Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Something a little different

Today's update is a less instructional one and a more personal account of what's going on with production. Second draft is still in the works and when I'm not writing I'm trying to set up a preliminary budget for things. I'm quickly noticing that union actors are incredibly expensive, even for all the protection I get from hiring them. There are also a lot of costs you aren't really told about. Like the 35% addition that you have to pay if you're going to try for theatrical release. I probably don't have to worry about that, but if through some series of miracles a studio wanted to buy my film... There are also some weird fees I apparently have to pay the union directly? Shouldn't that be technically deducted from them as union dues?

I have to admit though, I feel kinda bad for the starting IATSE rates. A lot of those guys have really tough jobs but they're getting paid pretty much peanuts. Construction coordinators deserve to start at a lot higher than $38.14 an hour for what they have to do. This film doesn't require me to hire anyone like that, but the more I look through things the more I realise I'm going to have to operate with a very skilled, possibly non-union crew to make this budget work.

I don't want to overload people, though, I really don't. Breaking it down, I know I've got some essentials I can't cut:
Writer/Director: Myself
Producer: Unknown
Cinematography: Unknown/Myself (for select scenes)
Cam-ops: Unknown/Myself
Boom-op: Unknown
Sound mixer: Unknown
Gaffer: Unknown/unknown
Key grip: Unknown
Second grip: Unknown

So that's 9 people who, if I hire union, would be about $21,600 for a 10 (super optimistic) day shoot. These people also need to eat, so if I give them the same food allowance as the actors, that's another $5,850. Already the budget is $27,450.

On top of that, I need to pay the actors. Best case scenario with ACTRA? Well, that's $630.50 a day for principal actors, of which I have three. Ten day shoot, not accounting for ACTRA fees and whatnot: $18,915. That brings the new total to $46,365.

Now we have to factor in transport costs. The equipment truck is $4,200 for the rental. I also have to fuel the truck and cars. There are 3 cars. Assuming a 24mpg fuel efficiency from each car with a 15 gallon tank, a $2.75pg gas price and a 3600 travel distance that would mean each car has to fuel 10 times. To fill a 15 gallon tank would cost $41.25. That means $412.50 times 3, or $1,237.50. Let's assume the truck uses the same fuel for the sake of simple math, so $1,650. Now we're at $48,015.

Okay, so, accommodations. Let's assume I can somehow convince the crew to split two bedrooms and get a bedroom for me and the line producer. That's being a bit crazy, but yeah. Now, the two male principal actors can share accommodations, since I can just get them a two bedroom suite. ACTRA requires separate accommodations and change rooms for female cast members and that's a damn good thing. This means that I have to get 5 hotel rooms. Let's be cheap and get $50 a night rooms. 5 times $50 is $250. Now, we're going to need to sleep every night, so that's 10 nights in hotels. that means $2,500 for hotel rooms. Let's toss on another $500 for "just in case" situations. Weather might happen, ya know. So now we're at $3,000, which puts the budget at $51,015.

And THAT'S just the preliminary budget. I still have to get in contact with some people (Many thanks to @YouAreVeryStar on twitter for their help!) to see about music licensing costs. I also need the location rights and potential costs there and getting some generators for some scenes. This also doesn't cover the costs of equipment rentals for things like lights, cameras, C-stands, tripods, gels, reflectors, lenses... Those things are all very negotiable though and I may luck out with.

Film is hard, stressful and despite the fact that I'm pulling my own hair out trying to get a budget together I have never had more fun in my life.

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