Writing With Budget In Mind

In some cases a screenplay can get passed over or not sell to a particular buyer because it’s written as an expensive over the top blockbuster. Despite how many summer and holiday blockbusters we may see, don’t be fooled into thinking that those expensive sets with hundreds of visual effect shots are what buyers (aka distribution companies) are always looking for. In fact, you could probably count on one or two hands how many studios or distribution companies are producing a hundred million dollar movie these days. The vast majority of distributors out there are looking for great stories that can be done with realistic production budgets and not the types of budgets that could immediately put their company out of business if the movie flops.

Depending on the story you’re telling, as writers, we should try and keep budget in mind, but at the same time not be so concerned with it that it hampers the writing process. So what’s the best way to write a screenplay that is at least somewhat budget conscious?