Why are major Hollywood movies so expensive these days? It seems like everything costs at least $200 million to make. Surely, there has to be a happy medium between indies and blockbusters. As it turns out, while the average movie budget has exploded over the last few decades, it’s still a far cry from your… Continue reading Average Movie Budget — How Much Do Movies Cost to Make?
How do people make movies? Writers, actors, directors, surely play a part, but there’s something more important than a movie’s creators, and that thing is money. Movies need money; that’s an irrefutable fact. And it’s the sole goal of the financier(s) to get a positive return on their investment. We’re going to look at how… Continue reading Film Production Budget — Low to High Budget Films Explained
Looking for funding for your film is often harder than making the actual movie. Waiting on your agent, producers, or anyone else to show up and give you the funds you need can leave you demoralized. But, finding film funds doesn’t have to be impossible! Because there are film grants for every filmmaker. Not only… Continue reading The Ultimate Film Grants List for Every Filmmaker
Most movies you watch are shot with film permits, in a studio, and with a full production crew that is doing everything “by the book.” But not every movie made has a chance to shoot in this way; even big films might have to do things on the downlow. We are, of course, talking about… Continue reading Guerilla Filmmaking — Style, Tips, Gear, and Movie Examples
What is below the line? If you are at all interested in the behind-the-scenes side of filmmaking, then you may have heard the terms “above the line” and “below the line” thrown around in interviews, articles, or BTS footage. Today, we’ll be providing a below the line definition, explaining where the term comes from, and… Continue reading What is Below the Line in Film & Which Crew Members Qualify?
If you are at all interested in the behind-the-scenes side of filmmaking, then you may have heard the terms “above the line” and “below the line” thrown around in interviews, articles, or BTS footage. In this article, we’ll be discussing above and below the line in film and breaking down exactly what above the line… Continue reading Above the Line Film Positions & How They Work in a Budget
One of the first things independent filmmakers look for when budgeting their projects is free film budgeting software. Getting the numbers right and in the proper format can make life easier for the filmmaker when putting a price on any film or video project. It’s especially important when you prepare a film business plan.Continue reading 5… Continue reading 5 Best Film Budgeting Software of 2022
What is a line producer? What do they do? Great question. And not uncommon, even for people well-versed in film. The role of the line producer, like many inner-workings of the entertainment industry, is shrouded in secrecy. We’ve got the “ins,” we’ve done the research, and right now we’re going to give you the ultimate… Continue reading What is a Line Producer: Ultimate Guide to Duties, Salary and More
While film producers and tv producers are very similar, there are some key differences. If you want to work in TV, you should know what they are. This article gives a brief overview this producer and answers “what does a tv producer do.” Let’s get started.Continue reading What Does a TV Producer Do? A Brief… Continue reading What Does a TV Producer Do? A Brief Overview
Pre-production can be overwhelming even for the seasoned producer. It requires knowledge of many facets of production, as well as an ability to prevent potential crises down the line. It’s not always easy but if you stay organized, it’s pretty simple. So what is pre-production? When does it start and when does it end? This… Continue reading What is Pre-Production in Film? A Blueprint for Success
Modern film professionals are living and working in the midst of a golden age for audio-visual content production. Tools to streamline the production process are more advanced than ever and producers no longer have to rely solely on themselves. In today’s article we’ll cover the basics of the DOOD Report, and why we need it.… Continue reading What is the Dood Report and How Can It Help My Budget
EPISODE 1Budget BombshellMeet the team and watch how they must rework their script so that it will fit inside their limited budget. Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. Subscribe on YouTube ← Episode Guide Next Episode → EPISODE 1Art meets commerceYou have a great idea for a TV show. You’ve already written the pilot,… Continue reading Making It: Script Breakdowns and Budgeting — Pre-Production Process: Ep1
When it comes to the glitz and glamour of the movie biz, most people don’t mention film production budget planning–try saying that three times fast.Continue reading Film Budget Planning: How to Effectively Budget a Script Breakdown
Your film budget isn’t complete until you factor in taxes. But what if I told you could magically get some of that moola back? That’s right. I’m talking film tax credits, baby.Continue reading Film Tax Credits: How to Save Money for Your Project
How we distinguish between producers matters. There are a ton of moving parts in filmmaking, and each producer handles a different one. This post answers the question ‘what is a line producer,’ so you can better understand where they fall in the mix.Continue reading What is a Line Producer? Defining the Basics of the Role
You may have a basic idea of what a line producer is, but there are so many different kinds of producers, are you really sure? It takes a minute to know the ins and outs, and the best way to learn is always to do. But if you’re a little hesitant to jump right into… Continue reading What Does a Line Producer Do? The Responsibilities and Duties of the Job
Film budgeting is an essential part of the filmmaking process. Anyone vaguely thinking of a career as a producer needs to know how to make a film budget. Since film budget software like Movie Magic Budgeting, Showbiz Budgeting, and EP Budgeting can run on the pricey side, we’ve created a free film budget template. Our… Continue reading The Essential Guide for Crafting Film Budgets (with FREE Film Budget Template)
M ost filmmakers I know have tried and failed at crowdfunding. I failed, too, on my first attempt. But every time I researched shot film funding, crowdfunding was one of the first recommendations. It has become a ubiquitous film funding technique. So, I tried crowdfunding again. I studied successful crowdfunding campaigns and took courses on strategy. Ultimately… Continue reading Crowdfunding Movies: How I Raised $18,617 in Short Film Funding
Working with talent used to fill me with dread. Celebrity talent was even worse. Dealing with handlers, agents, lawyers and even personal assistants can try any producer’s patience. But it’s part of the business. If you want to make movies you have to learn to work with demanding celebrities.Continue reading Working With Celebrity Talent: How… Continue reading Working With Celebrity Talent: How I Learned To Respect the Kardashians
Filmmaking by its very nature is very counteractive toward sustainability. Sets and props are temporarily built, special effects cause chaos, and don’t get us started on plastic water bottles. But green film production is not a myth. Being sustainable with your productions may seem like a daunting task, but with the right steps, it’s very… Continue reading 13 Steps Towards Green Film Production We Can All Take
