0

Category: Management

May272011

Live Deb vs Virtual Deb

Today I’m at Theatrebooks in Toronto with my latest book “Film Production Management 101“! Oh boy!
PM101 in TO
Since I’ve spoken at a number of places over the years, in honour of today’s event – and for those of you who are not in the Toronto area – I thought I’d gather together links  to some of the articles I’ve written over the years:

Budgets: Use a Template or Write From Scratch
(at MWP Virtual Film School)
I discuss 3 factors to help you sort out the dilemma.

7 Things Writers Need To Know About Production Budgets
(part of the Expert Series at the Writers Store)
Though written for specfically for writers, PMs… and the rest of the crew should know these elements too.

To Volunteer or Not To Volunteer – as a Production Manager
(at MWP Virtual Film School)
I talk about 5 times when volunteering is a good thing, and 2 times when it’s not.

I’m very much looking forward to meeting and re-meeting fans, friends and family at Theatrebooks today! If you’re in the neighbourhood, come on by! See you starting at 5:30pm…

Cheers,
Deb

May62011

The Best of F.I.L.M. – The Early Days

In honour of my two year anniversary F.I.L.M. blogging, I thought I’d bring together older top posts – especially for those of you who may not have been here since the beginning:

  • F-un

Pumpkin Carving Contest on Set
I instigated the contest… to which there was a surprising winner!

  • I-nspiration

Inspiration at the Movies: Harold and Maude
You’ll never look at a field full of daisies the same way again… I know I don’t!

  • L-ife

3 Things I Learned About Filmmaking from… My Grandmother
(1) If you can’t do it, keep trying
(2) Make and eat dessert
(3) Always wear clean underwear
… and they really are relevant to a film career!

  • M-anagement

Free Film Budget
Nothing compares to getting a full budget template to refer to and learn from! Thanks, Deke.

And thanks to you for the great feedback I’ve received over the years! Here’s to more F-un, I-nspiration, L-ife and M-anagement to come!

Cheers & a great shoot to you,
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

PM101 in TODo you know about Deb’s appearance in Toronto on May 27 and the “Toronto Area PM101 Facebook Challenge (for a free book)“? To learn more, click here: http://on.fb.me/hEdmNg

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

– – – – – – – – – –

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

Apr82011

Deb Patz Interviewed on Movie Beat

Deb with PM101 2ndEdHave you been to Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat at www.rexsikes.com?

I was interviewed by Rex this past week where we discussed the differences between a PM, Coordinator, Producer and Line Producer, talked about the development vs preproduction, and a host of other PM-related and production topics. Not really a place to go to listen for a few minutes… because the interview was an hour long (as are all his interviews)!

Still, when you have the time, peruse the interview archives. You’ll find directors, producers, actors… everything film. Since the interviews are recorded live and unedited, it’s really like being there with the host and with Rex. A unique opportunity.

My interview is at: http://bit.ly/g13GQU

Cheers & happy listening,
Deb

– – – – – – – – – –

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

Feb182011

Ciné-Surfer: Pacific Exchange’s Currency Plotter

 Working on coproductions, you care deeply about what the exchange rate is doing between the two or three currencies you are using (in order to maximize money making it to the screen instead of to exchange rate loss).

UBC’s Sauder School of Business has the the ability to plot exchange rates at the Pacific Exchange Rate Service… in effect a “Currency Plotter“.

There is nothing like looking at a graph of the currency exchange rate to give you a big picture look at the exchange rate related to your production and over time. I’m not saying you can predict the exchange rate, but… well… just make the choices, “make a chart” and see what I mean. It’ll be a tool I know you’ll want to use again and again:

http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/plot.html

Cheers & happy exchange rate plotting!
Deb

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