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Film Budgets - Insider Tips For Film Students




By John Gaskin

Film Budgeting - Insider Tips For Film Students
(Copyright 2005 - John Gaskin)

This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over 40 film productions.
Throughout that time I have never met a new film school graduate who has a
clue about handling the most important aspect of ALL filmmaking - the
MONEY! I had always assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students just
weren't interested in knowing about film budgets. However after a recent
survey of film students at a reputable film college we learned that film students
DO intuitively understand that knowing the language of film budgeting is
crucial to their careers in film. Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic about
learning more about film budgeting!

Here's what we discovered from that survey (completed in late September,
2005):

1.Over 80% of film students are not only interested in learning more about
budgeting for film productions, they are emphatic about it!

2.In all cases, film students expect to find information about film budgeting
from the internet, or as recommended reading from their professors.

3.We also learned that there are no references or books available to film
schools or film students on this very needed subject.

Those working in the film business recognize how important it is to be familiar
with film budgeting, if not technically proficient. The confidentiality of film
budgets makes it extremely difficult, even for working filmmakers, to get
familiar with film budgeting. (I have a true story in my book about a meeting
that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where he wanted to learn specifics about
the budget for his film - in spite of having been in the film business for over 30
years as an actor and budding director).

Learning about film budgets while on-the-job comes at the expense of hard-
knocks, expensive film budgeting software and late night self-training with a
technical textbook (if you can find one). In the 20 years that I've been working
in the film business, I have NEVER shown a film budget to anyone but a select
few insiders - Producers, Production Managers, Studios, Bonding Companies,
etc. So, exposure to actual film budgets really is an insider's privilege - which I
am about to open the door to for my readers. (Keep in mind the figures shown
are samples only. The figures are real enough, but are not drawn from my
actual past/present/future film productions.)

How can film students get familiar with film budgets while they have the time
and opportunity? The only colleges with film budgeting in their syllabus (that I
could find after hours of internet searching) was in a specialty course for
Production Managers at the New York Film Academy, and through mentors at
the American Film Institute (where, I'm proud to say, parts of my book are
being used by a mentor there, who has a long record of producing films
including a term as Vice President of Production at MGM).

The only solution that I see for film students, and for working film crew, to get
familiar with film budgeting is to provide them with the information myself. But,
what kind of information, and at what level of detail?

The answer to that rhetorical question is - in as simple a format as possible,
yet still be effective. By effective, I mean that any training in the area of film
budgeting will actually help you impress producers for those few film jobs, get
your script into production, find financing, be rehired for more film contracts, be
more cost effective cinematographers, etc. Also, the basic concept of
translating creative ideas into a budgeting process is new to most people,
especially those educated in film schools, so that concept should be
presented first.

Film students don't need to become keen budget technicians. However, they
DO need to get enough exposure to film budgets to understand the
fundamentals, and to be able to communicate to film producers, film studios,
bonding companies, banks, financiers, etc. in the same language as would be
expected from professional filmmakers.

All of the above is covered in my book, Walk The Talk. I have written a series
of 7 free articles based on my book. They're written for the complete novice, so
be patient if you've already been exposed to film budgeting. You can sign-up,
FREE, for 7 weeks of articles at www.talkfilm.biz .

There is a seventh article that could have been added for those who haven't
been exposed to the simple administrative procedures like petty cash,
purchase orders, check requisitions, etc. Knowing how to use these forms will
put you WAY out in front of the pack of job-hungry film students looking for
those few film jobs. You'll need to buy my book at this link Walk The Talk to get
that inside advantage. (I have kept the price affordable, specifically with
students in mind.)

Here are the article titles:
1.MAKING IT! In Film Production
2. Introduction to Film Budgeting
3. Translating Creative Ideas Into the Film Budgeting Process
4. Your Participation In Above-the-Line Budgeting
5. Your Participation In Below-the-Line Budgeting
6. Your Report Card - Comparing The Budget to Actual Costs
7. Presentation of the Weekly Cost Report - It's As Important As the Dailies

When you read my articles, print them out. Make your own examples. Reread
them. Send me your questions if you get stuck. You'll find that you'll be way out
in front of the pack!

 
 
About the Author
John Gaskin opens the door to a confidential topic in the film industry -Film Budgets! Learn the inside tips from a 20 year pro of over 40 film projects all over the world. To receive a series of 7 free artilces visit:
http://www.talkfilm.biz

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  Some other articles by John Gaskin
Film Financing - Can Film Graduates Take the Challenge?
John Gaskin (Copyright 2005) Graduates from a Film Studies program have a new opportunity in film & video production. Of course, with every ...

Film Directors - Direct the Money Before the Money Directs You
Most Film Directors have elected to stay away from film budgets and production costs. The heavy grinding SHOULD be left to ...

Screenwriters & Filmmakers - Pitching the Cold Heart of the Banker
Screenwriters & Filmmakers - Pitching The Cold Heart of a Banker (Copyright 2005) Can a creative pitch alone get your script produced? Pitching the script is an art ...

MAKING IT in Film Production!
Article #1. MAKING IT in Film Production! ?2005 John Gaskin Do you, or do you want to, work on film productions? If you want to expand in your career ...

  
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