You sat hunched over your desk, the dim glow of your computer highlighting the furrow in your brow. Bruce leaned against the wall nearby, his sharp teeth flashing as he chewed on the remains of an energy bar.
"So, it's '
Foregone Conclusion,' huh?" Bruce broke the silence, tilting his head toward Thunder's screen. "Gotta admit, I like it. Classic noir vibe, but with your whole 'clan Mobian underdog' angle. Real punch to it."
You didn't respond immediately, your eyes scanning the script details for the hundredth time.
"You're raring to iron out the details already, aren't you?" Bruce said with a chuckle. "Luckily, the most important parts are nailed down. What's left is the fiddly stuff—actors, props, sets, and all the other budget-sucking nonsense."
You finally looked up, your ears twitching slightly. "Speaking of budget, what's the damage?"
Bruce grimaced dramatically and waved his tablet like a flag of surrender. "Come over here, and I'll show you. But don't say I didn't warn you."
You circled the desk, towering over Bruce as the shark flipped through spreadsheets with practiced ease.
"Here's the deal," Bruce said, tapping the screen. "We've got
50,000 Mobiums to work with. After crunching the numbers, that gives us
5 Budget Points to allocate."
You frowned, leaning closer. "Is that enough?"
"Depends," Bruce replied, flashing a toothy grin. "If we cut some corners—and I mean
carefully cut—we'll be fine. Just gotta play it smart."
Costumes
[ ] 0 BP: Scavenge and improvise.
"We can raid thrift shops and use whatever we've got lying around. Sure, it'll be rough, but this is noir—we can spin it as 'authentic grit.'"
[ ] 1 BP: Scavenge with polish.
"Same deal, but we'll throw in some polish and maybe hire a tailor for touch-ups. Think 'gritty but sharp.'"
Props
[ ] 0 BP: Whatever we can scrounge.
"Basic stuff. You've got a knife, I've got a camera, and we'll bang some tin for sound effects."
[ ] 1 BP: Invest in electronics or effects.
"We'll spring for some fake blood, breakaway furniture, and basic gadgets for authenticity."
Sets
[ ] 1 BP: Minimal set, stock footage for exteriors.
"Interior shots only. We'll rely on stock footage for cityscapes and some creative lighting for ambiance."
[ ] 2 BP: Basic set, multiple rooms.
"Two or three repeating interiors. Enough to make the world feel alive without breaking the bank."
Special Effects
[ ] 1 BP: Basic effects.
"Simple lighting tricks and subtle enhancements. Works fine for noir—no one's expecting explosions."
[ ] 2 BP: Slightly advanced effects.
"A little extra flair. Maybe a simulated rain scene or a flickering neon sign outside a window."
Sound and Music
[ ] 0 BP: DIY sound and in-house music.
"Our sound team's got some chops, and jazz tracks are public domain. It's not much, but it'll work."
[ ] ? BP: Hire specialists or musicians.
"Throw a few points into sound, and we might score some custom tracks or better ambient effects."
Actors
[ ] 0 BP: Novice cast.
"We'll hire local, mostly newbies. Plenty of heart, but you'll need to guide them."
[ ] ? BP: Experienced talent.
"Shell out for pros, and we can guarantee some serious star power."
Director
[ ] 0 BP: Use in-house talent.
"Our crew's eager to prove themselves. They'll learn on the job—and on the cheap."
[ ] ? BP: Hire a pro.
"If you want to splash out, we can bring in someone with experience. Might be worth it for a tricky genre like noir."
"By the way, I got what you wanted."
You blinked, pulled from your counting by Bruce's voice. "Got the team's opinions on those big-name releases you were curious about. Not sure why you wanted 'em—haven't you already seen every one of those?" He asked as he handed you the notepad
"You know full well that one person's opinion doesn't count for much," You grumbled, the notepad to read over. As you began to read, you braced yourself for what you knew was coming. The big studios had churned out a lot of noise lately, and almost none of it worth hearing.
"Dead Paws: Rise of the Swarm"
Poster: A ragtag group of Mobians standing in front of a burning cityscape, their fur matted with blood and grime. The tagline read:
"The undead have risen… and they're hungry for more than flesh."
- Director: Marvin Clawthorne
- Screenwriter: Lily Pox
- Starring: Max Tailsworth, Cindy Skimmer
- Produced and Distributed by: Acorn Studios
BASIC PLOT:
When an experimental virus escapes from a lab deep in Sunset City, it transforms Mobians into shambling, ravenous undead. A mismatched group of survivors, led by former firefighter Blaze (Tailsworth) and nervous lab tech Serena (Skimmer), must navigate the chaotic streets to stop the virus from reaching Green Hills.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM
- "It's the same movie as every other zombie flick, just with shinier teeth. Honestly, I think one of the extras even reused the same scream from Dead Paws 2." – Fran, Squirrel
- "Blaze's tragic firefighter backstory made zero sense. He's afraid of fire but keeps lighting Molotovs?!" – Zeke, Hedgehog
- "There were zombies in this? I thought the real horror was the script." – Kira, Fox
"The Burning Claw"
Poster: Echidna warrior standing atop a pile of defeated Clan Mobians, a blazing spear in his hand. The tagline read:
"The truth must prevail—even if it's written in blood."
- Director: Victor Redstone
- Screenwriter: Jemma Arclight
- Starring: Troy Knucklethorn, Rena Goldfur
- Produced and Distributed by: Echidna Preservation Arts
BASIC PLOT:
Set during the fabled war between the Echidnas and Clan Mobians, the story follows Garik (Knucklethorn), a noble Echidna warrior, as he defends his homeland from the savage and relentless Clan Mobians. Through cunning tactics and bravery, Garik turns the tide, saving the Echidnas' lives and cultural superiority.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
- "Oh, wow, they really leaned into the Echidna propaganda, huh? Was there even a single sympathetic Clan Mobian character?" – Lori, Lemur
- "Sympathetic? They weren't even characters. They were growling, snarling cannon fodder." – Kai, Wolf
- "As a Clan Mobian, I'd like to formally request that this movie be burned along with its script. Twice." – Lorna, Chameleon
Thunder growled under his breath, claws tapping the table. "The Echidna studios never miss an opportunity to rewrite history, do they?"
Bruce gave him a sideways glance. "You okay, buddy?"
"I'm fine," Thunder said, though his twitching tail told a different story.
"Strings of Fate"
Poster: A lavish ballroom, where a handsome tiger danced with a starry-eyed bunny in a gown that sparkled like starlight. A brooding hawk leaned against a balcony in the background, his gaze distant and pained.
- Director: Talia Featherwright
- Screenwriter: Luke Rivers
- Starring: Kara Softpaw, Ryan Clawthorne, Hawk McShade
- Produced and Distributed by: Sunset Entertainment
BASIC PLOT:
Lila (Softpaw), a rising star in the fashion world, finds herself torn between her charming childhood friend Marcus (Clawthorne) and the aloof but brilliant designer Blake (McShade). As the three navigate the high-stakes world of Mobian fashion, love, betrayal, and self-discovery intertwine in this romantic drama.
COMMENTS FROM THE TEAM:
- "Lila's the worst. Like, objectively the worst. Half the audience was rooting for Marcus and Blake to run off together and leave her behind." – Elena, Rabbit
- "Blake's sarcastic assistant stole the whole show. I think there's already fanfic where she saves Marcus from Lila's drama." – Tim, Fox
- "Honestly, this wasn't even a movie. It was a two-hour perfume commercial." – Marco, Skunk
"It's all trash," You declared, setting the notepad down with a sigh.
Bruce shrugged, grinning. "The big three gotta big three. You know how it is."
Thunder let out a low groan, his ears flattening. "How are we supposed to stand out when this is what people are used to?"
Bruce smirked, his sharp teeth catching the light. "Easy. We do better."