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Category: Budgets

Apr222011

3 Hidden Costs in the Production Budget

Easter brings to mind hidden eggs… hidden eggs brings to mind hidden savings & costs in a production budget. The hidden savings are great, but the costs? Well, not so welcome. Here are three situations that typically generate hidden costs that you can watch out for:

1. Tethers In The Shot
Working with animals is challenging and tethers are often used as a training aid. Seeing tethers in the finished shot, however, is not what you have in mind, so you’ll have to CGI them out if you see any. Do you want to spend your CGI budget removing tethers or creating fancy effects shots? Balance the cost of shooting a few minutes faster on-the-day vs the extra (hidden) cost of tether removal during post.

2. Weather Dependence
If you need a certain exterior weather, you need to plan extra time (read “extra money”) to wait for it. Yes, that means the cast & crew waiting for the clouds to arrive, or waiting for the clouds to leave. Can anything move inside (and stay true the story)?

3. Distant Locations
The location may be the perfect for the story, but it’s miles away from the “free travel zone” for cast & crew and you need to be there for multiple weeks. You find that the crew you really wanted to use prefers not to be away from home for that long a time, so you choose your B-choice crew… who happen to shoot slower and don’t have the same sensibility as you do about the film. You also find that equipment and supplies are harder to source at the distant location – so, again, you need more time (and again more money) to make it all happen. Perhaps shooting at that inside location in-town would work and instead use a reduced unit at the distant location for the few critical exterior shots in order to bring the two locations together? Hmmm…

When you think about potential hidden costs, you can often find potential hidden savings. And hidden production savings is the greatest easter egg there is!

Cheers, Happy Easter & a great shoot to you,
Deb

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PM101 in TODo you know about Deb’s appearance in Toronto and the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://on.fb.me/hEdmNg

Jan212011

F.I.L.M. Blog: Lookin’ Back & Lookin’ Forward

The 2010 stats are in and the F.I.L.M. Blog is doing great! Thank you for making it so and let me share some nuggets with you:

Deb’s F.I.L.M. Blog at WordPress (the host):

  • WordPress’ Blog Health-o-Meter: “Awesome!”
  • Included in Bachelor’s Degree.org’s 60 best blogs for Aspiring Screenwriters – Filmmaker section
  • Most of the favourite blog posts appear to deal with sourcing free information… the top one being the Free Film Budget by co-MWP author Deke Simon. Well, I hear you and will bring you more “free” again this year. No worries!

Deb’s F.I.L.M. Blog & social community at Facebook:

  • A growing community from at least 7 countries around the world; a great place to connect – like a virtual porch
  • Held some great contests in the last year and gave away books and budgeting pencils. we’ll have to do that again! Yes?

Deb’s books – published by MWP Books:
As you may know, this blog – as well as the film resource links at debpatz.com – are companions to my books on film production management and coordination.

  • My book “Film Production Management 101” was one of the top selling MWP books in the last quarter of 2010 (the new edition, as you may know, came to market mid/late last year) – thank you very much for your part in making it happen!
  • Deb’s books are now available in at least 27 countries around the world! Wow. My books are more travelled than me!

Thanks again for your part in the success of Deb’s F.I.L.M. Blog (and books)! Please continue to spread the word! And here’s looking forward to more posts, more connecting, more F-un, I-nspiration, L-ife & M-anagement!

Cheers & a good shoot to you,
Deb

Oct82010

7 Things Writers Need to Know About Production Budgets

1. Writing A Budget = Making Production Decisions
2. Where Is The Story?
3. Budgeting Starts With The Bottom Line (Financing)
4. Drafts of Budgets are like Drafts of Scripts – as Input is Incorporated
5. Where Are the Expensive Elements?
6. You Need E&O Insurance… and the Changes it Demands
7. There Will Always be Costs that are Out of Your Direct Control or Influence

These points come from an article I wrote for the Writers Store Expert Series. A bit cryptic, maybe? Visit the Writers Store site to read the whole article and all will be clear:

http://www.writersstore.com/7-things-writers-need-to-know-about-production-budgets

Also… I’ll be at the Writers Store in Burbank on Saturday, October 23 for a special appearance with my new book; if you’re nearby, I hope to see you there!

Cheers & good writing to you,
Deb

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“Film Production Management 101:
Management & Coordination in a Digital Age”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES AUGUST 2010 **

UPCOMING EVENTS: (more details at www.debpatz.com ):
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – 11am Sat.Oct.23

Aug132010

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”
** SECOND EDITION IN BOOKSTORES NOW **

UPCOMING EVENTS (more details at www.debpatz.com):
* Getting Your Ducks In A Row – Free Book Virtual Event – in August at FB/DebPatzBooks
* Booksigning/Canadian launch at Indigo Marine Drive, N.Vancouver – Sat.Sep.11
* WIFV Networking Breakfast with Deb Patz in Vancouver – Tue.Sep.21
* Booksigning/USA launch at the Writers Store in Burbank – Sat.Oct.23

Jul22010

The Free William F White Interactive Budget Planner

Wow, this is cool. When budgeting for film equipment, sure you can sift through a rate sheet and – with your trusty calculator – figure out an estimate of your camera, grip and lighting package… or you use Whites Interactive online budget planner:

http://www.whitesinteractive.com/index.php/requests/add

Click, choose and change your selections. Pick or skip insurance options. Be prompted to remember to budget for the expendables. Then get an instant online estimate! Great for instant feedback during for after-hours budgeting sessions…

Enjoy!

Cheers & happy budgeting to you!
Deb