Back to the Film Budget Template guide

FILM BUDGET: CHART OF ACCOUNTS

Production and assumptions

FieldValue
ProductionSALT FLATS
CompanyDry Creek Pictures LLC
Budget versionLocked 9/25/2026 to the white schedule of 9/23/2026
Schedule3 weeks prep, 12 shoot days (Mon 10/5 to Sat 10/17, six-day weeks), 1 week wrap, 10 weeks edit
LocationsBakersfield and Kern County, CA
Crew dealsDay rates guarantee 10 hours. Overtime allowance covers hours 11 and 12 on shoot days.
CastSAG-AFTRA Moderate Low Budget Agreement minimums from 7/1/2026: $449 a day, $1,560 a week. 47 paid days from the day out of days, plus 6 stunt days. Dell, June, and Pace weekly; everyone else daily.
Fringe ratesCrew 18% (example rate). Cast: SAG-AFTRA pension and health 22%, plus 18% payroll taxes and fees (example rate). Loan-outs carry no fringe.
Contingency$31,886, the balance to $450,000 (9.3% of below the line)
Prepared byRosa Delgado, line producer
  
  

Above the line (1000 series)

AcctAccountWhat goes in itLaborFringesOther costsTotal
1100Story and rightsScreenplay purchase or option, writer fees, clearance report$0$0$10,580$10,580
1200ProducersProducer, executive producer, co-producer fees$0$0$15,000$15,000
1300DirectorDirector's fee for prep, shoot, and cut$0$0$15,000$15,000
1400Cast and stuntsPrincipal cast, day players, stunts, casting director, casting costs$20,167$8,067$5,600$33,834
TOTAL ABOVE THE LINE$20,167$8,067$46,180$74,414
       
       

Production (2000 series)

AcctAccountWhat goes in itLaborFringesOther costsTotal
2000Production staffUPM or line producer, coordinator, ADs, script supervisor, PAs, set medic$48,000$8,640$0$56,640
2100Background and stand-insBackground performers, stand-ins, extras casting$4,250$765$300$5,315
2200Art departmentProduction designer, art PA, set dressing, graphics, box rental$10,050$1,809$4,800$16,659
2300CameraDP, camera crew, DIT, camera packages, drives$29,200$5,256$11,100$45,556
2400Electric and gripGaffer, key grip, best boys, G&E package, generator, process trailer$25,950$4,671$8,400$39,021
2500Production soundMixer, boom, sound package, batteries$11,800$2,124$3,300$17,224
2600LocationsLocation manager, location fees, permits, catering, security$7,500$1,350$25,148$33,998
2700TransportationDriver, vans, picture vehicles, restroom trailer, fuel$4,200$756$8,200$13,156
2800PropertyProp master, props, picture food$6,000$1,080$1,500$8,580
2900Wardrobe, makeup, and hairCostume designer, costumer, hair and makeup, purchases, kits$19,250$3,465$3,500$26,215
TOTAL PRODUCTION$166,200$29,916$66,248$262,364
       
       

Post-production (3000 and 4000 series)

AcctAccountWhat goes in itLaborFringesOther costsTotal
3100EditorialEditor, assistant editor, edit system$15,200$2,736$1,000$18,936
3200Post soundSound editorial, foley, ADR, mix$0$0$9,500$9,500
3300MusicComposer, song licenses$0$0$6,000$6,000
3400Visual effects and titlesVFX cleanup, titles$0$0$2,300$2,300
4100Picture finishingColor, conform, online$0$0$3,400$3,400
4200DeliverablesDCP, masters, stems, captions$0$0$2,700$2,700
TOTAL POST-PRODUCTION$15,200$2,736$24,900$42,836
       
       

Other costs (5000 series)

AcctAccountWhat goes in itLaborFringesOther costsTotal
5100InsuranceProduction package, E&O$0$0$9,500$9,500
5200LegalProduction counsel$0$0$5,000$5,000
5300AccountingAccountant or bookkeeper$0$0$3,500$3,500
5400Travel and livingHotel, per diem, mileage, airfare$0$0$16,300$16,300
5500Office and generalOffice, walkies, phones, supplies$0$0$3,200$3,200
5600FestivalsFestival submission fees$0$0$1,000$1,000
TOTAL OTHER$0$0$38,500$38,500
       
       

Totals

LineTotal
Total below the line$343,700
Total above and below the line$418,114
Contingency, 9.3% of below the line$31,886
GRAND TOTAL$450,000

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