Producing : Making a budget by Jacob Siciliano

1. thorough break down of script. 2. schedule the shoot. 3. do your DOOD reports. 4. Figure your best real estimate of time for each day, time for preparation, time for wrap, both during, pre- and post production. 5. Figure how many crew are needed & when. 6. figure what rates you are able to pay each function - cast, crew, production. 7. figure in FICA and , if required, union contributions. 8. Don't forget post, music licensing, copyright clearances, production insurance, publicity photos, bts production (if any). 9. Add 10% contingency. 11. Voila, done (maybe). A budget, to be anywhere near accurate and reasonable needs to go through all these steps. A "proforma" budget, which is just a guesstimate at best, is really pointless. It's not a short task.

Either do what Shadow has stated or hire a Line Producer.

What Shadow said!

Search through the members here - there are several that have listed themselves as LPs. Get their rates and thoroughly, then hire one, as Shadow said.

I was looking at budgets last month to see what it might cost to put one of my projects together and I found this.

● Film Director – >$250 per hour

● Script Writer – >$150 per hour

● Cameraman – >$400 per hour

● Editor – >$175 per hour

● Actors – >$500 per hour

● Equipment – up to 100s per hour

● Studio Shooting – up to $400 per hour

● Narrator – >$400 per hour

● Audio Files – up to $1000

● Video Rendering – up to $75 per hour

● B-Roll – expect to pay a percentage between 10 and 50% of your total cost

● Miscellaneous Fees – can cost very little up to 1000s extra

Expect to pay $750 to $2000+ for a budget breakdown. You must have a locked screenplay

You can get hire people on freelance sites like Fiverr to work out a budget. They typically charge around £300-£400 for a feature length screenplay. But I can’t attest to their ability- as you appreciate freelancer sites can be hit-or-miss so take your time, ask for samples and make sure you hire the right person as it’s too easy to hire a clunker

fiverr does not respond to emails. I tried to use their narrator services.

Hit up your state's film commission. Usually there's links, resources where you can find line producers, UPMs, First ADs, and Accountants who can bang out a shooting schedule and budget. Yes, you have to pay them.

Tim I’m not sure what you mean by that- why would you send Fiverr emails? You correspond directly with the freelancer via messaging service in real time

I wanted to get pricing, I thought they worked like Findaway Voices.

Nah you just search for the service you are looking for or out a request on their platform and the freelancers come to you then you contact the freelancer directly to agree a price upfront payment - it’s held by Fiverr until your satisfied. The only trouble is the large number of freelancers who’ll say anything to get the gig. So make sure you ask for samples

Thanks Ian.

Tim Bragg Those rates are way low for most functions and very peculiar as regards actors ($500/hour??? is weird), depending upon the state you are in.