green screen work
Extensive Make-up – can distort the look of the scientist that gets infected with one of the viruses they are studying
Anything else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance. – The ocean rescue scene would cause a need for this as well
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This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Gina Coviello.
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This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by
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Micki’s Budget
What I learned doing this assignment is by minimizing the budget I could see where I can cut some scenes and props that are not important. And on a bigger budget I can expand scenes, cast and props.
Ways to Decrease the Budget:
Main Variables:
1. Number of Locations:
Solution: Minimize locations by keeping the entire movie set within the hotel. Use various parts of the hotel (rooms, lobby, kitchen) to create diverse settings without having to change locations.
2. Expensive Locations:
Solution: Use a single, affordable location that can be dressed to look like a high-end hotel. If shooting indoors, you can find a less expensive building and decorate it accordingly, rather than using an actual luxury hotel.
3. Number of Characters:
Solution: Focus on a tight ensemble cast (the two families, a small hotel staff). Fewer actors will reduce overall payroll costs, wardrobe, and logistics.
4. Special Effects:
Solution: Limit the use of VFX. If special effects are needed (for pranks or looping effects), use simple practical effects over expensive digital ones. The story is more psychological, so avoid heavy CGI.
5. Number of Pages:
Solution: Keep the script tight at around 90 pages, which aligns with a 90-minute runtime. Shorter films are quicker to shoot, meaning fewer days on set.
6. Crowd Scenes:
Solution: Eliminate or minimize crowd scenes. Focus on the core characters. If crowds are needed for a brief moment (like at the beginning), they can be simulated using sound or tight camera angles.
7. Stunts, Chase Scenes, and Fight Scenes:
Solution: Reduce or simplify any physical stunts or action scenes. The pranks and conflicts can be more psychological or comedic without requiring dangerous physical stunts, which keeps insurance and stunt costs down.
8. Special Sets:
Solution: Avoid custom-built sets. Use practical locations and only modify or dress certain rooms for specific scenes.
Secondary Variables:
1. Rights to Music, Brands, Books, etc.:
Solution: Use royalty-free music or hire a composer to create original music, which is often cheaper than licensing well-known songs or brands. Avoid product placement unless it brings in revenue.
2. Explosions and Firearms:
Solution: Eliminate the need for explosions, firearms, or high-risk special effects. The tension of the loop and the escalating prank war can build without these elements.
3. Kids:
Solution: No children involved, which avoids the added complications of reduced work hours and tutors on set.
4. Animals:
Solution: No animals in the movie, avoiding wrangling fees and additional shooting time.
5. Weather (Rain, Snow, Wind):
Solution: Shoot indoors to avoid weather-related delays. If snow or wind is needed to set the Christmas tone, use artificial effects indoors rather than relying on unpredictable real weather.
6. Water and Underwater Scenes:
Solution: No water scenes required. Even if a pool is part of the hotel, avoid using it or keep any such scenes minimal and simple.
7. Night Scenes:
Solution: Keep night scenes to a minimum, as shooting at night typically requires more lighting and equipment, which increases the cost.
8. Helicopters, Aircraft, Drone Shots:
Solution: No helicopters or aircraft. If aerial shots are necessary, simple drone shots could be used sparingly but kept to a minimum.
9. Green Screen Work:
Solution: Avoid green screen work. Keep effects practical and use the real environment of the hotel rather than digitally inserting backgrounds or environments.
10. Extensive Makeup:
Solution: Use minimal, natural makeup for the characters. Any special makeup (for comedic pranks or injuries) should be simple and not require extensive prosthetics or elaborate designs.
11. Archival Footage:
Solution: No need for archival footage. Keep the focus on the present-day storyline within the hotel.
12. Anything Dangerous that Increases Preparation Time or Insurance:
Solution: Avoid dangerous stunts, fire, or situations that require heavy insurance. Focus on character-driven conflict rather than action-driven conflict to avoid the need for increased safety measures.
List of What Should Stay to Maintain the Story:
1. Pranks: The pranks are central to the story, but they can be comedic and low-cost without requiring expensive special effects or stunt coordination.
2. Hotel Setting: The single location of the hotel is integral to the concept of the time loop. By dressing different parts of the hotel differently, you can keep it visually interesting without needing to shoot elsewhere.
3. Small Cast: The story is primarily about the two feuding families and the hotel staff. Keeping the cast small preserves the interpersonal drama and comedic tension without adding unnecessary characters or extras.
4. Psychological and Emotional Tension: The escalating pranks, interpersonal conflicts, and unraveling of the time loop are the heart of the story. Focus on character development and dialogue to drive the plot, which reduces reliance on special effects or action sequences.
By focusing on character-driven tension and minimizing physical action, expensive locations, and special effects, this project can be produced on a lower budget without losing its core concept.
What to Add with a Quadrupled Budget:
Main Variables:
1. Number of Locations:
Addition: You could expand the number of locations beyond just the hotel. For example, flashbacks or dream sequences set in different locations could add depth. You might also use exterior shots of a luxurious hotel or a nearby winter wonderland, increasing the visual scope of the film.
2. Expensive Locations:
Addition: If the budget allows, you could shoot at an actual high-end hotel or resort during the holiday season, adding authenticity and production value. You could also use multiple expensive hotel interiors, such as a ballroom, spa, or rooftop terrace for key scenes.
3. Number of Characters:
Addition: More hotel staff or additional guests could be added to create subplots or contribute to the escalating chaos. A larger cast could allow for more complex interactions and comedic moments, including a secondary romance or rivalry.
4. Special Effects:
Addition: With a higher budget, you could add more elaborate pranks, some involving CGI or special effects. You could also enhance the time loop aspect with visual effects that show subtle distortions in reality as the loop repeats (e.g., the clock flickering, rooms slightly changing with each reset).
5. Number of Pages:
Addition: A longer script might allow more exploration of side characters, secondary arcs, and the hotel’s deeper mystery. This could include an extended backstory for the time loop or more time spent on the characters’ emotional growth.
6. Crowd Scenes:
Addition: You could add larger, more extravagant party scenes in the hotel. For example, a lavish Christmas Eve gala where the pranks escalate in a crowded, high-society setting. Crowds would add energy to the prank war and chaos.
7. Stunts, Chase Scenes, and Fight Scenes:
Addition: If the budget allows, you could increase the scale of physical comedy. Pranks could become more elaborate and dangerous, involving stunt doubles or chase scenes around the hotel, such as a high-speed pursuit on luggage carts or a snowball fight on the roof.
8. Special Sets:
Addition: You could build custom hotel sets to enhance certain key scenes, such as an opulent ballroom, a frozen outdoor skating rink, or a secret hotel basement that contains the mystery of the time loop.
Secondary Variables:
1. Rights to Music, Brands, Books, etc.:
Addition: With a larger budget, you could license popular Christmas songs to enhance the holiday atmosphere. You could also integrate real-world brands into the hotel, making the setting feel more high-end and authentic.
2. Explosions and Firearms:
Addition: Though not essential to the plot, the escalation of pranks could involve over-the-top destruction (e.g., an accidental explosion caused by faulty Christmas lights). This would add spectacle and humor but still fit within the comedic tone.
3. Kids:
Addition: Introducing children into the story could provide an added layer of innocence to the escalating chaos. They could accidentally trigger or worsen some pranks, adding humor. With a larger budget, their presence becomes feasible with tutors and shorter workdays.
4. Animals:
Addition: With more budget, you could include a mischievous hotel mascot—perhaps a dog or a Christmas-themed animal like a reindeer—that gets caught up in the prank war. Animals add warmth and humor but would require a wrangler and more time.
5. Weather (Rain, Snow, Wind):
Addition: With the added budget, you could introduce real snow, or even use artificial snow for outdoor scenes. The storm outside could also become a visual metaphor for the time loop or the families’ inability to escape the hotel, adding tension.
6. Water and Underwater Scenes:
Addition: You could add a sequence involving the hotel’s indoor pool, with characters using it for an elaborate prank or comedic chase scene. Underwater stunts and shots could be used to break up the visual rhythm of the film.
7. Night Scenes:
Addition: Night scenes could become more atmospheric and visually stunning. More intricate lighting setups could create a magical yet eerie holiday vibe, enhancing the mood of the film and adding to the mystery of the perpetual Christmas Eve.
8. Helicopters, Aircraft, Drone Shots:
Addition: Use drone shots to capture sweeping views of the hotel and its surroundings, especially during snowstorms or for establishing shots. Helicopters could be used for a grand entrance or a last-minute escape attempt by one of the characters.
9. Green Screen Work:
Addition: More extensive green screen work could be used for surreal sequences within the time loop, showing how reality bends and warps as the families get closer to breaking the cycle. This would visually enhance the fantastical elements of the story.
10. Extensive Makeup:
Addition: With more budget, elaborate makeup effects could be used for the characters as they grow more disheveled and frantic with each repeated day. Aging effects or makeup to show mental and emotional strain could enhance the character arcs.
11. Archival Footage:
Addition: Archival footage could be used to reveal the hotel’s history or prior guests who were trapped in the time loop, adding a deeper mystery and sense of foreboding. This would tie into the hotel’s backstory and hidden agenda.
12. Anything Dangerous that Increases Preparation Time or Insurance:
Addition: If the budget allows, you could include more dangerous stunts, such as characters narrowly escaping falling chandeliers or other exaggerated dangers caused by their pranks. This would heighten the physical comedy and stakes of the prank war.
Summary of Additions with a Quadrupled Budget:
Larger, More Elaborate Locations: Expanding the setting beyond just the hotel or using a real luxury hotel.
Bigger Cast: Adding more staff, guests, and even children to heighten the chaos.
High-End Special Effects: More CGI for time loop effects, enhanced pranks, and visual distortion as the loop repeats.
Intricate Sets: Custom-built sets for key scenes, adding grandeur to the hotel environment.
More Complex Pranks and Stunts: Using stunt doubles, chase scenes, and physical comedy.
Licensed Music: Famous Christmas songs and real-world brands integrated into the story.
Drone Shots and Helicopter Scenes: For impressive establishing shots and to enhance action sequences.
Weather Effects: Real or artificial snowstorms to emphasize the isolated, trapped feeling.
With a quadrupled budget, you could significantly enhance the visual and physical elements of the film, turning it into a more elaborate, visually rich, and high-energy comedic experience. -
Anna Maganini’s Budget!
WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS… This was eye opening in making me see what I really need and don’t. And also to think of ways to elevate the script dramatically to substitute for the drama of an explosion or other superficial effects.
If I had to decrease the budget in my film by 25 percent…
In my film, the things that stand out as more expensive variables are firearms, a bomb explosion, and a fight. A special set I envisioned could also be fiddled with.
A. The guns are pretty necessary for the building tension, but perhaps fake guns made to look real could be used, and the one time the gun is fired could be done with added audio later. But I think we would need to keep guns in some form.
B. The explosion I may not need once I write the entire script, or maybe just the audio of the explosion needs to be heard, and maybe I can elevate my script at the moment of the explosion in such a way that what the characters do sells the explosion, or the fear of the explosion.
C. I kind of need the fight between the two women, but it could be pared down, or maybe once I write this, I may find some other way to highlight the dramatic conflict between them.
D. I also envisioned a special set with a tunnel, but that could be changed to just plain old stairs.
If I could quadruple the budget….
A. One of the things I envision in this film is a quaint community co-op type building with cool art deco or some other very unique features. I could go to town on this if money was no object.
B. I would hire A-list actors for the four important roles.
C. Firearms would be no object.
D. Having an explosion could have more pyrotechnics
E. We could have a kick-ass girl fight
F. I could build a fantastic special set with tunnels
(Even with all that, I doubt I would need a quadruple budget!!! So…)
G. I would use the extra money to hire the best editors, post production people, crew, etc. and then use more leftover money to market and promote, promote, maybe even promote for an Academy nomination and for publicity to get my film in the best film festivals!
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This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Anna Maganini.
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This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Anna Maganini.
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This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by
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Arthur’s Budget
What I learned in this assignment is that there are ways to adapt your script to necessary budget requirements without losing the drama in the story.
MAIN VARIABLES
Number of Locations
25% cut – Eliminate opening party keep all scenes on the island and limit the number of sets for the bio-lab by using an existing building.
Quadruple Budget – Build a lab facility with action moving through a number of interesting sets.Expensive locations
25% cut – Use an establishing shot of the island to establish its isolation but shoot the film on the mainland that has a cove for the water scenes.
Quadruple Budget: Use an actual island and take advantage of many exterior locations. Build the lab set on the mainland in production facility stages.Number of characters
25% cut – Go from 6 main characters to 4.
Quadruple Budget – Go from 6 characters to 10, using recognizable actorsSpecial effects
25% cut – Use minimal Special Effects for creature attacks
Quadruple Budget – Use bullet hits, explosions, wire rigs for the creature attacksNumber of pages
25% cut – Cut script from 120 pages to 90 pages
Quadruple Budget – Increase script length from 120 to 135 pagesCrowd scenes
25% cut – Eliminate opening party scene
Quadruple Budget – Make the opening party scene a huge school event with 150 students in a luxurious private club on a river.Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes
25% cut – Reduce the number of creatures killing the teens.
Quadruple Budget – Make each scene where the teens are attacked by a creature an intricate and viscerally exciting fight through the labyrinth of the lab with stunts, special effects, and visual effects continuously ramping up the jeopardy and the action.Special sets
25% cut – Make the lab on the island very minimalist, having been destroyed by a hurricane years ago.
Quadruple Budget – Make the surface lab as described above, destroyed by a hurricane years ago; however, make a lower, functional level. The mutant scientist is still working on his plan to infect the mainland with his creation.SECONDARY VARIABLES
Rights to music, brands, books, etc.
25% cut – Use an up and coming composer to create the score for the movie. Many now work alone and in their home studios to score films.
Quadruple Budget – Hire a well known composer and do a full orchestration of the score for the film.Explosions and Firearm
25% cut – Use weapons teens find on the island and the lab to defend themselves from the creatures. The only explosion would be in the finale.
Quadruple Budget – The teens take the firearms from the destroyed Sheriff’s marine patrol boat and use them to fight the creatures. They make traps with gas cans they would shoot to destroy the creatures, make improvised explosives and in the end the entire lab would be blown up.Kids — shorter work days, tutor on the set
25% cut – All cast members would be cast 18 years old to look younger
Quadruple Budget – Age limit would not be a problem for casting the first two actors who are killed off in the film since they do not work on the entire film schedule.Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society
25% cut – Cut the number of actual animals used on the island tracking the kids to just a hand full
Quadruple Budget – Use a wide variety of animals to be lose on the island, some not yet mutated.Weather — Rain, snow, wind, tornados.
25% cut—Plan the shoot for the spring or summer when the weather is best. Use the interior sets as cover in case of rain.
Quadruple Budget—Only use the real location at the beginning of the film, when the teens arrive on the island, and for the finale, when Riley defeats the mutant scientist. Build the Exterior Jungle sets on the backlot of a film studio, and the interior sets on stage.Water and underwater scenes
25% cut – Have Riley defeat the mutant scientist on land and not end up in the water
Quadruple Budget – Make the opening scene when the creature attacks the houseboat more of an event with the creature being seen and one of the teens falling in the water. They then have to be rescued by the others. The group has to blow out a giant aquarium filled with mutant water creatures during a fight with the Mutant Scientist in the bio-lab. When there are only three teens left, they have to swim out of the lab via a flooded tunnel to escape the bio-lab.Night scenes
25% cut – Tarp in the building on the island so the interiors with windows may be shot Day for Night.
Quadruple Budget – Shoot all the scenes Night for Night.Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots
25% cut – Purchase stock shots of an island, so no aerial shots are required to establish the island. Do not use helicopters or aircraft. Only use a drone and schedule those shots together on the same day or a couple of days to keep the expense down.
Quadruple Budget – Use a drone at the opening party to establish its enormity. Use a helicopter with a space-cam to track the houseboat on its journey to the island and the ensuing attack. Use a drone throughout the island and bio-lab scenes for the chases and creature attacks.Green screen work
25% cut – Make half of the creature attacks with practical creature outfits. Limit the number of shots and the amount of screen time for the creatures that need greenscreen.
Quadruple Budget – Each creature would be specially designed with unique mutant attributes for different methods of killing its prey. Use multiple angles to enhance their fear-factor.Extensive Make-up
25% cut – Eliminate any makeup for actors or creatures that requires delaying production time on set. Any specialty makeup needed for a scene will be scheduled to be applied before the set call. For creatures, find preexisting masks and suits that require minimal makeup.
Quadruple Budget – Have a special makeup design for the Mutant Scientist incorporating animal and insect features on his entire body.Archival Footage
25% cut – When the teens find the videotapes of the animal experiments, cut back on the amount of footage they see.
Quadruple Budget – Shoot detailed footage of the lab experiments on animals and focus on how the morph into apex predators with the last footage being the Mutant Scientist videoing himself morphing into the creature he has become. -
Joy Smith’s Budget
What I learned doing this assignment is… knowing about budget is great! While I haven’t written the script yet, and there’s a few things I’m not sure of, I can come back and work through the list again to see if I’ve written in any big expenditure, and decide whether or not I want to keep it or if there’s a different way I could tell the story.
Because the movie is contained, a lot of what I’m thinking of writing will be budget friendly anyway, but there is potential to increase the budget and make the movie (and the story!) bigger if I need to. Reducing it doesn’t need to make the movie smaller. E.g. instead of showing the office party, I’ll have Santa and Sandra standing outside a doorway with party noise coming from inside. There’s ways to be budget friendly, I’ll just need to be creative!
1. Run through this list and tell us how many ways you might be able decrease the budget for your project if that was required.
MAIN VARIABLES
• Number of Locations – 1, maybe 2, if I do some scenes at the North Pole
• Expensive locations – 1, which is the tropical island. To reduce budget, I’d make this a hotel somewhere, or even keep it at the North pole.
• Number of characters – 6 – I could cut the elf
• Special effects – none, although if I was quadrupling the budget, I’d have loads of magical effects
• Number of pages – not sure yet!
• Crowd scenes 0, but could put in a few at the office party if I was quadrupling the budget. Could also have some scenes back at the North Pole of people arriving back, realizing Santa and Sandra weren’t there.
• Stunts, Chase scenes, and Fight scenes – 0
• Special sets – 0, but when quadrupling the budget, would need one for the North Pole.SECONDARY VARIABLES
• Rights to music, brands, books, etc. – 0
• Explosions and Firearms – 0
• Kids — shorter work days, tutor on the set – 0, but if quadrupling, I would show kids being excited about Christmas as a way of upping the tension with the ticking clock on Christmas Eve.
• Animals – need a wrangler, more time to shoot, Humane Society – 0 at the moment, maybe reindeer in the final scene? Again, if quadrupling, I’d show the reindeer at the North Pole also being taken ill/acting strangely as Santa’s powers diminish.
• Weather — Rain, snow, wind, tornados. – 0 at the moment, but could easily have lots of snow at the North Pole and rain at the Island.
• Water and underwater scenes – I’m going to say 0, but they are on a beach island, so I’m not sure if that counts. At the moment, I’m not planning on them being anywhere near the water.
• Night scenes – 0 external, otherwise it’s just the inside of the party, so I don’t think that counts.
• Helicopters, aircraft, drone shots – 0 – again, could add these in if the budget increased to show off the island.
• Green screen work – depends on how it was all shot. I’m assuming it would be shot on a location, but it could just as easily be done on green screen.
• Extensive Make-up – 1 elf, but even that is optional.
• Archival Footage – N/A. Can’t think of any version where I need that.
• Anything else dangerous that increases preparation time and/or Insurance. – I don’t think I’ll have any of these either.2. Then go through the list and tell us what you might add if your budget was quadrupled.
(See comments above.)
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