Which Expensive Elements Do You Need In The Budget?

Can you imagine a production where nothing in the budget was extraordinarily expensive? No, of course you can’t. There always happens to be expensive line items in a production budget: kids, animals, special effects; period settings; night shoots; etc. Why? Because you need them.

Expensive elements make the production something special… but – importantly – the right expensive elements are more than just flash. The best ones have at least two purposes for their existence, one of them being a direct connection to the storyline or characters.

The trick is not to to have too many expensive elements in a production. Too many and the budget will be stretched too thin, leaving you with insufficient resources to accomplish any of them well. Narrow down to the one(s) that really matter – that solidly contribute to the story – and then allocate enough production money to them to really excel.

Do that, and the production will indeed be something special, plus you’ll have a lot to talk about during publicity and marketing.

Here are links to my previous blog entries talking about all those lovely expensive elements… just pick and choose!

See http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/5-expensive-budgetary-items/ for a discussion on:

1. Period scripts
2. Animals & Children
3. Night Shoots
4. Distant Shoots
5. Anything CG

See http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/5-expensive-budgetary-items-ii/ for a discussion on:

6. Stunts & Special Effects
7. Prototype Equipment
8. Large Vistas
9. International Coproductions
10. Music Rights

And see http://debpatz.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/5-expensive-budgetary-items-iii/ for a discussion on:

11. Lots of Set-Ups
12. Lots of Unit Moves
13. Name Stars
14. Weather-Dependant Scenes
15. Rush Hour, Hockey Season & Other Fun Times

Cheers & happy budgeting to you!
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
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