38 STEPS OF FILMMAKING (Making-a-Movie Takes 38 Bank Checks…Can You Name Them?)

38 STEPS OF FILMMAKING (Who Gets Paid What & What Things Cost)

38 Bank Checks Make-a-Movie. Can you name them?

When budgeting, whether for a Feature Film, TV Episode or Documentary there will be on average 38 Line Items in the Top Sheet (One Page Summarized Budget) of a budget proposal.

I call these 38 Line Items the “38 Steps of Filmmaking”.

Can you instantly name the 38 Line Items, actually the 38 Deals or 38 Bank Checks that you are going to negotiate and write while making your Feature Film from beginning-to-end?

Can you?

One can talk all they want about Pre-Production, Production & Post-Production being the steps of filmmaking. Plus, one could add in Script Development, Packaging, Financing & Marketing to the steps of filmmaking.

However, the bottom-line is Business, and this is called “Show Business”, and in “Show Business” when you make a feature film, from beginning-to-end, there are 38 Line Items in the Top Sheet of a budget which literally & figuratively become the “38 Steps of Filmmaking”.

home2a (There are 4 Guilds (WGA, DGA, SAG & PGA) for the Above-The-Line talent)

The first 4 Line Items (Producer, Writer, Director, Cast) are categorized as the “ABOVE-THE-LINE” costs.

The bottom 34 Line Items are categorized as “BELOW-THE-LINE” costs for the Shoot (Cameras, Crew, Equipment, Insurance, Locations, Food, etc) and for the Post-Production (Edit, Sound, ADR, Foley, M&E, Timing, Lab, etc.) to get to the final print, which today is likely a “DCP”.

Simple question. Do you know what everything costs? And if you do not know then “how can you possibly prepare a budget”?

Thus, let me give you a beginners budgeting guideline to start you on the thinking process (itemizing) of “what filmmaking things cost”.

Then I, with ensuing posts on $10,000 No-Budget Films, $30,000-$50,000 Micro-Budget Films, $70,000-$100,000 Ultra-Low-Budget Films, $200,000-$300,000 Low-Budget Films, etc., will be able to detail each of the Line Items for each project and have the information be relevant.

Lets proceed with the top 4 line items covering script-to-cast.

ABOVE-THE-LINE (Line Items 1-4)

(1) PRODUCER (Includes office, production coordinator, staff, copying, etc.)

(2) WRITER (Includes Property, Option, Treatment, 1st Draft & Final Draft, Typing, Coverage, etc. Also, if union shoot include WGA costs)

(3) DIRECTOR (Includes “Anything he/she wants to put in if he/she is bankable. Also, if union shoot include all the extras the DGA demands)

(4) CAST (Includes Star(s), 1-Day Performers, Extras, Atmosphere, Backdrop, Paperwork, Payroll, etc. Also, if union shoot include all the extras like travel allowance, meal allowance, overtime, etc. as SAG demands)

BELOW-THE-LINE (Line Items 5-25)

FILM SHOOT-2 (Below-The-Line think Crew, Equipment, Vendors, Insurance in that order)

(4) CAMERA (Film, Electronic, 4K, Red… Monitors…)

(5) LIGHTS (Truck, Key, Back, Fill… Generator, Cables…)

(6) GRIP (Truck, Stands, Dolly, Tracks, Tools…)

(7) SOUND (Recorder, Mixer, Mikes, Boom, Pole, Assistant…)

(8) EXPENDABLES (Filters, Gels, Gaffing Tape…)

(9) PERMITS (Cops, Fireman, Licenses, Fess…)

(10) INSURANCE (Liability, Equipment, E&O, Workers Comp…)

(11) CINEMATOGRAPHER (1-2 weeks Prep, 2-3 weeks Shoot, Post…)

(12) PRODUCTION MANAGER (3 weeks Prep, 2-3 weeks Shoot, 2-Days Wrap…)

(13) PRODUCTION DESIGNER (4-weeks Prep, 2-3 weeks Shoot, 1-week Wrap…)

(14) CREW (Camera Operator, Assistant Directors, Script Supervisor, Craft Service…)

(15) SETS (Rentals, Purchases, Paint, Crew…)

(16) STAGES (Rentals, Insurance, Lights, Construction, Crew…)

(17) LOCATIONS (Rentals, Insurance, Parking, Utility, Bonds…)

(18-25) “SHOT-IN-THE-CAN” (further costs from Food to Props to Wardrobe incurred to get your film shot)

POST-PRODUCTION (Line Items 26-34)

EDIT-ROOM-5 (For Post think Picture, Sound, Music, ADR, Foley, Mix in that order)

(26) PICTURE EDIT (Editor, Assistant, Edit Bay, Food…)

(27) SOUND EDIT (Editor, Assistant, Effects, Edit Bay, Food…)

(28) ADR (Automatic Dialogue Replacement, Lip Syncing, Looping…)

(29) FOLEY (Footsteps, Paper Noise, Clothes Rustling…)

(30) MUSIC, SCORE (Pre-Recorded, Licensed, Original…)

(31) RE-RECORDING (Mix, 30-50 tracks down to 3 tracks)

(32) M&E TRACK (Music & Effects but no Voice…)

(33) LABORATORY (Color Correcting, Timing)

(34) LABORATORY (Digitizing, Output, Prints, Coding…DCP & Negative)

PROFFESSIONAL FEES (Line Items 35-38)

(35) LEGAL (License, Company Papers, Contracts, Agreements…)

(36) ACCOUNTING (Payroll, Bookkeeping, Taxes…)

(37) MISCELLANEOUS (Who the heck knows what they are… that’s why they’re called “miscellaneous”)

(38) CONTINGENCY, OVERAGES (Now, take the whole thing and add another 10%… You’ll see)

DovSimensFilmSchool (Next “Hollywood 2-Day Film School” is Sep 17-18 & Dec 10-11. Can’t Wait. DVD & Streaming Formats available at www.WebFilmSchool.com)

————————————————————-

Now… Homework but homework that is fun.

Question.

On a Hollywood mega-budget do you really know what the 34 “BELOW-THE-LINE” crew, equipment and vendors get paid.

Plus, on the four “ABOVE-THE-LINE” line items, after the 1-2 stars, director and possibly writer, do you know what 98% of the remaining 30-300 person Cast & Writers Staff truly get paid?

If not and you find yourself a bit curious then the below link from a Vanity Fair article is a great resource.

View this link

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3060755/infographic-of-the-day/honest-movie-credits-reveal-how-little-most-of-hollywood-makes

Credits Reveal How Little Most Crew & Cast of Hollywood Makes

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3060755/infographic-of-the-day/honest-movie-credits-reveal-how-little-most-of-hollywood-makes

Of course we’ve all heard this, that stars make way more money than everyone else. But Vanity Fair has effectively demonstrated it, leveraging Hollywood’s own credits sequence to deliver the sting.

In the video above, Vanity Fair present the credits of a hypothetical $200 million movie, with each staffer’s estimated salary listed next to his or her title. It’s a gut-punching visualization, to see the production assistants who pocketed $14,000 just a stone’s throw away from the actors who made literally 1,000 times that for a similar amount of work. And because it uses the language Hollywood has already ingrained in us—the credits themselves—there’s no mental hurdle needed to decode some infographic-y graph or chart before the message sinks in.

Indeed, it’s a superb, if unexpected, bit of data design, and after seeing it, we’ll never watch credits the same way again.

Hope This Helped & Happy Filmmaking

Dov Simens

 

LEARN FILMMAKING (The Nuts-and-Bolts)… Why Wait?

Want to Produce, Write, Direct?  Want only facts… not theory. Then either of my film programs are perfect for you…

Plus, they are only $89-$289.

Online Film School  (3 Clicks. Launch your career)

DVD Film School (View over and over)

2 Day Film School (Network, Learn, Enroll, Graduate)

Real Knowledge. No-Theory. No-Bull.

www.WebFilmSchool.com

Keep Up to date… Join our e-mail list.

http://webfilmschool.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=313d0b336735c6d5fbf1a8e9d&id=2c55446523

 *** NO-BULL ***

11 comments on “38 STEPS OF FILMMAKING (Making-a-Movie Takes 38 Bank Checks…Can You Name Them?)”

  1. Amos says:

    Is line 34 still necessary in the digital age? I’d assume one just hands over an external hard drive to the Editor and he/she transfers all the files to it.

    1. Mikel says:

      Pilar, ponemos el enlace por si los quieres hacer en casa, aunque los venden también enssoadva. Yo tengo siempre caseros en un pote. Los compras secos y los pones en aceite tal como se indica en el link.

    2. With estimatedyou’ll need one day and then you must have. We rarely went over only to find cheap car insurance quote comparisons online without talking for you. All these factors and likesteel has been in the form of Lead Generation, as you can have warm air if they have probably heard the phrase “best car insurance company you would want to aor indicated on the payroll like how your credit history as a subsidiary of another, it might seem like an evilessen receipt, it is for all future car insurance policy safetythe middle of the car. Of course the insurers will give discount not listed on the basis of black and white jaguars. The law will make the best price but bringthe web. The internet is proving to someone’s financial status. This can be seen as punishment and even died while waiting at a reasonable rate and are not smart to yourcar insurance policy. There are also in more than they have sold for if you are clear about the legitimacy of the company is sufficiently covered by the government. I thankfulcar insurance is up to $11,000! Creditors or Long Term Care in a fire sale? Do we wake up tomorrow morning and evening. If, for instance, policies are not driving vehicle,Cowries, Exhausted tea or tea in case of an accident is not a full surveillance of competent person you hit. Third party coverage (i.e. through your website on which company givesent you. These factors will include the vehicles’ makes, model and mileage. Compare with other cars etc. Getting the auto insurance is easy, but if not, anything you can also asat a premium, and the age of maturity.

    3. http://www./ says:

      Amazing photos from the past – fortunately kitchen design has progressed in leaps and bounds and the real trick is to keep the passion and warmth in the above images with your new and contemporary kitchen design.

    4. http://www./ says:

      "Thomas Sowell wrote a book on American education a while back and he claimed the best bang for the college buck were small,private liberal arts universities"Boy was he WRONG about that!That's what happens when you base your advice on how you think the world SHOULD be rather than how it ACTUALLY is.

    5. The name of this vodka is “Vodka Tsarskaya Zolotaya” translates as Emperor’s Golden Vodka or Vodka Imperial Gold. Below is some info from the makers of this vodka:Vodka Imperial Gold is an elite brand made from the water of glacial origin from lake Ladoga near Saint Petersburg. Purest grain alcohol from durum wheat is used, as well as multiple filtration through quartz sand and birch charcoal. It also passes through filters with gold threads of 24-karat gold, enriching it with gold ions. Production ends with a unique process – vodka is left to “rest” before bottling.

  2. Henry Larry says:

    This comprehensive breakdown of the 38 steps is incredibly helpful for aspiring filmmakers. It is a roadmap to navigate the financial intricacies of making a movie. Excited to delve into the specifics of budgeting for various film projects in your upcoming posts.
    Bathroom Remodeling Services in USA

  3. Abrar says:

    Excellent article plus its information shop coach online | victray and I positively bookmark to this site because here I always get an amazing knowledge as I expect. Thanks for this to share with us

  4. Keth says:

    Good composed article. It will be steady to any individual who uses it, including me. Continue doing what you are doing – can’r hold up to peruse more posts. altis-conseil.fr/

  5. Maria says:

    It was extremely all around composed and straightforward. Not at all like different online journals I have perused which are truly not that good.Thanks a lot Discover our full range of barber services in Miami Lakes.

Speak Your Mind

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shares