Budget for a Horror Feature

[pipester101]

This is a question for all the Schmoes who have created a budget for a short or feature film. When creating a budget either for yourself or investors do you include money to pay yourself (director) while filming the movie or is it just for the other expenses such as props, actors, etc...

Thanks

[Cyd V]

It depends how much money you have or are willing to spend. If your using friends for actors you don't pay them anything and all the expences will be for film, lighting equipment and food for the crew. Those are the big costs, minor expences are squibs and props and traveling...

[Cyd V]

Sorry, misread the question. No you don't have to, or it's better to just include filming costs... Depends how interested the investors are, or how much they're willing to invest...

[NobodySpecial]

Yes, you always include your own salary in any sort of budgeting, unless you, for whatever reason, aren't getting paid upfront.

When you budget a film you have to be extremely careful to account for all costs, everywhere. That's why we have professionals who do that sort of thing. You usually also add to that number a percentage of leeway, and that's the number you ask for (if possible).

Part of the trick too is knowing ahead of time how much money you can get. You don't want to ask for too much more than you think you can get, and you don't want to undercut yourself either. It's a complicated game.

[pipester101]

Thanks for the responses. Just trying to figure out a way to just make some good movies without worrying about a 9-5 job.

[adamjohnson]

Beg, borrow and deal my friend.

Your immediate family, if you ask ALL of them, should shell out a few thousand as do9nation right up front. Then you can start thinking about product placement and getting investors.

[Ronaldinho]

Originally posted by pipester101
Thanks for the responses. Just trying to figure out a way to just make some good movies without worrying about a 9-5 job.

You're going to worry.

Filmmaking is a career where you can get very rich, but it's a hard career to make a normal living at-- if you're making movies independently you'll be living hand-to-mouth until they sell to distribution. If you want to make movies within the system you'll be living hand to mouth while tryign to prove you deserve a seat at the table.

[Beeblebrox]

To add to what Ron said, you should also keep in mind that your salary as the filmmaker is the most expendible on the production. So don't count on getting paid all that well (if at all) on a low budget production.

I knew of a film production in which the director/producer raised $125K for a feature based on the strength of a short film he did. Out of that budget, he spent $75K on salaries for 3 people, himself and two other producers, which left $50K for the rest of the production budget. Naturally, everyone hated him, the film blew huge monkey balls, and he's been struggling ever since.

All because he was more worried about making a living than making a good movie.

[pipester101]

My focus it to make a great movie.I don't really care about making alot of money. I just need to find a way to focus on the movie without the hassle of paying my existing bills.

[Ronaldinho]

I just need to find a way to focus on the movie without the hassle of paying my existing bills.
Welcome to the world of independent filmmaking.

That's what everyone wants.

-Ron

[NobodySpecial]

I just wanted to point out that family should be the last people you turn to when getting funding together for a project. You don't want to hurt the ones you love...

[adamjohnson]

Well, double edged sword. You tell them youre making a film, theyll saw, "Awwww." At whihc point you ask for some cash to get it off the ground.

The trick is though to inform them ahead of time they wont be getting any of this back. This is the starting budget, you can use this cash to get the bigger bucks, from investors and the like.

Ask the grandparents, theyre old and rip ewith Social security money they dont know how to spend. :D