ON-LINE Self-Study Flash Videos With Templates and Materials, Available On-Demand
 Each Self-Study (On-Demand) Training video is located at a single URL with password protection and playable as a Flash Video (MV4). All Self-Study videos are 1 and 1/2 hours in length. All related materials (budgets, forms, cashflows, templates,
payroll forms, start-up forms, etc) are located at the same URL - see the video & narrative on "How It Works", below.
Managing Film Budgets & Cost Reports
Aspiring Line Producers: The podcasts & on-line training are all in the area of Managing Film Budgets and in Managing the production's
Cost Report - this is not about the techniques of utilizing film budgeting software, rather it is gives point-by-point tips on managing both film
budgets
and cost reports. This is often a skipped step in the rush to create a film budget, resulting in confusion and painfully slow learning curves, or no
budget at all.
Film Accountants: The podcasts & on-line training in this section is for aspiring assistant accountants, or to working assistant accountants's
who want to upgrade to a key. The emphasis is on making changes to an existing film budget and why, understanding the relevance of Globals,
Fringes and Groups in leading film budgeting software, and
in learning how to make changes to the film production's Cost Report and why.
Public Accountants: The podcasts & on-line training is applicable for Licensed Public Accountants who would
like to learn more about the terminology and methodology of film accounting and auditing. The Cost Report" is the document
auditied for the various State/Provincial Tax Incentives, so it behooves the Public Accountant to understand
the film accounting
systems and procedures, as well as the film industry specific methodologies.
Tips On Finding Work: THREE of the podcasts are for entry level people who would like to investigate ways to find film productions and
names to promote yourself to, ways to write your resume (forget what you may have previoulsy learned), as well as general tips on how to impress
those interviewing you - it's probably not what
you think. Breaking-in to the film production business takes perseverence and an understanding of
the attitudes of those hiring you. Check out the tips on this podcast and see for yourself
if you can apply this info to finding work in film!
Each 1 1/2 hour on-line recorded study is playable as a Flash Videos (MV4).
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As of this date (April 14, 2010) I am still entering and rendering the quizzes. Please do not purchase the videos below if that is a consideration. In the future there WILL BE at least 2 quizzes per 1/2 hour of video with at least one randomly thrown in question.
Each on-line recorded study has specific materials related to it which are downloadable from the appropriate URL.
When ready to buy, simply click on any "SIGN UP" below and follow along.
1. The Film Production Budget Introduced
SIGN UP* FOR # 1 of 6, THE FILM PRODUCTION BUDGET INTRODUCED
The purpose of this session is to get a fluid understanding of the categories and terms used in a usual Film Budget of more than $2 or $3Million dollars.
Attendees are encouraged to have a hard copy of the Master Budget in front of them and to take notes - Quizzes will occur randomly.An actual film production budget is reviewed with the purpose of understanding the industry specific departments and how they inter-relate.
Key terms used in film production, but not widely used, are cleared up. Familiarize the categories of the film budget, the standard columns used and demonstrate
how the
Producer manages a film budget to the bottom line.
Particular time is spent over coming any inhibitions using such terms as Above-The-Line, Below-The-Line, Gaffer, Grip, Extras, etc.
Discretionary & Non-Discretionary costs in the film budget are discussed and the impact on the Producer's decisions.
The location of certain types of costs are pointed out and the purpose for that location are discussed.
Changes to the budget are demonstrated and how to track them
The importance of labeling
costs for various State/Provincial Tax Incentives
The materials for this On-Demand Self-Study video is: A Professional Template Film Budget that is used throughout the videos. It is in both pdf and epb formats.
Also included is an Excel template of a professional film budget.
SIGN UP* FOR # 1 of 6, THE FILM PRODUCTION BUDGET INTRODUCED
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2. Introducing Film Industry Labor Unions
SIGN UP* FOR # 2 of 6, INTRODUCING FILM INDUSTRY LABOR UNIONS
The purpose of this session is to familiarize the attendees with the film industry union wage jargon. A huge part of managing a budget is
managing
the labor costs, so it essential we take enough time to understand the basic elements.
The primary union for crew
is the International Theatrical & Stage Employees - known by everyone in film production as IATSE (Eye-At-See).
The appropriate pages
of the basic IATSE
agreement is looked at (without getting lost in details) for the following terms:
Scale rates
Overtime
“Gold”
Meal penalty
John demonstrates the IATSE local overtime
calculations under the Basic Agreement using the concept of Worked Hours
and
Pay Hours.
Attendee’s calculate the pay hours and meal
penalties from examples given by
John. Answers are provided afterward for attendees to study.
(Same practice repeated a few times until
majority are comfortable with the
Pay Hours and Worked Hours calculation, as well as the Meal
Penalty
calculation).
John continues to use examples and correct
attendees as before.
Depending on the time available the same steps
above are completed for Screen
Actors Guild daily actors (called Schedule A performers)
SIGN UP* FOR # 2 of 6, INTRODUCING FILM INDUSTRY LABOR UNIONS
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3. The Concept of “Fringes”(Government & Union Contributions)
SIGN UP* FOR # 3 of 6, THE CONCEPT OF FRINGES & LABOR HOURS WORKED/PAID
The purpose of this session is to introduce the term "Fringes". Fringes are usually 30% to 40% of the labor costs, so it is essential that
you know how to estimate this cost and not be tongue-tied when discussing this cost in the film budget.
The producer must pay normal government and union fringes – a breakdown of the types of fringes is given.
When projecting costs (called Estimating in
film) it is common to average the
fringe rates for different unions. This process is reviewed for
different guilds and unions.
John shows the effect of fringes on the
different SAG calculations above – it is quite dramatic
The Concept of Labor Hours Worked and Hours Paid
The purpose of this session is to practice the combined knowledge you've learned above - Labor Worked Hours, Paid Hours and Fringes.
The dramatic additional costs of working the 13th, 14th hours is demonstrated. The attendees then work this out for themselves.
Some practice is given and
Q & A, Quizzes, etc to ensure the attendees have a good grasp of this very important facet of managing the film
budget.
SIGN UP* FOR # 3 of 6, THE CONCEPT OF FRINGES & LABOR HOURS WORKED/PAID
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4. Introducing the Weekly Cost Report
SIGN UP* FOR # 4 of 6, INTRODUCING THE WEEKLY COST REPORT & THE SIX BASIC COST SYSTEMS
The purpose of
this session is to introduce the Weekly Cost Report & to give examples of what a career-maker or career-breaker
it is regardless of your function in filmmaking.
The “Product” of the film production is what the audience sees on screen. However, for all productions (with the rare exception) the measure
of it's success through to end of post-production is the quality compared to the cost. It's the Cost Report that tells the financiers, studio execs,
bonding companies, etc
Concept of timing – the cost report is issued weekly
at a pre-assigned day (usually a Friday or a Monday). This keeps the pressure on the
Producers, Production Manager and Film Auditor.
Define the columns of the Weekly Cost Report
Reading the Estimates-To-Complete
Column
Practical examples given for different estimated
Stunt man-days.
Attendees practice the effect of changing the
Estimates-To-Complete on the Cost
Report.
The concept of weekly “period closings” is
presented as industry specific.
Introducing the 6 Basic Cost Systems
The purpose of
this session is to introduce the 6 basic cost control systems. The attendees don't need to know how to do accounting,
but they need to recognize the types of costs and how to control them during a film production.
1.The Purchase Order
2.The Vendor Invoice
3.Check Requisitions
4.Petty Cash (not so petty in film production - often in the $0 to $60,000/week range)
5.Payroll
6.Journal Entries (records financing interest, charges from the studio, etc)
SIGN UP* FOR # 4 of 6, INTRODUCING THE WEEKLY COST REPORT & THE SIX BASIC COST SYSTEMS
*2CheckOut.com Inc. (Ohio, USA) is an authorized retailer for goods and services provided by John Gaskin/Ease Entertainment Services.
5. The Cost Report - Estimating Costs To Complete - Examples
SIGN UP* FOR # 5 of 6, THE COST REPORT - ESTIMATING COSTS TO COMPLETE - EXAMPLES
The purpose of this session is the give the attendees an example of how to ensure the costs are reflected in the cost report.
Example – Hotel invoices not PO’d
for Cast
A Day Out Of Days (DOOD’s)
example is shown and
gone over.
The attendees are asked to
estimate the cost of
a hotel in their area for that cast member based on the DOOD’s.
A PO is drawn up by the attendee for two
of the key cast.
The PO is
entered to the G/L.
The effect on the Cost Report is noted.
This process is done again
for the same Cast,
but this time for their flights from the East (or West) coast, depending on the attendee’s location.
The effect on the cost report is noted.
The Cost Report - Estimating Costs
to Complete – Extras
The purpose of this session is to give the attendees an example of how to control costs that do not normally have a purchase order.
We examine the Costs To Date to see the date to
which the Extras have been paid.
We ask the 1st Assistant Director for
an estimate of the number of Extra Man-Days.
We estimate the future costs of Extras through
to completion.
We compare
that
estimate with the Estimated Final Costs available on the Cost Report.
A different example is given of this to the
attendees and they work it out for themselves in conjunction with John.
A similar example is done with the Stand-In’s
SIGN UP* FOR # 5 of 6, THE COST REPORT - ESTIMATING COSTS, PO'S AND BACKGROUND EXTRAS
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6. The Cost Report - Estimating Costs to Completion – Labor
SIGN UP* FOR # 6 of 6, THE COST REPORT - ESTIMATING LABOR AND FRINGES
The purpose of this session is to get familiar with estimating the labor costs in a general fashion that isn't too time consuming.
This is a tricky projection that is somewhat arithmetical.
I have prepared an Excel worksheet as the
demonstration and a few departmental cost report presentation.
Because this is a difficult step some review of labor hours worked and hours paid
(Overtime and other penalties) will be presented and practiced.
We will work through a few
departments until you
get understand the concept.
Then attendees will do several themselves based
on presentations given to them, submitting results.
John will go over the results with the
attendees.
The Cost Report - Estimating Costs
to Completion – Fringes
The purpose of this session is to get familiar with estimating the labor fringes costs, again without getting too technical.
This a tricky projection that is somewhat arithmetical.
I have prepared an Excel worksheet as the
demonstration and a few departmental cost report presentations.
Because this is a difficult step some review of labor fringe rates for various
categories of unions and guilds (and situations) will be presented
and
practiced.
We will work through a few
departmental fringe
costs until you get understand the concept.
Then attendees will do several themselves based
on presentations given to them, submitting results.
John will go over the results with the
attendees.
SIGN UP* FOR # 6 of 6, THE COST REPORT - ESTIMATING LABOR AND FRINGES
*2CheckOut.com Inc. (Ohio, USA) is an authorized retailer for goods and services provided by John Gaskin/Ease Entertainment Services.
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All of the following FREE Podcast videos and Templates are located at one URL, are are available to you "On-Demand". Each episodic podcast is listed and playable as a Flash Video (MV4). To access the folder you only need a link (no password). Sign-In and an immediate link will be sent FREE for all episodic
podcasts. The related materials (budgets, forms, cashflows, templates, payroll forms, start-up forms, etc) are on the same URL link. See the video & narrative on "How It Works", below.
Click on the "Attachments" tab, then click on the red links, at shown at the bottom of the picture, to download.