What's your short film budget?

InsanelyyBored

InsanelyyBored

I just received my budget for the short film I've written, and it came out to about $78,000 for a three day shoot.

Obviously the budget depends on many factors and varies from project to project, but is it usually in this type of range for a ten page script?

I was thinking it'd be under $20,000, but I guess if everything is done by the book those permits and incidentals add up.
 
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What do you mean "received your budget"? Who did it for you?
$78k looks damn high to me for a short. Even $20k is a lot. It seems to me that you need to have someone re-do the budget based on what is possible for you. This may require you to change the script and/or some assumptions about the production.
 
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Yeah, financing it is definitely going to be difficult. I think it's a pretty good script and an early draft of it was named a semi-finalist in HollyShorts Film Festival, so my goal is to make it into a high production value short.
 
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mlesemann said:
What do you mean "received your budget"? Who did it for you?
$78k looks damn high to me for a short. Even $20k is a lot. It seems to me that you need to have someone re-do the budget based on what is possible for you. This may require you to change the script and/or some assumptions about the production.
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Someone on fiverr did the budget. Definitely redoing it.

If anyone on here would be interested in hearing about or helping out with the project, let me know!
 
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InsanelyyBored said:
Obviously the budget depends on many factors and varies from project to project, but is it usually in this type of range for a ten page script?
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You are correct - it depends on many factors.

If you are paying the crew and cast and for locations and permits
and equipment rental then this is a reasonable number. There is
no way for any of us to make an informed answer without seeing
the script and knowing what you are paying for. Now you have
the "everyone-gets-paid" number. Next you need to generate a
"low budget" budget and then a "no budget" budget.

For a 3 day shoot you can most likely get better rates for everything.
But now you know what it will really cost.
 
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When I was doing special effects (specifically pyro) I worked on several USC
and AFI student films. Most of those were in the 10 to 20 minute range and
most has budgets above $50,000. I worked on one USC short film (14min)
that had a budget of $120,000. I still go see the senior films every year. I
see shorts regularly that have budget above $75,000.

Without knowing anything I assume the guy who did your budget is experienced
in budgeting without budget in mind – just the numbers. And he may be
using the going rate in what ever city he has experience in. Does this guy
know the going rate where you are? Did he give you the standard numbers?
Did you tell him this is a “no-budget” project where you will be pulling in favors
and getting cast and crew to work for free?
 
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The person who did the budget is a USC grad, and I told her that it wouldn't be a low budget production and that I would be attempting to raise funding for the film. Didn't anticipate the budget being over $20,000. She's redoing it with a new figure in mind, and I've updated her with my location in regard to the going rates.

I assume these student films are funded by USC and AFI?
 
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That's a pretty nice budget. Most shorts I've worked on, I would say, tend to fall in the $5,000-$15,000 dollar range. I've slowly been accumulating a lot of my own equipment, which allows me to keep rental fees to a minimum; instead mostly having that budget go to personnel, locations, and project specific art&decor
 
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InsanelyyBored said:
The person who did the budget is a USC grad, and I told her that it wouldn't be a low budget production and that I would be attempting to raise funding for the film.
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That explains a lot. USC students are trained in the "Hollywood" way.
When you said it wasn't be a low budget show I assume she used
the standard, Los Angeles (perhaps union) rates for everything. So
those numbers are quite accurate.

InsanelyyBored said:
I assume these student films are funded by USC and AFI?
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No. The students raise the money for their films. And in my experience
they pay if not top dollar, very close. And they always use Guild actors
and often IA crews.
 
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directorik said:
No. The students raise the money for their films. And in my experience
they pay if not top dollar, very close. And they always use Guild actors
and often IA crews.
Click to expand...

Anyone know how people typically raise funds for short film productions, other than applying to grants and attempting to crowdfund?

Thanks to everyone who's responded.
 
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Since there is no financial return on a short film people typically
raise funds from friends and family and finance most of the budget
themselves. Grants a typically offered for specific types of products
that fulfill the needs of the grant giver.

What grants are you applying for?
 
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InsanelyyBored said:
I want/need to have my budget figured out beforehand so I've put that step on hold for now.
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A little advice on grants.

First you have to do a lot of research to find the organization or company
that is looking to offer a grant to your, specific project. I can take a long
time to find the right organization. Then you need to find out when they
are offering grants. Most have a specific time period in which they are open
to looking at proposals. In my experience looking for filmmaking grants
you should not put your research on hold for now but should be actively
searching and getting to know the organizations and learning what,
exactly, they are look for.

Once you find the right fit they often have a number they are granting.
So you may have to revise your budget again to fit their grant.

Have you done any research at all on who is likely to offer grants for the
script you have? Does your theme match any group or organization that
offers grants for short films?
 
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