I guess everyone has noticed there's been an amazing explosion of indie short SF movies on Youtube the last few years? Seems like home-studio level CGI has reached a quality to rival Hollywood.
Some of the storylines are crap, but sometimes they are gems. Here's a nice one I found a few days ago:
"SEAM" - by Master Key Films
Once you watch a few of these indie SF things, lots more show up in your feed.
Considering how low the bar has been set in Hollywood the last five years or so, it is no wonder with $2000.00 worth of gear the home hobbyist can produce Hollywood quality productions.
Hollywood has become lazy and abandoned all creativity, with a whole industry full of degenerates this is no surprise.
2K$ of equipment to compete with Hollywood quality production? I don't think so. Even the link above I listed for 'Star Trek Continues', had over 100k$ US invested just to replicate 70's special effects. They had to go through the trouble of finding an entire orchestra to record the music score. Even though the recording location, musicians & recording equipment for just the music of the sound track well exceeded 2k$. Never mind all the camera equipment, sound equipment, stage set, lighting equipment, film location, costumes/clothing, makeup, OMG, I can go on.... Whether it's rental or purchase, this goes way beyond 2k$. Even if you are making a 'silent' 3D rendered short movie, just the production software tools, never mind the PCs involved wont get you anywhere close to a Hollywood quality product.
For 2k$, you can get a good microphone, build a sound proof recording booth, and a good PC with good animation software and you might be able to create a Hollywood quality animated movie.