RED RESONANTS TRILOGY PITCH

 

A Science‑Fiction Feature Film Trilogy.

One‑Page Pitch

 

Title:  RED RESONANTS

 

Genre: Science Fiction / Epic Drama

 

Logline:

On a red‑sand planet where water is controlled by corporations and the land itself is alive, a young engineer must choose between human dominance and planetary survival.

 

Synopsis:

Humanity arrives on Arakis‑9 after Earth’s collapse, believing it to be a lifeless refuge. Instead, they find a hostile red desert where water is rarer than gold. As city‑states rise around water monopolies, Kael Ryn—a water‑engineer born during the journey—discovers the planet’s indigenous life communicates through seismic vibration. What first appears as natural disaster is revealed as language.

 

As corporate powers push terraforming to secure control, Kael and xenobiologist Dr. Sena Voss uncover a truth: the planet is a living system, and humanity’s survival depends on coexistence, not conquest. Across three films, RED RESONANTS" chronicles humanity’s transformation from invader to symbiont, culminating in a new civilization shaped by the desert itself.

 

Why It Works:

 

Original IP with franchise longevity

Timely themes: climate, colonialism, survival

Scalable from indie prestige to global blockbuster

Designed for theatrical impact and streaming longevity

 

Tone:

Epic, grounded, and emotionally intimate.

 

1. Logline

 

On a vast red‑sand planet where water is myth and memory is currency, two generation fight to decide whether humanity will adapt to an alien world—or terraform it into extinction.

 

2. The World: Planet ARAKIS‑9 ("Red Resonants")

 

Endless crimson dunes, glass storms, and fossilized oceans

Twin suns causing extreme temperature swings

Indigenous non‑humanoid life that communicates through seismic resonance Scarce water controlled by corporate city‑states

 

Tone & Aesthetic

 

Epic, grounded science fiction

Practical environments + high‑end VFX

Visual blend of Dune, Mad Max, and Arrival

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3. Trilogy Overview

 

Each film stands alone while contributing to a larger narrative arc.

 

Film I – RED RESONANTS: Exiles

 

Theme: Survival

 

Humanity arrives fleeing a dying Earth

Protagonist: A young water‑engineer born during transit

Conflict: Colonists discover the planet is alive—and watching

Ending: First contact misunderstood as an attack

 

Film II – RED RESONANTS: Echoes*

 

Theme: Coexistence vs Control

 

Corporate regimes rise around water monopolies

Indigenous species revealed as planetary guardians

Protagonist becomes a bridge between species

Ending: Terraforming begins despite warnings

 

Film III – RED RESONANTS: Ascension

 

Theme: Legacy

 

Planet fights back through seismic and atmospheric upheaval

Choice between abandoning human supremacy or annihilation

Final act: Symbiosis reshapes both species

Ending: A new civilization, neither fully human nor alien

 

4. Main Characters

 

Kael Ryn – Water‑engineer turned reluctant leader

Dr. Sena Voss – Xenobiologist who deciphers planetary language

Marshal Dorne – Corporate enforcer representing old‑Earth power

The Resonants – Indigenous life forms communicating via vibration

 

5. Audience & Market

 

Core: 18–45 sci‑fi fans

Secondary: Prestige drama audiences

Global appeal due to minimal Earth‑centric politics

Strong franchise and merchandising potential

 

Comparable Franchises:

 

Dune

Planet of the Apes

Avatar

 

6. Franchise Potential

Trilogy films

Streaming spin‑off series (city‑states, early colonization)

Graphic novels & novels

Video game adaptation (open‑world survival)

 

7. Director’s Vision & Visual References

Vision Statement

Red Desert is a visceral, tactile science‑fiction epic grounded in physical reality. The camera lives close to the characters, emphasizing scale through contrast—small human figures against endless red horizons. The film prioritizes atmosphere over exposition, letting sound, silence, and environment tell the story.

 

Visual Language

Dominant palette: deep reds, burnt orange, rust, obsidian blacks

Natural light with harsh shadows and blown‑out skies

Minimal HUDs and clean sci‑fi design—function over ornament

Handheld intimacy in human moments; locked‑off wides for planetary scale

​

Cinematic References

Dune (2021) – Monumental scale, restrained dialogue

Mad Max: Fury Road – Kinetic desert survival, practical effects

Arrival – Alien communication through sensory experience

Blade Runner 2049 – Color as emotional storytelling

 

Sound & Music

Low‑frequency drones and seismic rumbles

Percussive, industrial score mixed with organic textures

Silence used as tension

 

8. Production Strategy

Shoot across desert locations (Namibia, Jordan, Australia)

Volume stages for alien environments

Reuse sets, costumes, and assets across trilogy

Back‑to‑back production to reduce costs

 

9. Budget Proposition (USD)

A. Indie / Prestige Sci‑Fi Version

 

Per‑Film Budget: 30–40 Million

 

Key Adjustments

 Limited A‑list cast (1 recognizable lead)

Practical locations over large set builds

Selective VFX focused on environments, not spectacle

Character‑driven scale similar to Ex Machina or Moon

 

Indie Budget Breakdown (Per Film)

 

Development & Pre‑Production: $3M

Cast: $5M

Director & Key Crew: $4M

Production: $10M

Visual Effects: $7M

Post‑Production: $6M

Contingency: $3M

 

Ideal Partners: A24, Neon, Annapurna, Amazon MGM, Netflix Prestige

 

B. Studio / Premium Version

 

Per‑Film Budget: $85–95 Million

 

Budget Breakdown (Per Film)

 

Development & Pre‑Production: $8M

Cast: $12M

Director & Key Crew: $7M

Production: $22M

Visual Effects: $20M

Post‑Production: $10M

Music & Sound Design: $4M

Contingency: $5M

 

Trilogy Total (Back‑to‑Back Savings Applied)

 

Total Estimated Spend:** $240–260 Million

Asset reuse saves approx. $30–40M over three films

 

9. Revenue Projection (Conservative)

 

Per Film

 

Box Office (Worldwide): $350–450M

Streaming / Licensing: $60–90M

Merchandising & Ancillary: $40–70M

 

Trilogy Potential

 

Total Gross Revenue:** $1.3–1.6 Billion

 

10. Why This Trilogy Works

Original IP with franchise longevity

Environment‑driven story aligned with global themes

Scalable budget with blockbuster visuals

Designed for theatrical + streaming synergy

 

11. Closing Statement

 

Red Desert is a science‑fiction myth for the modern age—where the greatest threat is not the alien world, but our refusal to change.

 

The desert is watching.