Film Budgeting - Insider Tips For Film Students (Copyright 2005
- John Gaskin)
This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over 40
film productions. Throughout that time I have never met a new
film school graduate who has a clue about handling the most
important aspect of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had always
assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students just weren’t
interested in knowing about film budgets. However after a recent
survey of film students at a reputable film college we learned
that film students DO intuitively understand that knowing the
language of film budgeting is crucial to their careers in film.
Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic about learning more
about film budgeting!
Here’s what we discovered from that survey (completed in late
September, 2005):
1.Over 80% of film students are not only interested in learning
more about budgeting for film productions, they are emphatic
about it!
2.In all cases, film students expect to find information about
film budgeting from the internet, or as recommended reading from
their professors.
3.We also learned that there are no references or books
available to film schools or film students on this very needed
subject.
Those working in the film business recognize how important it is
to be familiar with film budgeting, if not technically
proficient. The confidentiality of film budgets makes it
extremely difficult, even for working filmmakers, to get
familiar with film budgeting. (I have a true story in my book
about a meeting that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where he
wanted to learn specifics about the budget for his film - in
spite of having been in the film business for over 30 years as
an actor and budding director).
Learning about film budgets while on-the-job comes at the
expense of hard-knocks, expensive film budgeting software and
late night self-training with a technical textbook (if you can
find one). In the 20 years that I’ve been working in the film
business, I have NEVER shown a film budget to anyone but a
select few insiders - Producers, Production Managers, Studios,
Bonding Companies, etc. So, exposure to actual film budgets
really is an insider’s privilege - which I am about to open the
door to for my readers. (Keep in mind the figures shown are
samples only. The figures are real enough, but are not drawn
from my actual past/present/future film productions.)
How can film students get familiar with film budgets while they
have the time and opportunity? The only colleges with film
budgeting in their syllabus (that I could find after hours of
internet searching) was in a specialty course for Production
Managers at the New York Film Academy, and through mentors at
the American Film Institute (where, I’m proud to say, parts of
my book are being used by a mentor there, who has a long record
of producing films including a term as Vice President of
Production at MGM).
The only solution that I see for film students, and for working
film crew, to get familiar with film budgeting is to provide
them with the information myself. But, what kind of information,
and at what level of detail?
The answer to that rhetorical question is - in as simple a
format as possible, yet still be effective. By effective, I mean
that any training in the area of film budgeting will actually
help you impress producers for those few film jobs, get your
script into production, find financing, be rehired for more film
contracts, be more cost effective cinematographers, etc. Also,
the basic concept of translating creative ideas into a budgeting
process is new to most people, especially those educated in film
schools, so that concept should be presented first.
Film students don’t need to become keen budget technicians.
However, they DO need to get enough exposure to film budgets to
understand the fundamentals, and to be able to communicate to
film producers, film studios, bonding companies, banks,
financiers, etc. in the same language as would be expected from
professional filmmakers.
All of the above is covered in my book, Walk The Talk. I have
written a series of 7 free articles based on my book. They’re
written for the complete novice, so be patient if you’ve already
been exposed to film budgeting. You can sign-up, FREE, for 7
weeks of articles at www.talkfilm.biz .
There is a seventh article that could have been added for those
who haven’t been exposed to the simple administrative procedures
like petty cash, purchase orders, check requisitions, etc.
Knowing how to use these forms will put you WAY out in front of
the pack of job-hungry film students looking for those few film
jobs. You’ll need to buy my book at this link Walk The Talk to
get that inside advantage. (I have kept the price affordable,
specifically with students in mind.)
Here are the article titles: 1.MAKING IT! In Film Production 2.
Introduction to Film Budgeting 3. Translating Creative Ideas
Into the Film Budgeting Process 4. Your Participation In
Above-the-Line Budgeting 5. Your Participation In Below-the-Line
Budgeting 6. Your Report Card - Comparing The Budget to Actual
Costs 7. Presentation of the Weekly Cost Report - It’s As
Important As the Dailies
When you read my articles, print them out. Make your own
examples. Reread them. Send me your questions if you get stuck.
You’ll find that you’ll be way out in front of the pack!