A documentary how to about all aspects of documentary producing from idea. Entertainment is good for the mind and for socialization. Budget and expenses mentioned in film budget templates. This document, which could be over 4 pages long, is used to secure financing for and lead to preproduction and production of the film. The essential guide to film budgets with free film budget. Often times, on larger budget productions this is a mandatory portion of the film s budget, usually amounting to 10% of the overall film s budget on top of the budget of the film. They, however, carry fewer details compared to documentaries because they narrow down to one specific topic.
Sample documentary film budget template pdf besttemplatess123. Jun 16, 2016 your first reaction to the word budget is probably a bad one. One of those is film, which is only sensible given that a films budget can reach fairly high numbers. This is a small camera so it wont quite have 100% of the same manual controls youll find on its bigger brothers that cost multiple times what this one costs. The documentary film budget template captures and provides rough estimates of these unique expenses. Production department costs such as hiring out an office, internet, general paper and printer costs, you will also need to ideally print out script copies and call sheets. The film s producer has a lot of responsibilities to take care of. Depending on the project, story rights may also need to be obtained for example, if you are making a film based on an adaption of a book, video game, or play.
A contemporary drama will cost less in production design than a scifi. This film proposal is written from the perspective of a person that has conceived a film and has written a script but requires a producer to fund the project as is typical, the people who have the money and the people who have the creative vision are not one and the same. This is the documentarys hook described in one sentence. This budget includes the deferred salaries of all the crew, including a line producer. A customizable budget template with a sample 1hour documentary on excel provides you with a rare glimpse at a real documentary budget. The sample documentary budget provides you with a rare glimpse at a real documentary budget. Creating a documentary requires a lot of effort and planning in order to get the most out of it. The term film budgeting is actually a process of estimation and allocation of expenses to produce a film or shoot a movie. It is based on a series of workshops presented by the author at.
On the other hand, if your budget is not in line with your production ideas a potential sponsor may feel you are too inexperienced or unrealistic. Heres the topsheets for two different film budgets we made. If anything, the script breakdown example above shows how different productions use the same elements, but weigh them accordingly. Jul, 2015 feel free to take a look at where we put our money, at least on paper, to give you an idea of where you should allocate funds in your own films budget. A film budget can have many hidden elements that can come back to bite you. But you dont need to spend a lot of money for using complicated software. Using the film financial and business plan templates. Always include an allowance for ot in your budget even if you think you wont need it. Documentary film proposal theres a revolution transforming education. But if youre looking for a cheap documentary film camera, you could do. For example, if you want your film to be like a tv episode of australian story, you will want your film shot by a professional camera operator with professional equipment, including good lighting and sound. And a good budget reveals a lot about how a film is going to be made, what kind of story youll be telling, what kind. Ideally, it is also a living document that can help get. Toeing the line items in the february 2006 issue of the international documentary associations documentary magazine.
Film budgeteers july, 2015 film budgeting tips 2 comments. Budgets are organized in a spreadsheet in excel or using other software, such as movie magic budgeting. A film budget template helps you to manage your shoot expenses and overall budgeting. Should you need to explore more choices, check out our post on business budget templates. Weekly lessons from a fulltime filmmaker so you can earn a living making films by getting funding, distribution, and learning to pitch effectively. A well thoughtout budget is a clear plan for making a film. Your film budget template will vastly look different for each. A few years ago, my company and i produced two feature films, from script to screen. A good example would be that certain equipment broke down during the production period which you will need to have fixed. If even one element is missing, your project is too early for consideration. The best thing you can do is to write a documentary film proposal and use it to seek financial support. This is a fully revised look at documentary budgeting, and updates the 2006 documentary article dont fudge on your budget. However, this is the best documentary budget sample sheet ive found online.
Introduction to documentary budgeting international. The movie will be filmed locally or in areas that can double for other locations simply because the budget cannot accommodate travel expenses or other costs that will not ultimately appear on the screen. He needs to do all these throughout the planning and execution of the film. As a final preparatory step, list the key assumptions that define the budget. Ben long and sonja schenk at have put together 3 sample film budgets pdfs and break each one down in these informative articles. Brief logline in a concise 23 sentences provide a description of your film that cites location, characters. Other costs that are usually low or exempt are art department, wardrobe, locations and more. Dec 03, 2019 for example, a low budget film can hold its production department in a crew members house. We had no money and no significant investors, despite garnering interest and even a few letters of intent from a handful of name actors. This film proposal is written from the perspective of a person that has conceived a film and has written a script but requires a producer to fund the project as is typical, the people who have the money and the people who.
The project type and genre play a big role in the structure of your accounts and subaccounts on your film budget breakdown. You can always find a solid place to reallocate it, if unused. A documentary film is a nonfictional, motion picture intended to document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record. Producing a film entails a lot of different things. They, however, carry fewer details compared to documentaries. These are just for one of the features we produced. Production budget template for a documentary special, 201819. If your budget is too big you might scare off a potential sponsor.
Sundance institute documentary fund sundance institute documentary film program spring 2012 budget assumptions shooting formats. Just like documentaries, feature films are also longer, timeconsuming to make, and complicated. The preparation of budget for a movie starts when the screenwriter. An introduction to documentary budgeting revised 10152010 by robert bahar this article was originally published as dont fudge on your budget. I am still very new to filming, and i am always learning. Dec 02, 2019 for example, explain whether your documentary focuses on global issues, such as the environment and wildlife preservation, or on niche topics, such as local foodproduction concerns or the unexpected rise of a local sports team. Documentary has been described as a filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries. Jun 08, 2009 sundance documentary film proposal checklist nb. An introduction to documentary budgeting revised 10152010. But if you are undertaking a reenactment, a historical documentary, or a biography with recreation of events, youll need to budget like a feature film. If you are working in the film industry, talking about the budgets must not be something new.
Make sure that whenever you use sample budget forms to budget your film, set aside a good amount of finances for unexpected expenses. Typically screenwriters get 2% of the films production budget, their payment will need to be negotiated before you start work on the film. For example, if an independent film will be made on a minimal budget, then certain items must drop close to zero. A short film budget is vastly different from a kung fu action film budget. There is no set amount for a documentary budget forms due to the resources being different. Pickup days occur after the scheduled shoot days in order to shoot something that was missed during principal photography. What is a contingency in relation to a film budget. How to budget for documentary production wide awake films. How to budget a film the topsheet line items film budgeteers. Film shoots may be a challenging activity in itself, but it. The ultimate film budgeting guide free film budget template. Often times, on larger budget productions this is a mandatory portion of the films budget, usually amounting to 10% of the overall films budget on top of the budget of the film.
Here is an example of a good template that you can download, read, and pick a few concepts that you can use to write a compelling proposal. Making a documentary, short film or feature film budget. A dvd documentary is a documentary film of indeterminate length that has been produced with the sole intent of releasing it for direct sale to the public on dvds, as different from a documentary being made and released first on television or on a cinema screen a. The sample budget shows that the project will be shot on hd using sonys ex3. Many people like to go to the cinema to spend their free time. How to create the most accurate budget for your film.
An aspiring film maker might wonder what finances to have for a documentary to come to life, and the budget which depends on a lot of factors. The best low budget documentary cameras documentary film. Jonas and i plan to do a video for that in future episodes. Why film budgets are important, beyond the cost of production. Development proposals must be far enough along in their research to include all of the criteria listed below. One could require more resources while others ask for less. Film budget template sample movie production budgeting. The documentary budget template pack contains 2 templates our updated easy template. Here are a few steps you can take when filming your next documentary. How to write your own documentary pitch deck to secure.
The films producer has a lot of responsibilities to take care of. It should give you a good overview until we make that next video. It depends a whole lot on the documentary in question. Indeed, there must be careful planning so that the expenses are not beyond the money that has been prepared. At the center of the documentary business is the budget, which offers a map of the filmmaking process, expressing both the film youre planning to make and how you plan to make it. Feel free to take a look at where we put our money, at least on paper, to give you an idea of where you should allocate funds in your own film s budget.
A film budget breakdown should fit your movie like a glove. For example, you are renting one single item lets say a prop gun description, for 6. The preparation of budget for a movie starts when the screenwriter creates an idea. If the film should run over budget, you can rely on the contingency as opposed to returning to the investor to ask for more. Write a documentary from the heart productions inc. A 2hour consultation with line producer elizabeth ventura a rare opportunity to discuss your unique production needs, ask questions and get valuable advice. Any good filmmaker knows what it takes to get her film made, and knows how to put together a simple budget for their project, but most new filmmakers arent intimately familiar with the vast amount of categories and line items found in a typical.
The template includes a percent cost by category, which provides an overview of how the money is being spent. Production budget template for a documentary special, 2018. Any good filmmaker knows what it takes to get her film made, and knows how to put together a simple budget for their project, but most new filmmakers arent intimately familiar with the vast amount of categories and line items found in a typical professional lineitem film budget. A production budget template for a documentary special, 201617. The detail area of a budget has multiple columns to help you segment and digest costs, while still giving you an accurate total. One important thing the producer needs to do is create the budget for the film. Film budgeteers august 15, 2017 film budgeting tips 1 comment film budgets can be daunting. It doesnt matter if you want to create a short film, an ad, a music video or a movie. Learn how to budget your film, and get funding in under 3. Your first reaction to the word budget is probably a bad one. A documentary budget is a key item to raise money for your film. But a budget is actually a creative and organizational tool to help you figure out how to make your project happen.
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