NOTE — Bound episodes would run between 30-40 minutes. It's imagined as having a few more episodes, per season, as the contemporary 8-10 episode trend can feel too low for a series that isn’t heavily serialized. There’d be linear threads in the story, of course, but still room for one-off, “adventures-of-the-week” where characters that you’ll hopefully love just go try things.

FUNDING BLOCKS

— As currently outlined, the first season of So Far Bound is divided into blocks of four episodes, each with a general theme. The primary funding goal is to produce at least the first four episodes, or Block A, which sets up the series and allows time to smooth out the variety of tones, notes and characters. Also, more episodes just gives a better work opportunity for team members and more chances to create and feature skills. … The stretch goals will be to keep going, block by block, through the first season.

FUNDING SCALE

The current scale of the funding goal is $250,000 per episode, after taxes. The scale is derived from playing out the production from a number of angles. This level would allow us to afford more than just the basics; it can also include design and production team members plus funds to promote the project and build its platform. For context, a standard streaming or network series operates on a $2-3 million dollar budget, per episode. Though our scale, for now, is much smaller, we’ve got ideas on how to create something that can still feel elevated.

Season Structure

  • 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)

Fundraising blocks. Season 1

The Pilot / Episodes 01-02

Funding Goal: $650,000

— The series pilot is two-parts. We introduce the ensemble and immerse in the new world, all while the characters await word on their troubled flight and when it will take off again.

Block A / Episode 03-04 / “Arrival”

— 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 / “On Holiday”

— 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

— Built into the series 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)

— We jump ahead a little more and the fever dream / honeymoon period is coming to an end. Now, we’ve got to address some practical 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)

— It’s been almost a year now and the characters 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)

— A tentative/stretch idea to focus a longer episode on one character in their hometown. Regular episodes wouldn’t feature flashbacks or deviate much from the group and the world at hand, so these specials could be a cool window into where the characters are from. They would air at a different time in the year. *

* Ideally the series would premiere in December/January to match up with the time of year in the first episodes.

It goes without saying, but I’ll say anyway that I’m aware of how, uhhh, “enthusiastic” the goal is, both the scale and pursuing multiple episodes to start. I’d just like to try see this story made at a higher standard, and if it needs to pull back later, that’s fine. While we’re here though - on Earth - we’ll go for a little more.