Chapter 23: Shooting Plan

Some things may not be clearer to those directly involved than to outsiders.

Back home, Murphy carefully considered Kara-Feis's words. It made sense. Placing all his money on the production of a single film was risky. If it failed, he'd face dire consequences.

The hardships of his life after prison still haunted Murphy. Having just escaped poverty, he was adamant about not returning to that state.

While Murphy had confidence in himself, he acknowledged the possibility of failure. Analyzing numerous films and attending film school provided some experience, but making a movie was a different challenge. Could analyzing successful films guarantee success in making one? Anyone with a clear mind knew they weren't equivalent.

As a rational person, Murphy understood the need to leave a fallback plan. He decided to limit his investment to $300,000. Even if he failed, the remaining funds would provide a chance to bounce back.

Throughout, Murphy remained clear-headed. His additional insights were advantageous, but they didn't guarantee success.

Everyone hoped for success, especially in competitive Hollywood. Yet, numerous Hollywood failures, driven by ambition and vanity, served as cautionary tales.

In the film industry worldwide, the number of flops far exceeded successes. How many of these were dream projects of geniuses, lost to obscurity?

Compared to other art forms with minimal investment, filmmaking offered no sympathy. It was a high-risk industry governed by irrational rules, with no secret formula for success. Many directors boasted about making a blockbuster, only to meet dismal outcomes.

Previously, Murphy had seen countless analyses of successful or failed films online. Many believed that summarizing these could lead to better outcomes or avoid failure. However, these analyses were post-mortem, and their accuracy was unverifiable.

Hollywood's fierce competition meant that if Murphy's plan failed, the consequences would be harsh.

Nobody wanted to fail, but if it happened, one had to accept it. Murphy certainly didn't want to be part of that statistic.

From the day after meeting with Kara-Feis, Murphy abandoned his previous work entirely to focus on his film project.

Shooting a film had to be approached as a rigorous project. Even selling items on the street required effort; filmmaking, with its unpredictability, demanded even more.

Murphy's previous studio had become his project planning office after he replaced the desk for better typing.

Planning a project required defining its content. Murphy had spent a year in jail and then struggled for survival and startup capital. By now, it was August 2000. He had abandoned hopes of Hollywood picking up his scripts due to his troubled past. He focused all his energy on the upcoming project.

With only around $300,000 to invest, the film's scale and content were limited. Films requiring frequent scene changes, large casts, or extensive equipment were out of the question.

Successful small productions were Murphy's preference.

In a moment, numerous film titles came to Murphy's mind. Films like "The Blair Witch Project" and "Saw" were notable for achieving high returns on small budgets.

However, after considering several options, Murphy realized his initial idea might be the most suitable.

Regarding actors, there would be mainly two, with the female lead being a challenging role, but Murphy had alternatives in mind to adjust for appearance and graphic content.

Finding a male lead would be easier, given the talent pool in Los Angeles.

Locations were straightforward, with over 90% of the plot occurring in a single house. Other minor scenes were equally simple to find.

Backstage production posed more challenges, and Murphy needed to be economical. Costume expenses could be minimized by having actors provide their own, or purchasing inexpensive items if necessary.

Murphy would double as the cinematographer. Other roles like assistant director, art director, and script supervisor could be handled similarly to save on wages.

However, positions like prop master, lighting technician, and makeup artist were essential. These roles directly affected the quality of filming.

Murphy couldn't afford CGI enhancements, so practical effects would have to suffice.

Thinking about this, Murphy realized his initial $300,000 budget was tight. He needed to consider cost-saving measures in his pre-production plan.

Indeed, Los Angeles had many film-related colleges, and recent graduates often started from the bottom. Hiring interns for backstage roles could reduce expenses.

Additionally, Murphy needed someone to handle miscellaneous tasks. Even small crews generated numerous errands that required attention.

Writing a script was Murphy's next step. In the myriad elements of a Hollywood production, the script, though often overlooked, formed the foundation.

Moreover, having a script was essential for storyboarding and planning shots effectively.

Murphy began with a script outline, summarizing the film's premise: "How a precocious young girl outsmarts a pedophile."