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A Business Model For A Proposal For The SyFy Network

Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC

Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC

I'm doing research on the budgets that The Asylum is working for to make their mock busters aired on the SyFy Network.

The Terminators (2009) was made for $250,000. I'm looking to see if we can propose a budget to make IC3 for $200,000. With the new script and SAG working with us, I believe we can make IC3 way better than The Terminators. The biggest question mark is finding a place to use as a futuristic military base. We may need to shoot in more than one location and we may need to build sets. In the right location, we can even put together our own greenscreen room and sound stage and save money that way.

in this economy, everyone is looking to save a buck. That includes the TV Netwworks. I believe we stand a better chance of acceptance if we can save them money. Reality TV saves networks money because they don't pay actors' salaries. That's why it is popular. That is why I think we can have a chance with cable TV, if we propose to work for less.
 
I would caution against using the released budget as any
kind of threshold. Very often those companies either inflate
or reduce the "official" budget. You should be looking at
what they PAY for a completed movie, not what they say
the budget was.

If you make a movie for $200,000 and the cable station pays
you $100,000 you have lost money. What does SyFy pay for
the type of movie you are making?
 
Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
I'm looking to see if we can propose a budget to make IC3 for $200,000. With the new script and SAG working with us, I believe we can make IC3 way better than The Terminators. The biggest question mark is finding a place to use as a futuristic military base. We may need to shoot in more than one location and we may need to build sets.
Click to expand...

Questions are bound to arise.

Have you ever worked with that sort of budget before?
Have you ever worked with a production of that scale before?

They will want to see that. They will want proof of their investment.

Not only from the standpoint of a Network. But as a person and professional, are you READY to work with the wants/needs that a production of that calibre entails?

Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
in this economy, everyone is looking to save a buck. That includes the TV Netwworks. I believe we stand a better chance of acceptance if we can save them money. Reality TV saves networks money because they don't pay actors' salaries. That's why it is popular. That is why I think we can have a chance with cable TV, if we propose to work for less.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true. Reality TV shows, although cheaper, are there for concept. People enjoy to watch real life as much they do fiction. Escapism close to home, so to say. The popularity has nothing to do with its budget.

Saving them money is great. But what's stopping someone making a mockbuster for their project for 100k? (Although cost inflation has surely played a part, you can see what I'm getting at. Money is not the most important thing)

Everything costs money. But money and a cost effective strategy is not a selling point. (Atleast not at this stage)

YOU are the selling point. The material is the selling point.

I'm very glad to hear the new script is completed. As always, the very best of luck.
 
Last edited:
directorik said:
I would caution against using the released budget as any
kind of threshold. Very often those companies either inflate
or reduce the "official" budget. You should be looking at
what they PAY for a completed movie, not what they say
the budget was.

If you make a movie for $200,000 and the cable station pays
you $100,000 you have lost money. What does SyFy pay for
the type of movie you are making?
Click to expand...

Since my DP freelances between 3 TV networks, I'm taking his word for this when he tells me SyFy pays out between $500,000 and $600,000. However, I want this verified.
 
Papertwinproductions said:
Questions are bound to arise.

Have you ever worked with that sort of budget before?
Have you ever worked with a production of that scale before?

They will want to see that. They will want proof of their investment.

Not only from the standpoint of a Network. But as a person and professional, are you READY to work with the wants/needs that a production of that calibre entails?



Not necessarily true. Reality TV shows, although cheaper, are there for concept. People enjoy to watch real life as much they do fiction. Escapism close to home, so to say. The popularity has nothing to do with its budget.

Saving them money is great. But what's stopping someone making a mockbuster for their project for 100k? (Although cost inflation has surely played a part, you can see what I'm getting at. Money is not the most important thing)

Everything costs money. But money and a cost effective strategy is not a selling point. (Atleast not at this stage)

YOU are the selling point. The material is the selling point.

I'm very glad to hear the new script is completed. As always, the very best of luck.
Click to expand...

The Singularity is the material. It is a topic that Ivy League Colleges around the world are holding annual conferences about because scientists believe the question is not if it will happen. But, when it will happen. Marvin Minsky, a cognative scientist affiliated with MIT believes we will one day understand how cognative though works and be able to duplicate it and create artificial consciousness.

Businesses everywhere are looking to slash their budgets. So, we need to work for less to compete.
 
Businesses everywhere are looking to slash their budgets. So, we need to work for less to compete.
Click to expand...

This may seem like semantics, but this sentence, inst quite right, I don't mean grammatically, but rather, conceptually.

I think its more like this:

Businesses everywhere are looking to MAXIMIZE returns with LESS risky investments. To be competitive I need to provide BETTER product for LESS cost.
 
I have that in mind by working with SAG to bring in good people to make that happen in front of the camera. The more my group works together, the better we will get as we get to know each other too.

The name of the game for studio execs is profit. Their one focus is a track record for making money. Potential to make money doesn't cut it for them.

So, showing them how they can save is in the right direction. Look at the quality of mock busters by The Asylum the SyFy airs every Saturday night. The final cut of IC2 is expected to be better than their stuff. And, IC3 will be better than IC2.

Part of knowing a market is seeing what the customer is already buying and for how much to understand their needs and their requirements.
 
I'd rather watch your films on syfy. Hate most things they show. At least in the movie form.

Totally off topic.
 
Thanks CJ.

I'm also looking to dig up records on Roger Coreman's Black Scorpion TV Series aired by the SyFy Netwrok. I honestly believe I can put out a better series with the same budget. I want to know the budget Coreman got per episode to make that series.

The Black Scorpion TV movies aired on ShowTime are all round better than the TV series aired on SyFy.

SyFy seems to be too small to have their own studio to make shows for them, which is why they are willing to out source. So, here is a golden opportunity to make a good proposal.

I'm looking for some ideas of what to include in the proposal.
 
Here's my advice to you, from someone who talks directly to an Asylum director frequently: forget about the numbers you hear (as Rick as already stated, and he's right on the money; pun intended) and go to the web.

Spend as little as possible, get licensed by SyFy. You've got a much better chance there.

Take it or leave it, of course.
 
Proposing a sequel, or even worse, a third in the trilogy, might not be a great idea. Who wants to start with episode 3 and skip all that crucial character development? I know it's been done, but it seems like a better idea to pitch it as a regular movie and then on the odd chance it all goes great, run your first two as prequels.

Not an expert, but yeah...
 
Kholi said:
Here's my advice to you, from someone who talks directly to an Asylum director frequently: forget about the numbers you hear (as Rick as already stated, and he's right on the money; pun intended) and go to the web.

Spend as little as possible, get licensed by SyFy. You've got a much better chance there.

Take it or leave it, of course.
Click to expand...

That's not far from our strategy of what we are doing, once IC2 is 100% complete and the script for IC3 is complete along with it.
 
PaulGriffith said:
Proposing a sequel, or even worse, a third in the trilogy, might not be a great idea. Who wants to start with episode 3 and skip all that crucial character development? I know it's been done, but it seems like a better idea to pitch it as a regular movie and then on the odd chance it all goes great, run your first two as prequels.

Not an expert, but yeah...
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestion, Paul.

I'm working on ideas for the proposal. So, I won't rule anything senseable out.
 
Modern Day Myth Prod. LLC said:
Since my DP freelances between 3 TV networks, I'm taking his word for this when he tells me SyFy pays out between $500,000 and $600,000. However, I want this verified.
Click to expand...
I know that to be the high end of what they pay. If the production
meets very specific requirements. If you can make a movie for
$200,000 that meets their specific requirements and sell it for
$500,000 and can do that three times a year - you have yourself
one hell of a career!

I think it's time you ask your DP to set up a meeting with Mark or
Thomas.
 
directorik said:
I know that to be the high end of what they pay. If the production
meets very specific requirements. If you can make a movie for
$200,000 that meets their specific requirements and sell it for
$500,000 and can do that three times a year - you have yourself
one hell of a career!

I think it's time you ask your DP to set up a meeting with Mark or
Thomas.
Click to expand...

I will when we have the final cut of IC2 and the Final Draft of the screenplay for IC3 ready to go. I like to plan ahead.

My DP also agreed we should show the stuff at a NATPE Convention to see what other options we have.
 
Make a movie for $200 grand and sell for $600??? I can do that. :)

How do we get in touch with Syfy? And make sure Summer Glau doesn't know anything about it. LOL.
 
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