Lesson 9

[Lynn Vincentnathan]

Lynn’s Budget

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT IS I couldn’t at this point reduce costs down to 1M, it’ll probably be at least 5-10M – need to keep thinking of how to lower it further. And I need to brainstorm more for the high budget one…. which I don’t think will be too difficult as I write that version, even as I write the low-budget version, putting a “wish-list” on the side.

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LOW BUDGET (5-10M)

MAIN VARIABLES

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 3 INT in fixed up rooms in house, office, room fixed to look like a bunker (curved ceiling), 2 EXT at front of house & yard with a grave marker

EXPENSIVE LOCATIONS: none

NUMBER OF CHARACTERS: 5, none A-list

SPECIAL EFFECTS: none

NUMBER OF PAGES: 90

STUNTS, CHASE SCENES, AND FIGHT SCENES: very limited within rooms

SPECIAL SETS: simple bunker (not like 10 Cloverfield Lane) with 2 rooms max

SECONDARY VARIABLES

RIGHTS TO MUSIC, BRANDS, BOOKS, ETC: Create a Ballad of Jerrod McKay (writer can do this)

EXPLOSIONS AND FIREARM: No actual use of firearms, except one shot to the lead toward the end. 2 small sidearms and 3 power arms (like AR-15s)

KIDS — SHORTER WORK DAYS, TUTOR ON THE SET: none

WEATHER — RAIN, SNOW, WIND, TORNADOS: From INT they heard a hard knock – from a horrific storm outside (we don’t hardly see)

NIGHT SCENES: ?? not sure

HELICOPTERS, AIRCRAFT, DRONE SHOTS: none

GREEN SCREEN WORK: ?? not sure

EXTENSIVE MAKE-UP/WARDROBE: wardrobe should look like poor clothes in near future ravaged by climate change (minor differences)

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: ?? not sure

ANYTHING ELSE DANGEROUS THAT INCREASES PREPARATION TIME AND/OR INSURANCE: ?? note sure

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HIGH BUDGET (20-50M)

MAIN VARIABLES

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 6 or 7 INT in fixed up rooms, 2 EXT at front of house, yard with a grave marker (more extensive footage of this and front of somewhat futuristic home in the year 2108, adapted to ravages of climate change.

EXPENSIVE LOCATIONS: not sure, but if a city or actual area is mentioned, some CGI or FX to make the place look like climate ravaged in the future (year 2108)

NUMBER OF CHARACTERS: 5, some A-List (I’m thinking Harrison Ford for the lead as 87 yr old Lew).

SPECIAL EFFECTS: ?? not sure, as needed

NUMBER OF PAGES: 110

CROWD SCENES: none

STUNTS, CHASE SCENES, AND FIGHT SCENES: more dramatic within house than the low-budget version

SPECIAL SETS: INT bunker with more elaborate rooms, passages.

SECONDARY VARIABLES

RIGHTS TO MUSIC, BRANDS, BOOKS, ETC: have professionals do the ballad

EXPLOSIONS AND FIREARM: more firearm use, maybe a small bomb dropped into the bunker or teargas & smoke.

KIDS — SHORTER WORK DAYS, TUTOR ON THE SET: none (or Megan’s child is born, a toddler)

WEATHER — RAIN, SNOW, WIND, TORNADOS: more footage of the storm that sends the branch crashing against the door.

NIGHT SCENES: ?? not sure

HELICOPTERS, AIRCRAFT, DRONE SHOTS: maybe of Lew’s property

GREEN SCREEN WORK: ?? not sure

EXTENSIVE MAKE-UP/WARDROBE: wardrobe should look like poor clothes in near future ravaged by climate change (greater differences)

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: shots of storms, wildfires, floods and other ravages of climate change

ANYTHING ELSE DANGEROUS THAT INCREASES PREPARATION TIME AND/OR INSURANCE: ?? not sure.