I write screenplays in a workshop, and one thing I have found helpful is to watch movies that have only about a two-star rating. When a movie is only kinda good, whatever really works stands out in sharp contrast to everything that doesn’t, and it is very illuminating. I have seen movies where I thought the whole thing was terrible except for just one scene that was really good, and because it was the only good thing it was easy to identify as such. So that’s one way to find things that work well. It also doesn’t hurt that these films also tend to have been cheap (often, but not always).

Isn’t it odd how “three” comes up in rules? When I read your entry, the first thing it reminded me of was the rule of three in clothes — well, women’s clothes, anyway. That rule of three is that among a short skirt, a tight fit, and a low neckline, the combinations go like this… one out of three is acceptable; two out of three is provocative; and all three is hooker. (That’s not counting shoes, though… whole ‘nother can of worms there.)

But I digress… okay, cheap and good in films. Some old stand-bys to keep in mind are your hanging elevator suspense; unfolding someone’s dark secret from the past; and two interesting/sympathetic characters working together to solve something while each is struggling to keep a significant secret from the other. If you’re really clever and can work all three of those together, I think you’ve got something. And lastly, to keep it cheap, keep all sets as simple as possible and limit effects to things you can accomplish with simple light and sound techniques. Really old movies are a good reference for that. Check out “The Uninvited” with Ray Milland from the 1940’s… simple yet very compelling effects.

Hope this helps! I enjoy your blog, and good luck with your idea.