(c) 1997
Filmmaker_PDX

BUDGET

NEVER DEFER FOR ANYONE- its a distribution deal killer

ABOVE THE LINE

PRODUCER(s), Associates, Execs., Staff

WRITER, total $5,000 ($300wk/5 weeks)

Register screenplay, Producer owns it, copyright TX form

Stealing is rare. READ 100 Scripts of movies seen.

Notebook history of script, after meeting send biz letter

DIRECTOR: Should co-produce and invest, an exp. TV Director would take $5K-7K

ACTORS:Pro's Only, know camera, know looping, ADR,

LEI for SAG actors film under $250K, can sign SAG actor $100/Day no per diem, no travel, no Taft-Hartley,

STAR $500/Week with single card title credit

Rehearsal 2 to 3 days

CREW (you hire only top 5)

1)Director

2)DP

3)LP-UPM

4)PD-Art

5)Prod. Coord.

DIRECTING (5 pages per day)

1)Directing Art (read the script, communicate, your interruption)

2)Directing Scene (Must have conflict & tension)

3)Directing Shoot (on schedule on budget everyday)

4)Directing Camera (Choose the shots)

BOARDS, do it yourself, do them, storyboard, rehearse, change everything

A great director makes a great script better

BUDGET  (90 min. feature, 8100' (7 to 1) 60,000'is how many feet of film left over (shooting ratio)

How many pages done per day? (script supervisor notes)

How many feet of film use to get those pages (camera reports)

5 pages x 90' per minute = 450 feet

If 3000' for 5 pages per day ratio 7 to 1, more then 10% over ratio is BAD

DIRECTORS, DP & SHOOTING RATIO

Day2 If Over ratio tell Director & DP

Day 3 over ratio again, if not down well below ratio

It's a problem

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

(1)QUIT

(2)Fire Director

(3)Raise more $, add one more week, more film stock

(4)Give DP only one 1000' can of film to get 5 pages in one day

(master shots only, a few mediums, no CU)

MAX out production values (every scene, Master, 2 med., POV, reaction, CU, cutaway

ONLY 3 takes

SHOOT MASTER FIRST THEN GO IN FOR COVERAGE

DIRECTORS: Should never talk to actors once camera rolls, except ACTION.

When doing Master know where other shoots go.

6 to 1 ratio, only ONE take per shot (500 feet per page)

Never Hire Director's AD, hire your own.

DIRECTOR: must  storyboard himself

FILM STOCK: Buy from reseller 60,000' (7 to 1) 1000' rolls mostly High Speed Stock

Breakdown script to figure how many pages/scenes are:

INT.DAY/NIGHT, or EXT. NIGHT high speed

EXT. DAY regular speed

Highest price (.38 per foot) if 50,000 = $19,000 ask for 30% discount

Call Kodak, and if no deal say "Fuji”, “emerging filmmakers program"

RESELLERS: (.25 to .30¢ per foot) SteadiSystems, Studio Film

RECAN: (.20 per foot) Tested Twice

Short Ends:  (under 400') .10 per foot) Long Ends over (400') .15 per foot

LABS:rate card take 30% off Cash upfront $5,000 cash deposit

Develop Neg.  11126/ One Light .164 per foot (high .21 - .28) real .22 to .30

CAMERA Package: Day rate $1200-$1500 week rate = 2 Day rates

($3000 per week X 3 weeks $9000 to 12,000.

Two Days prior to Pick Up, DP and AC, check out camera for test

EXPENDABLES: Gels, tapes, batts, pens

SOUND EQUIPMENT, MIXER, BOOM PACKAGE: $2000 week

(1) Nagra, or Pro DAT, (2) Mics, cables, boom, RF mics (c) Pre-mix box

SOUND TRANSFER: (full coat/mag film stock) .04 to .08 per foot

LIGHT & GRIP PACKAGE (with GAFFER and BEST BOY incl) $2K to3K per week) includes truck

DOLLY: $1000 week, PeeWeek or Chapman, dolly grip 800/wk, grip 500wk

CAMERA CREW: ($5k to $6k, 4 people) DP ($1000/wk) , CAM OP(1000wk), 1AC (750wk), 2AC (500 wk)

Prod. MGR: (430am to 11:30pm)(2 wks prep, 1 wk wrap) NEVER ON SET

Get 1st shot off within 40 mins of Call time, push AD,

What needs to be done TODAY:, catering, lens, toilets

Think of tomorrow; parking, power, secure location

7PM, film to lab, Dailies 10 PM

Prod. Coord. (office) $300 wk (2 weeks pre, 1 week wrap)

1st AD/PM:  $1000 wk (3 days pre, 2 days wrap)

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR: $400 wk( 2 days prep, 3 days wrap)

CRAFTSERVICE: 1st on set, coffee must be ready for crew at Call time (200wk)

Day starts when coffee is ready!!! Coffee, hot breakfast, fruit, juice, cereal

the best food, tea bagels, muffins, CLEAN and update

PA's: (4) Hire only if have Van or Truck. They steal. ($175 wk)

ART: Props, purchase, rental, sets (PD $600wk, SD $500wk, Painter 350/wk)

WARDROBE: just clothes, pay, rent, clean ($250 wk)

HAIR: $500wk

LOCATIONS: PERMITS: Business license, solve problems w $100 bills

(1) Look (2) Electric (3) Permits (4) Photocopiers (5) parking

Who owns and controls property; rates day or week, month, insurance

INSURANCE: If can afford buy it.

Need Basic Coverage:

INSURANCE:

(1) Mechanical Equipment Liability, theft, damage Ins. Camera $150K to $250K

(2) General Comprehensive Liability Ins. ($1 mil to $10 mil)

(3) Workers Comp.

(4) Errors & Omissions (distributor) cost: $5k to $10K

(5) Completion Bond (only over $1 mill budget) 6%

SYNC & EDGE: Assistant Editor $300wk ($1000) Equip. $1000 month edge code $1k

OFFICE: (2) phone lines, an real live answering service $1000 month

PR: min. $10,000 to $30,000

FOOD: great food 6 hours after CALL. IT'S NOT FOOD IT'S FUEL!!!! PRO CATERING

2nd meal, burgers, pizza, Chinese (20 mins.) walking meal