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A Zshortfilmbudget
A Zshortfilmbudget
DISCLAIMER
The AFC have taken great care to ensure that the formulas in this budget are correct. However, as the
formulas are not locked, errors can occur when numbers are entered to override formulas and/or when
lines are added or subtracted. The AFC can take no responsibility for the accuracy of your budget. Please
check each line where you have entered figures and ensure the accuracy of the sub totals and totals lines
and columns.
First - make sure you have selected the correct Budget base - the options are:
Full Feature Film Short Documentary Interactive Digital Media Animation
Second - fill out the Cover Sheet- BEFORE GOING INTO THE BUDGET OR WORKSHEET DETAIL
The summary sheet will automatically fill from the Budget as you enter data
Formulas have been included and therefore we are assuming reasonable competence in using Excel spreadsheets
Notes are included throughout the Budget to assist you - see Column N - not printed
If inserting or deleting rows, ensure you do it from the row numbers down the left hand column of the page
otherwise the rest of the worksheet will move out of alignment.
Do not delete columns. Column A of the Budget has been left blank to use for a Code reference if required.
Unused lines and categories can be deleted
If you delete a category, you will also need to delete its line in the Summary worksheet as #ref will appear
Use this budget format as a check list
Change categories and cost items according to project needs or personal preferences
Additional Worksheets can be included and linked: Insert - Worksheet
This workbook encompasses the following worksheets: (per coloured Tabs at bottom of page)
INFO - This Introduction and instruction page Note: the coloured tabs are
Cover - detail of the production and budget assumptions by all versions of Excel
Budget - A-Z detail
Summary - of Budget
Breakdown sheets:
2 Crew Overtime and Loadings - Budget Category C.24
3 Cast Fees and Fringes - Budget Categories D & E.2.3.4.5.
4 Extras Fees and Fringes - Budget Categories D & E.6
5 Crew Allowances - Budget Categories C & M or Department costs as applicable
6 Travel & Accommodation - Crew & Cast - Budget Categories M & N
8 Costume Estimates - Budget Category F.1
9 Art Department Estimates - Budget Categories H.1 to H.7.
10 Locations and Stage Rentals - Budget Categories G.1 & G.2.
13 Marketing
14 Add further Worksheets if required
FRINGES:
Crew & Cast Fringes are the expenses associated with employment. For a preliminary short film budget, assume fringes are
90 to 100% of your cast, crew and extras are employees. By law the nature of the relationship that you have
with them is that of an employer rather than a contractor. If a crew member is contracted through a Pty Ltd
company fringes are usually not payable but they may want to negotiate a higher fee that compensates them for
holiday pay and superannuation so at the budgeting stage assume fringes on all.
Holiday Pay Payable to any crew member employed on a weekly basis. Per the award it is one-twelfth of the gross wage or
8.33%, representing a pro-rata payment of four weeks annual holiday. For Cast refer BNF calculations.
Super A percentage set by Federal Superannuation Guarantee legislation and payable on the gross wage of any
annuation employee who earns in excess of $450 per month. At the time of budgeting check the rate that may be expected to
be current when you expect to go into production. As at February 2003 the rate is 9%.
Payroll Tax The rates for both payroll tax and workers compensation are determined by each State so check the rates
& Workers appropriate to the State in which you expect to shoot, as they will apply at the time that you expect to go into
Comp. production. They may be calculated on the contracted wage plus Holiday Pay, Overtime, Superannuation and
allowances including per diems. These inclusions vary from State to State.
Payroll tax is payable when wages exceed a nominated threshold per month. This threshold varies from State to
State. For most short film budgets, wages will not exceed the threshold, thus payroll tax will not apply. However, if
the film is to be produced by an existing production company, that threshold or part thereof may be used already, in
which case the production may have a payroll tax liability.
NB. Workers Compensation estimates are included in Fringes Category D, not with Insurances Category O. It is
generally not paid on Superannuation.
All crew overtime is included in C.24 and refer Worksheet 2.
G. S. T.
No matter how small the budget every film maker is advised to register the entity through which
they produce their film for GST. In all likelihood they would be legally required to register.
Once registered you may claim back all the GST that has been included in payments made.
This being the case always budget the production expenses net of GST.
Invariably the funding that you achieve for your film is considered a taxable supply and you are
required to invoice the funding body, network, distributor etc for your cashflow + GST.
This is not a reason to put a line in the budget for GST. .
GST will be dealt with contractually and by invoice.
DO NOT INCLUDE GST AS A COST WITHIN YOUR BUDGET.
UPDATES
Please Check the AFC website regularly for updates or corrections to this budget
If you discover any formula errors in the budget, please email us at a-zbudget@afc.gov.au so that we
can inform other users.
e: the coloured tabs are not supported
ll versions of Excel
TITLE: " ..film title.. " Heading for Summary & Budget
Payroll Tax State 0.00% On wages, allowances, super & holiday pay
Fringe Benefits Tax 0.00% On entertainment
OVERTIME
Shooting Crew overtime allowed hours (Worksheet 2)
8446081.xls-Production Summary
Printed: 10/05/2008 12:20:25
" ..film title.. " PRE-PRODN. SHOOT POST-PRODN. Sub-total TOTAL Notes:
Code Description Rate Wks Amount Wks Amount Wks Amount Lines 1&2 will appear at the top of each page
NO. OF WEEKS/DAYS SHOOT - 0 Running total: 0 Cell M.3 is the cumulative progressive total
ABOVE THE LINE' COSTS If rows are added, ensure that formula is filled down
A.1 STORY & SCRIPT All calculations are rounded to nearest dollar
Story Rights (incl.Options) 0
Writers Fees 0 Writer's Fees may also be in Development Funding
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0 For all Category sub-totals Cell L must = Cell M
A.2 DEVELOPMENT
Development Funds (Source/s: Repayment Date: ) Refer cover sheet - state sources
Paid to: Producer 0 Identify repayment schedule
Director 0
Writer 0
Script Editor(s) 0
Other 0
Interest on Dev.funds 0 Flat rate or date to which interest is calculated
Development Loans (Source/s: Repayment Date: ) Refer cover sheet - state sources
Repayment of Development Loan 0
Interest on Dev.Loans 0 Flat rate or date to which interest is calculated
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
B.1 PRODUCERS
Fees
Executive Producer 0
Producer 0
Holiday Pay (8.33%) 0 If taxed
Superannuation (9%) 0 If taxed
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
B.2 DIRECTORS
Director 0
Holiday Pay (8.33%) 0 If taxed
Superannuation (9%) 0 If taxed
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
J. DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION Note facilities which supplied quotes and discounts if any
Video/Sound Stock: Choose either film or video shoot, then delete
Camera Digital Stock p.tape 0 0 category not required and remove from Summary Sheet
DAT Sound Stock p.tape 0 0 for applicable costs
Rushes transfer and dub
Telecine Transfer to Tape p.hr 0 0
Digital Betacam/SP Beta/DV p.tape 0 0
VHS stock p.tape 0 0
Couriers p.day 0 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0
K. EQUIPMENT & STORES
K.1 CAMERA EQUIPMENT & STORES
Camera/Access. Main Camera Package 0 0 0 0 0
Camera/Access. Additional Hires 0 0 0
Video Split Equipment 0 0 0
Steadicam 0 0
Steadicam Accessories 0 0
Casual Hires - Lenses etc. 0 0
Camera Truck 0 0 0 Or include in M.
Expendables 0 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
N. ACCOMMODATION, LIVING, CATERING (refer Worksheet 6) NB: Column G subtotal excludes boxed area
Location Surveys - Accommodation 0 If adding lines be careful to check subtotal formula is correct
- Per diems 0
Accommodation: 0
Cast & Stunts 0
Crew 0
Accommodation - Other 0 (or refer Worksheet 6)
Camp Set-Up, Facilities, Security, First Aid 0
Tents/Caravans/Demountables 0
Office Refreshments 0
Entertaining/Wrap Party 0
Catering: P/Head No. per day Days (or refer Worksheet 6)
Main nit Crew 0 0
Casual Crew 0 0
Cast & Stunts 0 0
Extras 0 0
Per Diems: Rate: (or refer Worksheet 6)
Cast & Stunts 0 0
Crew 0 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
O. INSURANCES
(state if estimate or firm quote and give source)
Package Premiums (on $.......m) 0
Film Producer's Indemnity 0 Not usually required for shorts unless specifed by investor
Negative Film Risk (Faulty Stock,Cameras,Processing) 0
Multi Risk - Props, Sets, Costumes 0
Multi Risk - Camera, Lighting, Equipment 0
Public Liability (on $......m) 0
Volunteer Insurance 0
Action Vehicles 0
Stunt/Personal Accident 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
W MUSIC
Existing Music Licence Fees 0
Composer Fees 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
X.1 PUBLICITY & STILLS - PRODUCTION
Stills Photographer 0 0 If crew - include Fringes
Stills Stock & Processing 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
X.2 DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS Check with funding bodies and broadcasters re exact
Release Print (s) 0 delivery requirements
Digital Betacam Clone 0
DVC-Pro Master 0
VHS dubs 0
Stills - colour transparency 0
- black & white prints 0
- digital scans 0
Post-Production Scripts 0
Music Cue Sheet 0
Media Kit including cast/crew info 0
Sub-total 0 0 0 0 0
MARKETING (per Worksheet 13) 0 0 0 This figure fills automatically from the total of Worksheet 13- Marketing
SPAA/ASDA PROD LEVY 0% of 0 0 0 0 insert percentage in Col.E
INDIRECT COSTS
Y LEGAL & BUSINESS 0
Z OVERHEADS 0
TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS 0
TOTAL BUDGET 0
This worksheet is a simplified version of the feature film full overtime and loadings worksheet. For a 50 minute film or a bigger
budget where you might need a more detailed, itemised overtime budget please refer to the feature film budget.
This worksheet allows you to calculate the cost of one hour of overtime for the whole crew, past 10 hours of shooting in a day. The
hours from 10 to 12 are charged at double time, ie/ if a 12 hour day is worked, the normal wage includes up to 10 hours work, then
overtime at double time is charged after that. The 13th hour is charged at triple time.
For most short film budgets, you will want to allow a number of hours that can be worked as overtime for the whole crew. In addition
to this, you will have some crew (2nd AD, clapper loader, unit etc) who will consistently work regular overtime. This should be taken
into account and allowed for. In the feature film version of this worksheet, there is a separate calculation for these regular overtime
hours.
In addition to overtime, there are provisions at the bottom for calculating night loadings, public holidays and Saturdays (if a 6th day)
Overtime Estimates Enter: Double Time - Estimated Hrs Total Cost: 0.00
Triple Time - Estimated Hrs Total Cost: 0.00 Overtime Total 0.00
LOADINGS BUDGET:
Here, calculations can be made of night shoots, public holidays and Saturdays. Fill in estimated number of night loaded hours Mon to
Thur for entire shoot and Friday for entire shoot (loading is different for Friday). Fill in number of days that are public holidays and
Saturdays to be budgeted through entire shoot. These amounts are automatically calculated based on the hourly rates.
enter number of hours NIGHT SHOOTS Mon-Thur Friday 0.00 .25T Monday to Thursday after 8pm and .5T Friday after 8pm
Payroll Tax is calculated on the total of fees (incl. Holiday Pay), Overtime and Super.
* Most short film productions won't have a payroll tax liability unless they are produced through an existing company that has used part or all
of the threshold. If payroll tax applies, enter the formula in the first row of the payroll tax column and fill down ie/ =SUM(L7:M7)*N$5
The f ollowing table is useful for calculating cast rates including the appropriate rights under the
Actors Feature Film Agreement, which covers short film production. Instructions follow:
Orange areas you can negotiate and change Blue areas to be updated according to FFA rate increases
The above table calculates the total fee for an actor under the Actor's Feature Film Agreement (FFA).
This award covers short film production and can be accessed from the website of MEAA
(www.alliance.org.au). Reading the Agreement will help you make sense of these calculations.
There are only two areas you change in these tables - first is the personal margin row - second is the
rights percentage.
RIGHTS PERCENTAGE
Essentially, payment to actors for 'performance' includes rights payments for territories and media.
The rights payments are outlined in the FFA. To buy all rights excluding US network adds 110% to
the f ee. Check with your proposed funding agency for what rights they require. Usually AFC shorts
require 40% (which covers Australian TV and ancillary) and short features require 110%. To change
the rights percentage, adjust the rights amount in column C and text in column B.
PERSONAL MARGIN
Changing the personal margin is only relevant if you negotiate to pay fees above the Award. For
most short films, actors will be paid at the Award Minimum due to budget constraints. If you agree
to pay more, then you can work out what the breakdown of payments is by playing around with the
personal margin line, or by using the Goal Seek... function (under tools).
For example, if you've agreed to pay an actor 2,500 per 50 hour week then you need to enter an
amount in the personal margin line to make the total equal 2,500:
Rights are paid for all performance days - shoot days plus, for example, preshoot stills and video to
be included in the finished film. Payment for non-performance days such as rehearsal, wardrobe
fittings or publicity are at the Basic Negotiated Fee (BNF) plus Annual Leave.
The BNF is the Award Minimum plus any personal margin (if you're paying above the Award). ie/ in
the above example, the 40 hr rehearsal week would cost $804.83 plus annual leave (8.33%) and the
50 hour shoot week would cost $2,500 inclusive. If there was no personal margin on this example,
the rehearsal rate would drop to $631.97 and shoot $1,963.06
NOTES:
Annual leave is included in the daily rate. Daily rates included in this spreadsheet are the rates for the Feature Film Award (which covers short films)
including annual leave as at March 2002. These should be adjusted as appropriate according to when you expect to be shooting.
The extras, superannuation, payroll tax and worker's comp rates quoted are current for NSW as of March 2002. Check the Moneypenny website or
* Superannuation is paid on $450 gross per month only therefore it usually only applies to extras who do more than 2 days.
If super applies, enter the formula in the first row of the super column and fill down ie/ =M7*N$5
** Most short film productions won't have a payroll tax liability unless they are produced through an existing company that has used part or all
of the threshold. If payroll tax applies, enter the formula in the first row of the payroll tax column and fill down ie/ =SUM(M7:N7)*O$5
CREW:
whole $ only.
Accessories/hats etc.
Estimates for:
Dry Cleaning
Freight
Repairs
Expendables
2. VHS Dubbing:
- Pal copies
- NTSC copies
3. Promotional Material:
(postcard, flyer or poster)
- Design & Artwork
- Printing
4. Stills Printing:
- Black & White prints
- Transparency Duplicates
- Digital Scans to CD
6. Office Expenses:
- phone/fax/internet
- stationery/photocopying
8. Festival Freight/Postage:
- postage of applications
- freight of prints
$0.00 0.00