Is there a film budgeting program that has all the current up-to-date rates, etc. built-in and all ya gotta do is enter how many days/weeks the filming schedule will be and the computer does the rest?
I'm attempting to construct a preliminary budget for a two separate seven-week features, accurate enough to take out to producers and investors.
Having to go through every single line item is ridiculously mind-numbing and is meant only for those who really really enjoy it.
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Why not hire a Line Producer for that? If you don’t know one, try posting in Stage 32’s job board. Click “Jobs” on the top menu bar, and you can search by profession, location and pay.
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Well, yes, I'll get there in time, but first I need to create a rough budget that is in the ballpark. So the question remains. Thanks!
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Hi! Julie Buck has a great webinar on line producing. If you write in to edu@stage32.com they can send you the link!
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Hi! Thanks for the suggestion, but I am aware of line producing. What I'm asking is if there is budgeting software that has current rates (IATSE tiers, etc) built-in so clicking a button on the desired budget level would populate the spreadsheet?
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Hi Brian Dzyak If you're kinda sufficient in Excel you can create Macros with the calculations and add them to buttons. Create your own budgeting software. We did this as part of my degree. Any help you need I'll be around.
Good luck.
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Hi, Gen! Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not proficient in Excel, though I could learn. However, what I'm looking for is budgeting software that has current IATSE, DGA, and TEAMSTER rates already built-in, so the user could literally push a button (i.e. "Choose IATSE Tier 1, 2, or 3... etc) and those current rates would populate the spreadsheet. It would save SO much time for anyone who is creating a budget for virtually any level of movie production.
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Brian Dzyak, as long as you know where those rates are generated as they change, online maybe, you could link to that. Are they accessible? and where from?
I have a computer science degree and could help create such an application. The only issue would be changing rates, and gathering them as they change.
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Hi, Gen! Generally speaking, below-the-line IATSE rates come from the latest contracts which are available through Motion Picture Contract Services. DGA rates come from the DGA, SAG from SAG, Teamsters from Teamsters, and so on. The problem isn't that the rates aren't available. I'm just looking for a streamlined way to populate a budget spreadsheet, which, as you've pointed out, requires that someone (who is much smarter than I am in terms of building budget spreadsheets) create a program that has all those rates already inside so that the user simply pushes a few buttons with desired parameters ... such as IATSE Tier 1 or Tier 2, for instance...then the user would tell the program how many physical production days to calculate for... which State, city, or nation those days will be in (for tax incentives), per diems, idle day rates, potential meal penalties... etc. Then after the program comes up with a final tally based on those parameters, the user can go back in and make adjustments that are likely necessary for every production's specific needs.
There are so many line-items in a typical production budget that going through every minute detail feels extremely inefficient in this day & age.