Film Budgets - Insider Tips For Film Students

Film Budgets - Insider Tips For Film StudentsBy John Gaskin
This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over 40film productions. Throughout that time I have never met a newfilm school graduate who has a clue about handling the mostimportant aspect of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had alwaysassumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students just weren'tinterested in knowing about film budgets. However after a recentsurvey of film students at a reputable film college we learnedthat film students DO intuitively understand that knowing thelanguage of film budgeting is crucial to their careers in film.Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic about learning moreabout film budgeting!
Here's what we discovered from that survey (completed in lateSeptember, 2005):
1. Over 80% of film students are not only interested inlearning more about budgeting for film productions, they areemphatic about it!
2. In all cases, film students expect to find information aboutfilm budgeting from the internet, or as recommended reading fromtheir professors.
3. We also learned that there are no references or booksavailable to film schools or film students on this very neededsubject.
Those working in the film business recognize how important itis to be familiar with film budgeting, if not technicallyproficient. The confidentiality of film budgets makes itextremely difficult, even for working filmmakers, to getfamiliar with film budgeting. (I have a true story in my bookabout a meeting that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where hewanted to learn specifics about the budget for his film - inspite of having been in the film business for over 30 years asan actor and budding director).
Learning about film budgets while on-the-job comes at theexpense of hard-knocks, expensive film budgeting software andlate night self-training with a technical textbook (if you canfind one). In the 20 years that I've been working in the filmbusiness, I have NEVER shown a film budget to anyone but aselect few insiders - Producers, Production Managers, Studios,Bonding Companies, etc. So, exposure to actual film budgetsreally is an insider's privilege - which I am about to open thedoor to for my readers. (Keep in mind the figures shown aresamples only. The figures are real enough, but are not drawnfrom my actual past/present/future film productions.)
How can film students get familiar with film budgets while theyhave the time and opportunity? The only colleges with filmbudgeting in their syllabus (that I could find after hours ofinternet searching) was in a specialty course for ProductionManagers at the New York Film Academy, and through mentors atthe American Film Institute (where, I'm proud to say, parts ofmy book are being used by a mentor there, who has a long recordof producing films including a term as Vice President ofProduction at MGM).
The only solution that I see for film students, and for workingfilm crew, to get familiar with film budgeting is to providethem 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 aformat as possible, yet still be effective. By effective, I meanthat any training in the area of film budgeting will actuallyhelp you impress producers for those few film jobs, get yourscript into production, find financing, be rehired for more filmcontracts, be more cost effective cinematographers, etc. Also,the basic concept of translating creative ideas into a budgetingprocess is new to most people, especially those educated in filmschools, 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 tounderstand the fundamentals, and to be able to communicate tofilm producers, film studios, bonding companies, banks,financiers, etc. in the same language as would be expected fromprofessional filmmakers.
All of the above is covered in my book, Walk The Talk. I havewritten a series of 7 free articles based on my book. They'rewritten for the complete novice, so be patient if you've alreadybeen exposed to film budgeting. You can sign-up, FREE, for 7weeks of articles at www.talkfilm.biz .
There is a seventh article that could have been added for thosewho haven't been exposed to the simple administrative procedureslike petty cash, purchase orders, check requisitions, etc.Knowing how to use these forms will put you WAY out in front ofthe pack of job-hungry film students looking for those few filmjobs. You'll need to buy my book at this link Walk The Talk toget 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 ImportantAs the Dailies
When you read my articles, print them out. Make your ownexamples. Reread them. Send me your questions if you get stuck.You'll find that you'll be way out in front of the pack!
About the Author: John Gaskin opens the door to a confidentialtopic in the film industry -Film Budgets! Learn the inside tipsfrom a 20 year pro of over 40 film projects all over the world.To receive a series of 7 free artilces visit:http://www.talkfilm.biz
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