Back to the Documentary Budget Template guide

DOCUMENTARY BUDGET

Production

FieldValue
TitleDRY WELLS (working title)
Format85-minute feature documentary, English and Spanish
SubjectTwo San Joaquin Valley towns after their wells go dry
Shoot18 days over 9 months, 6 trips of 3 days each
Field crewDirector, DP / camera operator, sound recordist, field producer and interpreter
Post18-week edit, archival licensing, composer, festival deliverables
Fringes (example rate)18% of payroll. Producer and director on loan-outs.
Contingency10% of below the line
  

Above the line (1000 series)

AcctDescriptionQtyUnitRateTotal
1100STORY AND RESEARCH
1101Researcher / archival producer6Weeks$1,000$6,000
1102County records and newspaper archive requests1Allow$150$150
1103Subject appearance releases (no payment to subjects)1Flat$0$0
Fringes, 18% of $6,000 payroll$1,080
Total 1100$7,230
1200PRODUCERS
1201Producer fee (loan-out)1Flat$8,000$8,000
Total 1200$8,000
1300DIRECTOR
1301Director fee, development through picture lock (loan-out)1Flat$10,000$10,000
Total 1300$10,000
TOTAL ABOVE THE LINE$25,230
      
      

Production (2000 series)

AcctDescriptionQtyUnitRateTotal
2000PRODUCTION STAFF
2001Field producer and interpreter (Spanish)18Days$350$6,300
2002Production assistant and driver8Days$250$2,000
Fringes, 18% of $8,300 payroll$1,494
Total 2000$9,794
2300CAMERA
2301Director of photography / camera operator18Days$650$11,700
2302Camera package (DP-owned)18Days$250$4,500
2303Drone operator with aircraft, licensed pilot1Days$900$900
2304Media and shuttle drives1Allow$1,800$1,800
Fringes, 18% of $11,700 payroll$2,106
Total 2300$21,006
2400ELECTRIC AND GRIP
2401Interview lighting kit18Days$60$1,080
Total 2400$1,080
2500PRODUCTION SOUND
2501Sound recordist16Days$500$8,000
2502Sound package with wireless lavs16Days$100$1,600
Fringes, 18% of $8,000 payroll$1,440
Total 2500$11,040
2600LOCATIONS
2601Meeting hall rental, group interview2Days$250$500
2602Permits and park fees1Allow$222$222
Total 2600$722
2700TRANSPORTATION
2701SUV rental20Days$70$1,400
2702Fuel1Allow$1,500$1,500
Total 2700$2,900
TOTAL PRODUCTION$46,542
      
      

Post-production (3000 and 4000 series)

AcctDescriptionQtyUnitRateTotal
3100EDITORIAL
3101Editor18Weeks$1,500$27,000
3102Assistant editor4Weeks$900$3,600
3103Edit system and storage18Weeks$75$1,350
3104Transcription and translation, Spanish interviews1Allow$1,800$1,800
Fringes, 18% of $30,600 payroll$5,508
Total 3100$39,258
3200POST SOUND
3201Sound edit and mix (flat bid)1Flat$7,000$7,000
Total 3200$7,000
3300MUSIC
3301Composer package1Flat$6,000$6,000
Total 3300$6,000
3400ARCHIVAL AND GRAPHICS
3401Archival news clips, festival plus 5-year all media6Clips$750$4,500
3402Archival photographs20Images$75$1,500
3403Motion graphics, maps and well data1Flat$2,500$2,500
Total 3400$8,500
4100PICTURE FINISHING
4101Color grade4Days$650$2,600
4102Conform and online1Flat$1,000$1,000
Total 4100$3,600
4200DELIVERABLES
4201Subtitles, English and Spanish2Files$900$1,800
4202DCP1Each$1,200$1,200
4203M&E and dialogue stems1Flat$1,000$1,000
Total 4200$4,000
TOTAL POST-PRODUCTION$68,358
      
      

Other costs (5000 series)

AcctDescriptionQtyUnitRateTotal
5100INSURANCE
5101Production package1Policy$3,500$3,500
5102E&O insurance1Policy$5,500$5,500
Total 5100$9,000
5200LEGAL
5201Clearance counsel, fair use review1Flat$5,000$5,000
5202Production counsel1Flat$2,000$2,000
Total 5200$7,000
5300ACCOUNTING
5301Bookkeeper12Months$150$1,800
Total 5300$1,800
5400TRAVEL AND LIVING
5401Hotel, crew of 350Room nights$100$5,000
5402Per diem, crew of 350Person-days$40$2,000
Total 5400$7,000
5600FESTIVALS
5601Festival submission fees1Allow$1,000$1,000
Total 5600$1,000
TOTAL OTHER$25,800
      
      

Budget totals

LineTotal
Total above the line$25,230
Total production$46,542
Total post-production$68,358
Total other$25,800
Total below the line$140,700
Total above and below the line$165,930
Contingency, 10% of below the line$14,070
GRAND TOTAL$180,000

Template by Storiara (storiara.com). Free to use and modify.