Is the budget on a film mostly spent on paying people (crew and actors, etc)?

[skaros23]

Kind of a random question. When I get a chance to make a proper film, I want to be able to pay people.


I know it varies on each film, but is a huge chunk of a movie spent on paying people (actors, crew, etc)?

 

[Sweetie]

Yes, the majority of the budget is spent on people. It also depends on which way you look at it. Do you consider a script a people cost or an item? I tend to lean towards a person cost. What about SFX etc?

It does differ from film to film. There are financing costs that can run up a lot, and it also depends if you're adding P&A into the budget (not usually done, but on low budget productions, it sometimes gets written in for the backup plan).

 

[Scoopicman]

When I get a chance to make a proper film, I want to be able to pay people.

Okay, let's look at your film. Let's say you are paying everyone (cast/crew) $150 per day and that it is a 20 day shoot. I'm assuming you will have a skeleton crew:

director, cinematographer, gaffer, soundman and PA. That's $750 per day x 20 = $15,000.
Lead actor, actress, plus 3 supporting actors on an average day. X 20 days is also $15,000

You're up to 30K, before you factor in:
Caterer and food.
Sets and set builders
Costumes
Props
Gas and lodging
Equipment - do you already own or are you renting?
Do you need a makeup artist and supplies?
Insurance/permits
Post-Production:
Editor
CGI artist
Marketing/film festival costs.


Yes, paying people becomes a large part of an indie budget.

 

[Sage Pictures]

I want to be able to pay people.

++

Money well spent
(pick the right ones)

 

[jax_rox]

It depends on whether you classify paying a post house to do your post as paying the people in that facility, or the facility itself.
Even hear rental could be classed as paying a person if you take that to mean paying the wages of the guys who prepped your gear at the rental house...