In August I posted that an Australian production company asked for more details after I tried to sell my script to them.
They are back, asking for still more details.
Those of you who like myself want to sell by sending a query letter, I hope you understand that you will have to answer similar questions.
The production company have asked about details, so I begin with the simplest one.
I had written :
"
This is a micro-budget script with only five actors and few locations. I expect a few hundred thousand Australian dollars to be enough because I wrote in almost the same way as when I earlier created no-budget TV movies.
Since I have created both shorts, TV mini-series and TV movies, I had the impression that a TV movie would be best for this project.
The script is 93 pages long.
"
Here is what the production company says :
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We would like to know more about your budget estimate. Why do you think it can be done for a few hundred thousand AUD?
While we understand it is difficult to produce a ballpark budget, we recommend looking at comparable titles for an idea.
A TV movie format suits the story well. Based on your past experiences, can you elaborate more on why it’s a good fit for this story?
Please state the progress of the script. Is it in the development phase? Is it completed?
"
Partly, I can easily add to what I earlier wrote :
"
Like my earlier films, the story is politically correct in the way public service television companies prefer. And it can be broadcast when children are around.
The story is completed. The script is 93 pages long, an ideal length for a TV movie to fill a 'slot'.
"
But I failed to find budgets for similar movies when I googled yesterday evening. So please help me.
My no-budget TV movies cost me only 1,000 dollars each so I never had to bother about budgeting.
And what is the smallest crew (excluding the actores) one would expect an Australian production company to use for a TV movie?
No, the production company has not promised to buy my script. Plenty to think about before any decision can be taken.
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Did I post this in the wrong place since nobody has any comment?
Hi, Göran Johansson. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I moved your post from the Screenwriting Lounge to the Producing Lounge since it's more about producing than screenwriting. You might get more answers here. Let me know if you have any questions.
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Göran Johansson I am skeptical that these people even know what a producer is, based on their question to you. They would not ask you or even care about your idea of budget if they were producers. An actual producer will scan your script and identify budget elements for themselves. Because it is a PRODUCER' FUNCTION to budget, schedule and get the film done. As a writer, your function is only to write. Your idea on budget is not relevant. Challenging you on the numbers that they should be calculating and working themselves is both rude and unprofessional. You can quote me to them as the head of the Independent Producers Guild.
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I apologize for causing a misunderstandment. The production company asked for about 10 pages with text and pictures. Including one page where I mention something economic. So I am not asked to give a detailed budget. But the production company wants to show potential investors that I am a qualified filmmaker. So please, someone who can answer my original question.
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Göran Johansson If they were a legit production company with legit connections, they wouldn't be asking any of these questions.
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I apologize for a misunderstandment. The company had an official sundance selection earlier this year. And they have more entries at IMDb. No, they don't expect me to estimate a precise budget. But I have stated that it would be extremely cheap to film my script. So they simply want me to give more details. I wrote that I have earlier filmed a lot, including 3 TV movies.
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Göran Johansson Well that makes these people sound even sketchier. If they are producers, they are the ones who can make movies, no one cares what the writer can or cannot do aside from writing. And how & why are they pitching a film without reading the whole script? Are you selling the script or asking for production funds so that you can do the film? If selling the script, then without a doubt these people should be avoided, based on what you have told us. If you are asking them for production funds, then it raises alarm bells because they aren't even assessing the whole script.
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Good Luck Göran Johansson.
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Hhat you’re saying hits very close to home. I’m in ongoing talks with a production company that’s been circling my project for months now. They keep asking how I calculated a ten-million-plus budget, as if I suddenly turned into their in-house line producer. Sure, I wear the executive-producer hat when needed, and I do my homework thoroughly, but let’s be honest: it’s not the writer’s job to build their budget for them. I simply do it to make everyone’s work easier, not because I owe them that level of detail.
What concerns me is that, despite all the enthusiasm they show, I still haven’t received a clear commitment that they’ll produce the film. Instead, every time the conversation gets serious, they try to steer me toward selling the script. Which, for me, is a polite way of saying “we want your gold, but without the miner.” And that’s not happening. I’m keeping my rights, not out of stubbornness, but because my stories aren’t short-term assets. They’re long-term revenue machines. Selling may be simple, but simple rarely builds an empire.
The funny thing is, they know the value. They know my project fills a massive gap, something audiences have been waiting for years: originality. A story nobody else has had the courage or imagination to bring forward. And despite their hesitation, I’m still giving them the chance to be the studio that finally backs something truly new, instead of the tenth remake in a row.
But after months of indecision, my trust in their clarity is fading. If a company can’t decide whether to produce a project with this kind of potential, it makes you wonder whether the problem is the project… or simply their vision. At some point, hesitation speaks louder than any “we love your script.”
Stay calm and persistent, every screenwriter who truly believes in their work eventually gets their film made. It’s only a matter of finding the right team, the one that’s prepared, aligned with your vision, and brave enough to follow it through. Keep your head up, keep moving forward, and I’m wishing you nothing but success in everything you’re building.
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Thanks for further comments. And I honestly wish you all good luck with your projects.
Perhaps I should had posted this in financing/crowdfunding instead.
The production company asked me to write about 10 pages, to show potential investors. When it comes to telling who I am, I included the photo with me having the big camcorder on my shoulder. I wrote that I have done a lot of no-budget filming. Including creating 3 TV movies. Which makes it logical for potential investors to assume that I have some basic knowledge about estimating the cost. So I was asked to write something about how I estimate the cost.
If nobody has anything to say, then I plan to write something like the following :
"
This is a micro-budget script with only five actors and few locations. I expect a few hundred thousand Australian dollars to be enough because I wrote in such a way that everything can be filmed with a minimal crew. For editing, one hardly needs to do more than hard cuts and normalize the sound level. The few special effects are trivial. Most scenes are indoors, and can probably be filmed inside the same building. The locations for the outdoor scenes should be available nearby, for no cost.
"
But I welcome suggestions so I can write something more selling.