Budgeting for Shorts
Date & Time
Location
Description
This workshop provides filmmakers a basic understanding of the budgeting process for short films. You’ll learn how to create a budgeting schedule and how to use it to develop a detailed line by line budget for your short. Students should bring a laptop and a finished short film script (max. 15 pages) for which we’ll create a breakdown and budget. The workshop is ideal for those wanting a realistic and accurate budget for fundraising or grant applications. There is a lunch break each day.
Day 1
- Introductions and skillset evaluation
- Budgeting basics – what does a budget look like?
- The difference between an AICP format and a film/TV budgeting format
- Budgeting software
- Payroll vs. invoicing; breaking down fringes and understanding minimum wage
- What does “most favored nations” mean?
- How to budget union rates
- Why is contingency important?
- How to create a budgeting schedule
- DOODs and one-liner
- Breakdowns
- Individual time to create a budgeting schedule for your project
- Present one another’s schedules and group review
- Understanding ATL and BTL production hierarchy
Day 2
- Review of Day 1 materials
- State and regional tax incentive basics (focus on Minnesota incentives) and why they’re important for budgeting
- Individual time to start creating your budget
- How does the budget change during pre-pro and production?
- Individual review session with instructor to polish and finalize your budget
Tuition
Instructor
Laura Fries
Laura Fries is an accomplished producer and AD with over 15 years of experience in TV and film. As a Korean adoptee, she is passionate about giving a voice to underrepresented communities. She currently works as a freelance producer, line producer, UPM, and AD, frequently collaborating with filmmakers who are interested in bringing projects to Minnesota.
Notable credits include: K-POP IDOLS for AppleTV+, BREAKING LIFE for the Olympic Channel, BOUNDARY WATERS indie feature, various award-winning short films, and commercial work for clients like Apple, Google, Target, 3M Scotchbrite, among others.
Prior to establishing her career as a producer and AD, Laura worked as an actor and stunt performer. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Laura is a proud member of the DGA, Television Academy, SAG | AFTRA, and AEA, and currently serves on the board of FilmNorth.
Class Registration Guidelines & Cancellation Policy
- Space is assigned on a first-come basis. Registrations must include payment in full. Registrations are accepted after registration deadlines if space is available.
- If minimum enrollment has not been reached by 7 days prior to the start date of a class, FilmNorth may cancel it, in which case registrants will immediately be notified and receive a full refund within 2 business days. A check will be issued for registrations that were paid in cash. In lieu of a refund, students have the option of applying their tuition to another class scheduled in the same calendar year.
- For those needing to cancel a registration at least 7 days prior to the first class session, 100% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. For registration cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the first class session, 50% of the tuition will be refunded minus a $25 administrative fee. As of 5:00 pm the day prior to the first class session, no refunds or credits/exchanges will be given (Friday at 5:00 pm for Sunday classes).
- Tuition is not prorated for missed class sessions.
- By registering for this class you are agreeing to our Community Values Statement.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding this class, please send us an email or call (651) 644-1912 ext. 2.