INTRODUCTION
— The context for everything below is a full season (16-20 episodes) at a certain scale (low-mid). The highest goal would be to fund all episodes and then set up the series (writing, staffing, builds) over the next 12-18 months.
* FAQ
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— For greater proof of concept and for a better work opportunity.
But first, I want you to know that I know how steep (like, steep) of a climb the funding goal is. Because of that, I’m also aware of the fact that we may only get to make one episode, if any at all. To start, though, we’ll go for more, knowing we can always scale back.
Besides that, the decision to try to make more at the start is determined by both the story and the team. For story, more episodes allows us to better set up the structures of the larger story and to flesh out the variety of tones, notes and characters.
For the team, more episodes or even a full season simply means more security and opportunity, with greater and more consistent work to be done. Plus, it offers more chances to create and feature skills. So, we’ll go for that.
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— Sure, hit us up! The real answer right now, though, is no. We’d love the opportunity to discuss the series but as of now this is a wholly independent project, being started at a true, grassroots level, with no connections to networks or their intermediaries. It’s “started from the bottom,” as they say.
As such, we’ll work to raise funds through public campaigns, first and foremost. This is, of course, out of necessity, but we’re sincerely enthused by it. In the past decade, the internet has drastically leveled the landscape of film, television and media, and so, if we have to, we’re game to explore where - and how - an independent project can go.
budget Review
— There are a hundred ways in which the budget can break down or be determined. And we played out damn near all hundred ways. We decided on a scale of about $250,000, per episode, after taxes/fees. For context, the budget of a basic, network or streaming TV show can be $2-3 million, per episode. Even though our scale is much smaller, we’ve got plans on how to still produce a quality series that feels elevated. … The budget can be distilled and simplified into five, umbrella categories for a series:
The Breakdown
Team Pay & Care — 50%
Taxes & Fees — 20%
Sets & Decor — 15%
Equipment & Base — 10%
Streaming & Promo — 5%
Pay & Care / $3,250,000 (est).
— This includes pay for upwards of 75 team members (see Production), plus travel and housing for about 40% of the team as the main cast and (creative) department heads will likely be from different places. Only a select few would go from development to distribution, with most roles concentrated within a six-month filming window (for a full season).
Sets & Decor / $975,000 (est).
— The vast majority of this allotment would go towards renting out, and ideally, retro-fitting a small hotel and bar/cafe that would act as the main sets. Those would be longer-term rentals, likely over an off-season in the setting. The rest would go toward rental fees for day locations and allotments for decor, wardrobe, and major props.
Equipment & Base / $650,000 (est).
— In the context of a full season, or even multiple episodes, we’ve budgeted a little more for gear in an effort to buy some (pre-owned) professional pieces like a camera kit, lens(es) and rigs upfront. Same goes for sound. First, this cuts the rental fee doom-loop early, plus it allows far greater flexibility in when, where and how we can film.
Streaming & Promotion / $325,000 (est).
— There’s no point in going through all the work to make this if no one ever knows. So, we considered costs for a custom site, which can be used for streaming at the start, plus costs for widespread social and print marketing and the team to create and execute those materials. (Also, as any indie project knows, this is also your backup contingency).
Taxes & Fees / $1,300,000 (est).
— You already know. As sure as death, there will be taxes to pay on fundraising and fees for filming, like insurances and registrations. To try to ease costs, we’ll work to find municipal incentives and partnerships.
NOTE — Again, this is all the layout for a full season and it’s all super simplified. Items will go up and down and come and go in costs, but whatever happens it all has to be within the cap that is the funding goal.
FUNDING levels
Season 1 — “Discovery”
Pilot (Episodes 01-02) *
Block A (Episodes 01-04)
Block B (Episodes 05-08)
Interlude I
Block C (Episodes 09-12)
Block D (Episodes 13-16)
Specials (Devika & Gustavo)
— As of today, the scripts are written in blocks containing four episodes, with a broad theme for each block. The first season is comprised of four blocks equaling 16 episodes (+ specials). Fundraising will start with the first two episodes and then, if possible, move on to campaigns for whole blocks.
Please note that the funding levels below are simplified to $250,000 per episode, after taxes/fees. Of course, it’s not that simple. If the highest funding goal is reached, it works nicely, however, the strategy changes if it’s not. For example, we’re probably not building or retro-fitting sets for two episodes like we would for multiple. … So, here’s our deal: whatever funds we raise, we’ll try to make the most episodes at the best standard we can.
Season 1 fundraising.
The Pilot (Episodes 01-02) / $650,000
— The series pilot is two-parts, in which we introduce the ensemble and immerse in their new world, all while the characters await word on their troubled flight.
Block A (Episode 03-04) / $1,300,000
— Next, we’d try to finish the first block. In the days after the plane makes its emergency landing, the characters form cliques and, while in waiting, each is drawn out into exploring the setting in some way. Meanwhile their hotel is in disarray behind the scenes and the city itself is about to have a meaningful event.
Block B (Episodes 05-08) / $2,600,000
— The next episodes take place a few weeks after the characters decided, or had it decided for them, to stay longer. This is a time of greater exploration and a bit of carelessness. The group is in “holiday” mode, further bonded by the events prior and further boosted by having come out on the other side of it all.
Interlude I — $3,250,000
— Built into the story are “interludes” in between the ends and beginnings of larger parts or themes in the story. The interludes would recur each season at midpoint and feature the characters taking a trip outside of the setting. It can tie into the main story in some ways, but mostly, it’ll just be a self-contained tradition.
Block C (Episodes 09-12) / $4,550,000
— Back to the setting and the fever dream / honeymoon period is coming to an end. Now, we’ve got to approach some concerns. If they’re really going to stay longer, what of the characters’ strings back home? And what of the more logistical, lifestyle and, uh, legal concerns of living more permanently abroad?
Block D (Episodes 13-16) / $5,850,000
— It’s been almost a year and the characters now stand as makeshift citizens in their new world. The Wild Horse (hotel) is central to their lives and the city continues to shift around them. They’ve become incredibly tied to this place and to each other and by the end, it’s time to drop the “makeshift” label and really try to build something.
Summer Specials (Devika & Gustavo) / $6,500,000
— A stretch idea to focus on one character in their hometown and see them outside of the group and setting dynamic. Episodes wouldn’t feature flashbacks or deviate much from the group and the world at hand, so these specials could be a cool, little window into where the characters are from. They would air at a different time in the year.
The first, real attempt at making Bound was actually in 2020, as soon as COVID hit. I still kept at it for a while before finally letting go. Looking back, I can see that the project wasn’t ready anyway, and if something were made back then it would have been much lesser. Now, years later, after more life lessons and industry digestion, it’s all more built (to try) to last. *