"There is an adage which ways, "It only takes two things to make movies: time and money." But HOW MUCH TIME? and HOW MUCH MONEY?...

Whether you are a PRODUCER or a PRODUCTION MANAGER, whether you are working on studio picture or trying to get your own independent feature off the ground, your ability to succeed will depend on how well you can answer these two questions.

Scheduling a feature film is a three-part process:

  1) breaking down the script,
  2) preparing a production strip board, and
  3) determining the final shooting schedule.

...it is necessary to break down a script in order to be able to budget it, and ultimately, finance it. Breaking down a script is the process of taking each and every element in the script, accounting for it and scheduling it in the most expedient and cost-effective manner. Once you have broken down a script and created the PRODUCTION STRIP BOARD and SHOOTING SCHEDULE, you will be able to move on to the next step: budgeting. Remember--if you cannot schedule a picture, you cannot budget it...

Many of you have looked at a production strip board and wondered how in the world anyone could create something so complicated. Take heart. At first glance, analyzing how long and how much seems like an impossible task. It is complicated and it is time-consuming, but it is not impossible. Although time is of the essence, you are not in a race. The extra time you spend and the care you take in breaking down your script and preparing your strip board and budget will be worth it--well worth it. Problems which are overlooked or neglected in the early stages of pre-production have an uncanny tendency of showing up later on the production...and they cost a lot more to handle when there is a cast and crew standing around waiting..."

September's Budget Tip