Saturday, January 20, 2024
Writing alone? Not so much.
Friday, January 12, 2024
Thoughts on writing a "high concept & big budget" feature film script for a MUCH smaller budget
One of the things I liked about the TV series Firefly, was that 90% of the story took place inside the ship Serenity, and that was intentional for cost savings. However, it also forced the stories to be about the people inside and not on big sci-fi things outside the ship. I also based my stories on months spent at sea in my day job (oceanographer), where you tend to create external families and friendships to get you through the long days and nights. Both of my screenplays center on that type of "family" bonding and that allows you to focus on people and not get too carried away with plot. The plot is important and dramatic and life changing, but the center of the story is always how that plot affects the characters.
I do wish I could find a way to realistically estimate the budget. As a comparison, I use far less external "undersea" CGI shots than the recent 2020 film "Underwater" with Kristen Stewart, and it cost between 50-80 million. So I would estimate maybe 50 million, maybe even less since I spend far more time inside than out.
Join this conversation on Stage32
All books now on sale!
Thursday, December 21, 2023
First draft of Rogue Wave screenplay finished.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
Today I began a new project - finally!
Friday, October 8, 2021
NOVUM CHRONICLES is now available in hardcover!
The enemy has found our long-hidden refuge under the sea, the last colony of mankind. Will this be our final battle?
As the last descendants of Earth struggle to survive beneath the surface of an alien ocean, one man's discovery will lead him on a journey of redemption, while he fights to save what's left of his world.
Jacob Stone is a young man haunted by his past. When he reluctantly accepts a job to help pay for a transport submarine he inherited but doesn't want, he inadvertently awakens an ancient and terrible power. Its arrival triggers a chain of events that could destroy what's left of the human race or be the key to its future. But, is it a future he's willing to fight for, let alone die for?
Available worldwide in Paperback, Kindle ebook, free on KindleUnlimited, and now available for the first time in HARDCOVER!
Check out all editions at: JosephRhea.com/novum
Thursday, September 10, 2020
NOVUM CHRONICLES (The Complete Novum Saga) is live worldwide!
The enemy has found our long-hidden refuge under the sea, the last colony of mankind. Will this be our final battle?
As the last descendants of Earth struggle to survive beneath the surface of an alien ocean, one man's discovery will lead him on a journey of redemption, while he fights to save what's left of his world.
Jacob Stone is a young man haunted by his past. When he reluctantly accepts a job to help pay for a transport submarine he inherited but doesn't want, he inadvertently awakens an ancient and terrible power. Its arrival triggers a chain of events that could destroy what's left of the human race or be the key to its future. But, is it a future he's willing to fight for, let alone die for?
Available worldwide in 600-page Paperback, Kindle ebook, or free on KindleUnlimited.