Film & Video Budgets: Includes Digital Video [Paperback]

Deke Simon (Author), Michael Wiese (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0941188345 | ISBN-13: 978-0941188340 | Publication Date: July 12, 2001 | Edition: 3rd Updated

For over 15 years "Film & Video Budgets" has been the essential handbook for the independent filmmaker. Written by two pioneers of do-it-yourself filmmaking, this book outlines every element of production.

UPDATED AND REVISED for digital video productions (and video-to-film transfers), this definitive budget book contains detailed formats and sample budgets for many different kinds of productions, from "no budget" movies and documentaries to a $5 million feature - along with all the crucial practical information that's made it an industry bible.


Also includes new and highly useful materials such as a comprehensive master list of line items, which covers just about everything that could possibly be put into a production; and chapters on pre-production and setting up a production company. Plus downloadable budgets from www.mwp.com which you can customize.

Includes new budgets for digital filmmaking
Accompanying website contains budget forms for your own use

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The most effective and valuable book that I have used in teaching production ... an invaluable resource for students to develop and manage their productions. I highly recommend this book."
Steve Montal
Director, Educational and Special Program Development, AFI Silver Theatre
Producing Director, AFI Discovery Documentary Festival

"...if you follow the guidelines here, you'll wield a finely-honed financial weapon rather than a blunt instrument when you meet with bankers, lawyers and completion bon companies. This book lowers your stress level by altering your perception of the budgeting process."
DGA (Director's Guild of America) Magazine

"Anyone involved in managing budgets for film and video recording, be it for feature films or concerts, will find this book useful...It's well laid out and written and offers many money saving hints and tips." - Lighting and Sound International

From the Publisher

Also includes new and highly useful materials such as a comprehensive master list of line items, which covers just about everything that could possibly be put into a production; and chapters on pre-production and setting up a production company.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions; 3rd Updated edition (July 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941188345
• ISBN-13: 978-0941188340
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,840,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for filmmakers of any level., April 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Film and Video Budgets, Second Edition (Paperback)

This was one of my Film/Video Production text books last semester. It's nothing you would read cover to cover, but something you will keep coming back to. It provides 5 sample budgets from $5 million features to no budget student films and explains them all in detailed, line-item fashion, offering shortcuts and realistic advise wherever possible. If you are planning on making a movie, this book could be one of your most valuable investments.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The buck stops here!, January 13, 2001

By 

Michael Pinto "Anime Fan" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Film and Video Budgets, Second Edition (Paperback)

This no-nonsense guide gives you "just the facts" about what it costs to make a film. Each chapter features a printout of a spreadsheet, and then gives you several pages of explanations as to what each item is for in the production. The book shows you every cost from legal fees to VHS screening copies (A+ for the detail). If you want to work in the video or film industry, or want to make your own films this is a good guide into what it takes to make a film. This book answers the question "why does it cost so much to make entertainment?" You get a bookkeepers viewpoint on the army it takes to make a film.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth its weight in Gold!, November 5, 2006

By 

Ernesto Alcantara - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film & Video Budgets (Paperback)

This is an outstanding source of information for preparing a detailed budget for film or video (commercials, music videos, and so on). The heart of the book consists of explaining each and every single line item you'll find on any production budget. But the book goes even deeper and covers setting up your production company, what to plan for during pre-production and what I consider to be and invaluable analysis on the subject of tape-to-film blow up which is a must for filmmakers on a tight budget but who dream of releasing their film on the big screen.

I decided to purchase this publication over "Film Budgeting". Even though Singleton's companion book "Film Scheduling" is essential to learn how to breakdown a script and "Film Budgeting" might have seamlessly taken me step by step from schedule to budget. "Film and Video Budget 4th edition" contains the most up-to-date information (it was published in 2006), presents five different types of sample budgets that range from a 5 million dollar feature, to music video to a no-budget digital feature and they can be downloaded as Excel sheets, which you can use for the projects that more closely resemble each scenario.

As if all this wasn't enough it provides useful resources for all steps of the production process and money saving tips for shoestring budgets. This is a must for independent producers starting out in the industry or producing different type or more complex shows than before.