Hire
Brief Candle.
Bring Your Idea Into Focus.
Brief Candle helps independent filmmakers and producers develop ideas, solve creative production challenges, and create finished proof-of-concept films. Start with the support your project needs—from a focused creative session to a complete production.
HOLY SH*T I’M DEAD
From the set
to the screen.
Your Idea.
Our Work Together.
Bring us what you want to make. We’ll define what Brief Candle will create, how we’ll approach the work, and what’s included before you commit.
Develop And Produce With Us.
Studio Services help you find a direction, develop the creative material, or commission a finished proof of concept. Choose the entry point that fits your project.
Explore Studio Services ↓Add Us To Your Existing Project.
Individual Services provide hands-on Unreal Engine or editing support for a defined assignment, working directly with you or alongside your production team.
Explore Individual Services ↓Holy Sh*t
I’m Dead
A reference for what a distinctive idea can look and feel like on screen.
Show what the
project can become.
A proof of concept makes the tone, performances, visual world, and filmmaking approach tangible.
Holy Sh*t I’m Dead brings those elements together in an original Brief Candle production. It demonstrates the approach we can bring to a filmmaker or producer’s larger vision.
Complimentary Introductory Call — 30 Minutes
Tell us what you want to make, where the project stands, your budget, and your timeline. We’ll discuss fit, services, and an initial scope. There is no obligation to book paid work. Advance material review, creative development, technical troubleshooting, and a written action plan are not included in this introductory call.
From Development
To Delivery.
Hire Brief Candle to explore a creative direction, develop your concept, or produce a finished proof of concept. Each service stands on its own. You can book production directly; these are not mandatory steps or cumulative fees.
Creative Strategy Session
Find A Direction For Your Project.
For filmmakers and producers with an existing idea, script, or scene and a specific creative question to resolve. Work with us to explore the strongest direction and what a compelling proof of concept could show.
- Up to 30 minutes of selected material review
- A 90-minute creative working session on Google Meet
- A written creative summary and action plan within three business days
- One clarification email within seven calendar days of delivery
$350, paid in full when booking. Includes preparation, your 90-minute session, and the written action plan.
Concept Development
Shape The Story. Define The Vision.
For filmmakers and producers who want Brief Candle to take on the creative development. We shape an agreed idea into a defined scene or teaser concept, establishing its story beats, tone, and visual direction.
- A creative treatment for the agreed concept
- A scene or teaser outline
- Selected visual references
- One consolidated revision round
Starting price covers a focused concept-development assignment. Final pricing depends on the amount of material, creative development, research, and revisions required. Filming and editing are separately scoped.
A 50% deposit is required upfront to confirm your booking. For approved projects only; enter the deposit amount from your accepted proposal in Stripe.
Proof-Of-Concept Production
From Concept To Camera To Final Cut.
For filmmakers and producers ready to commission a finished scene or teaser. Brief Candle develops, directs, shoots, and edits a piece that brings your project’s tone, performances, and visual world to life.
- One agreed scene or teaser
- One location and one shoot day
- Development, directing, filming, and editing
- Basic color and sound finishing
- Two consolidated edit rounds
Final pricing depends on the script, runtime, crew, cast, locations, equipment, effects, and shoot days required. The starting price is for a focused scene or teaser; a complete short or feature film requires its own scope.
A 50% deposit is required upfront to confirm your booking. For approved projects only; enter the deposit amount from your accepted proposal in Stripe.
Booking And Payment: A 50% booking deposit is due after acceptance of the written scope and before work begins. The remaining 50% is due when the agreed work is ready for final review, before final sign-off and release of the final deliverables. Review previews are provided so you can assess the work and request any remaining included revisions. Payment does not waive your right to the agreed deliverables or included revisions. The Creative Strategy Session is $350, paid in full when booking. Read The Booking Terms ↓
All prices are in USD. We agree on deliverables, schedule, and total price before work begins. Your quote specifies crew, equipment, casting, locations, permits, insurance, licensing, and applicable taxes where relevant. Additional work is quoted and approved before proceeding.
Use the completed deliverables independently or continue into production with Brief Candle, subject to any third-party asset licenses. If you continue with us, we build on the work already completed and quote the next stage separately.
Bring Brief Candle
Into Your Production.
Already have a project underway? Hire us for the specific creative or technical work you need. We can work directly with you or alongside your existing team.
Unreal Engine Services
Four-Hour Minimum · $600
$1,200 Per Eight-Hour Day
Hands-on Unreal Engine work for cinematic projects: environment assembly using agreed assets, lighting, camera setup, Sequencer animation, rendering, and troubleshooting within an agreed scope.
The agreed scene updates, renders, or project files, with a handoff explaining the completed work. Deliverables and third-party asset requirements are specified before booking.
Custom modeling, character creation, complex effects, asset purchases, and substantial render costs are quoted separately. Hourly and day bookings cover agreed working time; the output depends on the assignment’s scope.
A 50% deposit is required upfront to confirm your booking. For approved projects only; enter the deposit amount from your accepted proposal in Stripe.
Editing Services
Four-Hour Minimum · $500
$1,000 Per Eight-Hour Day
Editing for filmmakers and producers with footage ready to shape into a scene, teaser, trailer, or short film. Book a defined edit or dedicated time supporting an existing production.
A short, focused edit using organized client-supplied footage, basic color and audio balancing, one master export, and one consolidated revision round.
Your quote defines footage volume, finished runtime, export formats, finishing, and revisions. Full short films, extensive footage review, graphics, and more complex finishing are priced separately. Revisions on hourly work count toward the agreed working time.
A 50% deposit is required upfront to confirm your booking. For approved projects only; enter the deposit amount from your accepted proposal in Stripe.
Individual Services Payment: pay 50% of the approved project fee or booked block of hours/days upfront, with the remaining balance due before final sign-off and release of deliverables. For time-based assignments, the final invoice reconciles actual billable time against the deposit and agreed minimum. Additional time requires written approval.
Individual Services begin with a scope and availability discussion. We confirm the assignment, estimated hours or days, deliverables, and payment terms before booking. Work beyond the approved scope or time requires approval. Request buttons open an inquiry. Book Now buttons open Stripe checkout for work already agreed in writing.
A focused session.
A practical next step.
For independent filmmakers and producers with a specific project and a creative decision to make: which scene to develop, what tone to pursue, or how to demonstrate the idea. The $350 session includes preparation, hands-on discussion, and a written creative summary and action plan. It is optional and does not commit you to a larger project.
Understand The Project.
After booking and paying, follow the preparation instructions in your confirmation email. Email frank@briefcandle.co with your goal, intended audience, current stage, available resources, budget, deadline, and the main question you want to resolve.
Send the agreed materials at least two business days before the session. We spend up to 30 minutes reviewing a selected script excerpt, treatment, reference images, short footage sample, or technical outline and preparing the discussion. We agree on the selection in advance; full screenplay coverage and an in-depth code or project audit are separate scopes.
Work Through The Challenge.
A live video conversation focused on one defined creative or technical challenge. The agenda adapts to your project; a typical session follows this structure:
- 15 minutes: confirm the intended outcome, audience, constraints, and the decision you need to make.
- 30 minutes: discuss the selected material, identify what is working, and examine the main creative or technical obstacles.
- 30 minutes: compare practical approaches, workflow options, production needs, and budget or schedule tradeoffs.
- 15 minutes: choose a recommended direction, prioritize the next steps, and address your remaining questions.
We might compare scenes for a proof of concept, explore the tone and visual approach, or consider how Brief Candle could achieve a particular creative result. This session develops a recommendation; a completed treatment, Unreal Engine build, or finished film is a separate assignment.
Leave With A Clear Plan.
Within three business days, receive a concise one-to-two-page document covering:
- Your objective and the key observations from the session.
- The recommended creative or technical direction and why it fits.
- Three to five prioritized actions, with suggested order and dependencies.
- The people, assets, tools, or tests needed for the next stage.
- Open creative questions, practical constraints, and the next stage Brief Candle could undertake if you choose to continue.
One clarification email received within seven calendar days of delivery is included, limited to questions about the plan. New research, revised concepts, implementation, production, and further working sessions are separately scoped. Any project estimate discussed is indicative; a commissioned project receives its own written quote.
How Booking Works: click Book A Creative Strategy Session, choose an available time, and pay $350 through the booking page to confirm. Your confirmation includes a Google Meet link and preparation instructions. Email the agreed materials at least two business days before the session, attend your 90-minute session, and receive your written action plan within three business days. Sessions are available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Pacific, with at least seven days’ advance notice. The complimentary call is optional. The strategy session does not commit you to a larger project and is not a mandatory fee before a production quote.
Booking Policy: Payment is nonrefundable, except where required by law. You may reschedule your session once, subject to availability. Contact frank@briefcandle.co to arrange the change.
Start with what
you need to prove.
A specific question makes a stronger project: a performance, a world, a technical approach, or the feeling of the film itself.
Find The Right Fit.
Start with an optional complimentary 30-minute introductory call. Discuss your project, budget, timing, and whether Brief Candle is the right fit. No obligation to continue; detailed review belongs in a paid strategy session or scoped project.
Agree On The Work.
Receive a written scope covering deliverables, responsibilities, revisions, milestones, and payment schedule. You approve the plan before production begins.
Build And Refine.
Work through agreed review points toward a finished deliverable. If the project changes, we confirm the effect on budget and schedule before proceeding.
Confirm Your Booking.
Begin The Work.
Once we have agreed on your scope, price, and schedule, select Book Now under your service. The button opens a secure Stripe checkout where you can pay your agreed deposit.
Confirm The Scope And Price.
Accept your written proposal covering the deliverables, fee or authorized time block, revisions, and schedule before making a payment.
Pay Your Deposit On Stripe.
Enter the exact 50% deposit shown in your accepted proposal, in USD. Add your name, email, and project or proposal reference so we can match your payment to the agreed work.
Receive Booking Confirmation.
We confirm your booking after checking the accepted agreement, correct deposit, and schedule. The remaining balance is due before final sign-off and release of the agreed deliverables.
Checkout minimums reflect our published starting scopes; your actual deposit may be higher. The amount entered at checkout does not change your agreed project price. If you are unsure of the amount, contact frank@briefcandle.co before paying. Your final balance is billed separately and is not charged automatically.
Creative Strategy Sessions remain $350, paid in full through the existing calendar booking and Stripe payment flow.
A Clear Agreement.
A Clear Way Forward.
These terms summarize how we book and deliver work. Your accepted written agreement specifies the project details and any expressly agreed variations, subject to applicable law.
Scope And Booking
Your written proposal or service agreement identifies the assignment, deliverables, included revisions, fee or authorized time block, dates, client responsibilities, and any licensed assets or expenses. A booking is confirmed after the agreement is accepted, the 50% deposit has cleared, and Brief Candle has confirmed the schedule in writing. An inquiry or payment on its own does not reserve an unconfirmed date.
Deposit And Final Balance
The deposit is credited toward the agreed fee. The remaining 50% is due when the agreed work is ready for final review, before final sign-off and release of the final deliverables. The invoice states a specific due date. Any separately approved changes or expenses are itemized in the final invoice; they are not automatically included in the original balance.
Review Before Release
We provide suitable review materials, such as watermarked or reduced-resolution video, document previews, renders, or a screen-share demonstration. Clients may review the work and identify any remaining included revisions before paying the balance. Review materials are for evaluation only and may not be published, distributed, or used commercially. Final unwatermarked files, master exports, and any included editable or source files are released after payment has cleared and final written approval is received.
Revisions And Changes
Included revision rounds and feedback dates are set out in the agreement. Feedback should be consolidated through the designated client contact. Additional concepts, revisions, formats, assets, shoot days, or technical requirements require written approval of the added scope, fee, and schedule before work proceeds. Payment does not remove the obligation to complete agreed deliverables or included revisions.
Hourly And Day Assignments
For Unreal Engine and Editing assignments booked by time, the deposit is 50% of the authorized block or estimate. Final billing is based on actual billable time at the agreed rate, subject to the stated minimum and approved cap, less the deposit already paid. Unused prepaid amounts above the applicable minimum are credited or refunded. We obtain written approval before exceeding the agreed time or spending limit. Time bookings do not guarantee unlimited revisions or an undefined finished result.
Dates And Client Materials
Clients provide the agreed footage, assets, access, permissions, and feedback on schedule. Delayed materials, approvals, or payments may move the delivery date or require rescheduling subject to availability. Brief Candle will communicate the effect on the schedule. Any resulting additional costs require written approval.
Cancellation And Rescheduling
Project-specific cancellation and rescheduling terms are agreed in writing before payment. Deposits are applied against work already performed and authorized noncancelable third-party costs; any additional cancellation charge must be expressly stated in the agreement. Any remaining prepaid amount is handled under that agreement and applicable law. The strategy session’s separate no-refund and one-reschedule policy does not automatically apply to production or other custom assignments.
Files And Usage Rights
The agreement specifies the final files and rights included. Any agreed transfer or license of Brief Candle-created deliverables takes effect after full payment. Client-supplied material remains the client’s property. Third-party assets remain subject to their licenses; reusable tools, working files, raw footage, and project/source files are included only when expressly listed. Review access does not grant final usage rights.
Creative Strategy Sessions
The $350 Creative Strategy Session is paid in full when booking through its calendar. It includes the stated preparation, 90-minute session, written action plan, and clarification email. Its existing policy remains: payment is nonrefundable except where required by law, and one reschedule is permitted subject to availability. No 50% deposit option applies to this session.
Services And Booking Questions
How Much Is A Creative Strategy Session, And How Do I Book?
The Creative Strategy Session costs $350 USD, paid in full when booking. It includes up to 30 minutes of preparation, a 90-minute Google Meet session, a written creative summary and action plan within three business days, and one clarification email within seven calendar days of delivery. Book A Creative Strategy Session to choose an available time and pay.
How Do I Book Production, Development, Unreal Engine, Or Editing?
Send A Project Inquiry first so we can agree on the scope, deliverables, price, and schedule. Once your proposal is accepted, use the service’s Book Now button to pay the agreed 50% deposit on Stripe. The balance is due before final sign-off and release of the final deliverables. The $350 strategy session is paid in full instead.
What Are Your Starting Prices And Hourly Rates?
Concept Development starts at $2,500 USD and Proof-Of-Concept Production starts at $15,000 USD. Unreal Engine Services are $150 per hour with a four-hour minimum, or $1,200 per eight-hour day. Editing is $125 per hour with a four-hour minimum, or $1,000 per eight-hour day; defined editing projects start at $1,500. Final scope and pricing are agreed before booking.
Do I Need To Book Every Studio Service?
No. You can commission a proof-of-concept production directly, book development on its own, or start with a strategy session. We discuss your project and recommend a suitable scope. Earlier services are not mandatory fees.
Can I Take The Completed Work Elsewhere?
Yes. You can use the agreed completed deliverables independently or continue with Brief Candle. Your proposal specifies the files and usage rights included, along with any third-party asset or licensing restrictions.
Can we work within a smaller budget?
Yes, when we can define a useful smaller scope. A strategy session, treatment, existing-footage edit, or technical test may be the right first step before committing to a shoot. Tell us your budget and what you need the work to accomplish.
Can you join an existing team?
Yes. Creative direction, directing, Unreal Engine development, and editing can be scoped independently. We agree on responsibilities, working days, and deliverables with your producer or project lead.
What does standalone editing include?
Projects from $1,500 cover a short, focused edit using organized client-supplied footage, basic color and audio balancing, one master export, and one consolidated revision round. Footage volume, final runtime, graphics, licensing, and additional versions are agreed in the quote.
Will the proof of concept secure financing?
Its purpose is to communicate the project more clearly and demonstrate the creative approach. Financing, distribution, festival selection, and commercial outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Tell us what
you want to make.
Send a short description, the stage you’re at, your budget range, and your target timeline. Links to a script, treatment, references, or existing footage are welcome.
Free calls and paid strategy sessions are booked through Google Calendar in a new tab. Paid strategy sessions require payment to confirm. Custom project inquiries open our inquiry form; Book Now buttons open secure Stripe checkout for approved work. You can also write to frank@briefcandle.co.