GC

THE GIFT CHALLENGE

A GAME. A MOVEMENT. A MISSION.

A socially grounded thriller about a viral game that connects people through gifts giving, evolving into a global movement uniting communities against gun violence.

The Concept

When a viral social network game, designed to connect communities through gifts giving and unite them against gun violence, faces threats of being shut down by powerful forces, its creator—Leandrew—must race to defend his platform and preserve its credibility. As the movement grows, Leandrew fights to keep the game alive so communities can continue their mission of unity and change.

This is a story about how visibility, trust, and collective action reshape communities when scaled—and the power of one platform to unite millions in a global movement for change.

Genre

Socially Grounded Thriller

Format

Limited Series (8-10 Episodes)

Positioning

Director-Led, Prestige, Global Upside

Platform Pitches

THE GIFT CHALLENGE is a high-octane, 8-episode global thriller that will dominate the conversation. It's a story about a game where people connect through gifts to unite against gun violence—and the creator who fights to keep it alive. The stakes are massive: a social network phenomenon that has the power to reshape communities and spark real-world change. This is a fast-paced, international movement story where the only way to win is to stay connected—and keep fighting. With a production model built for efficient, multi-location shooting, this is the next must-watch, water-cooler series that delivers the scale, heart, and urgency our global audience craves.

Production Strategy

Prestige-Efficient Model

The project is engineered to deliver global scope and high production value through a modular production model utilizing authentic, real-world locations. Scale is achieved through crowd dynamics, sound design, and editorial rhythm, minimizing reliance on costly visual effects and maximizing logistical flexibility.

Modular Production

Interwoven storylines across multiple cities and states allow for scenes to be captured efficiently in contained, self-sufficient units. This supports a flexible shooting schedule and allows for the strategic deployment of second units, optimizing time and resources.

Visual Language

The visual language prioritizes faces, proximity, and emotional authenticity over heavy visual effects. Production emphasizes natural light, practical environments, and real textures to achieve visual richness without inflated budgets.

Platform Flexibility

The project's structure is inherently flexible, supporting a feature-length theatrical release, a limited or multi-season series, and companion unscripted/interactive extensions. This provides multiple monetization and expansion pathways to grow the IP organically with audience engagement.

Creator

Leandrew Baillum

Leandrew Baillum is a self-taught writer, entrepreneur, and game designer whose creative vision bridges entertainment and social innovation. With a solid educational foundation in game design and software engineering, Baillum brings unparalleled authenticity and insight into the mechanics of viral social phenomena.

This unique background provides the series with a terrifyingly plausible near-future foundation, grounding the high-concept premise in technical and social reality.

The 30-Second Pitch

"We have a premium limited series called THE GIFT CHALLENGE, a socially grounded thriller that's ready to go. It's about a viral social network game where people connect through gifts to unite communities against gun violence. When powerful forces try to shut down the platform, Leandrew—the creator—must fight to defend it and preserve the movement's credibility and mission. It's high-concept, prestige-positioned, and taps directly into the zeitgeist of grassroots activism and social change. We have the full package, and the production model is engineered for prestige-efficiency."

Positioned with Industry Leaders

The Gift Challenge combines the cultural phenomenon scale of Squid Game, the prestige positioning of Mr. Robot, and introduces a new franchise model spanning television, film, and AAA gaming.

Squid Game

Netflix2021

Global phenomenon. Social commentary thriller with game mechanics.

Production Budget

$21.4M

Revenue Potential

$900M+

Positioning

Cultural Event Series

Awards Status

Emmy Winner

Relevance to TGC

Template for prestige gaming IP

The Gift Challenge

Multi-Platform2026

Mission-driven thriller. Viral game uniting communities against gun violence.

Production Budget

$28M–$60M

Revenue Potential

$250M–$2B+

Positioning

Prestige Event Series + Gaming + Film

Awards Status

Awards-Viable

Relevance to TGC

Next-Generation Franchise Model

Mr. Robot

USA Network2015–2019

Psychological thriller with tech-culture authenticity and social relevance.

Production Budget

$5M–$7M/episode

Revenue Potential

$200M+

Positioning

Prestige Limited Series

Awards Status

Emmy Winner

Relevance to TGC

Prestige Positioning & Cultural Impact

Why The Gift Challenge Stands Apart

Multi-Platform Franchise

Unlike traditional limited series, TGC spans Netflix series, theatrical film, and AAA gaming (Xbox/PlayStation) for $700M–$2B long-term value.

Social Mission Integration

Combines prestige storytelling with real-world impact: uniting communities against gun violence. Awards-viable + cultural relevance.

Prestige-Efficient Model

Delivers global scope and high production value through modular production, practical locations, and minimal CGI dependency.

Agent Assessment & Development Notes

Professional industry evaluation and development guidance for The Gift Challenge, prepared for serious buyers and creative collaborators.

The Worldwide Swap & Trade: The Gift Challenge is a timely, ambitious, and highly scalable property that blends the emotional accessibility of a human drama with the propulsion of a real-time thriller. The series stands out for its clear moral spine, disciplined structure, and rare refusal to oversimplify social issues. This is not a "tech savior" story. It is a story about collective behavior, visibility, and trust—positioned in a way that feels premium, responsible, and globally relevant. The concept is strong enough to attract top-tier buyers and flexible enough to support franchise expansion without diluting the limited-series promise.

Strong marketplace relevance with clear pathways for prestige positioning and franchise expansion.

Ready to explore The Gift Challenge further?

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Financial Projections

Season 1 Budget Range

Lean Prestige (Recommended)

Per Episode: $3.5M – $4.5M

Total Season: $28M – $40M

Ideal for Apple TV+, HBO/Max, Netflix prestige positioning

Event Series Scale

Per Episode: $5M – $6.5M

Total Season: $45M – $60M

Netflix global event launch with larger international rollout

Per-Episode Budget Breakdown

Above-the-Line (Talent & Creatives)$900K – $1.5M
Below-the-Line (Production)$1.5M – $2.5M
Post-Production$400K – $700K
Contingency & Insurance$200K – $400K

Multi-Platform Revenue Potential

Year 1–2: Launch Phase
Netflix Limited Series$40–50M
Theatrical Film (if greenlit)$80–150M
Gaming (Xbox/PlayStation)$120–200M
Merchandising & Licensing$10–20M
Total Year 1–2$250–420M
Year 3–5: Expansion Phase
Netflix Season 2 (if renewed)$50–70M
Film Sequel/Spinoff$100–200M
Gaming DLC & Live Service$80–150M
International Licensing$30–60M
Merchandising & Licensing$30–50M
Total Year 3–5$290–530M
Long-Term Franchise Value (5+ Years)

$700M – $2.0B

Positions The Gift Challenge competitively with prestige franchises like Squid Game and The Social Network.

AAA Gaming Platform (Xbox & PlayStation)

Game Development Investment
Development (3–4 years)$60–80M
Motion Capture & Voice Acting$5–8M
Marketing & Launch$15–25M
Total Investment$80–113M
Year 1–3 Revenue Projections
Unit Sales (Conservative)2M copies @ $60 = $120M
Unit Sales (Moderate)3.5M copies @ $65 = $227.5M
Unit Sales (Optimistic)5M+ copies @ $70 = $350M
+ DLC & Live Service+30–50% of base revenue

Cost-Control Advantages

No Heavy CGI Dependency

Authentic locations and practical storytelling minimize expensive visual effects.

Location Flexibility

Multi-city storylines allow efficient, contained production units.

Limited-Series Economics

Defined 8–10 episode run eliminates long-tail exposure.

Awards Potential

Prestige positioning supports festival submissions and awards campaigns.

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