Indie Film Budget Template (printable)

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INDIE FEATURE BUDGET: DETAIL

Production

Field	Value
Production	SALT FLATS
Company	Dry Creek Pictures LLC
Budget version	Locked 9/25/2026 to the white schedule of 9/23/2026
Shoot	12 days, Mon 10/5 to Sat 10/17/2026, six-day weeks
Script	70 pages, 44 scenes, 9 locations in Kern County, CA
Cast	SAG-AFTRA Moderate Low Budget Agreement, minimums from 7/1/2026: $449 a day, $1,560 a week. 47 paid days from the DOOD, 6 stunt days.
Crew	Non-union. Day rates guarantee 10 hours; overtime allowance for hours 11 and 12.
Fringes	Crew and background 18% (example rate). Cast SAG-AFTRA pension and health 22% plus 18% payroll taxes and fees (example rate). Loan-outs 0%.
Prepared by	Rosa Delgado, line producer / UPM

Above the line (1000 series)

Acct	Description	Qty	Unit	Rate	Total
1100	STORY AND RIGHTS
1101	Screenplay purchase, writer (loan-out)	1	Flat	$9,000	$9,000
1102	Script clearance report	1	Flat	$1,580	$1,580
	Total 1100				$10,580
1200	PRODUCERS
1201	Producer fee (loan-out)	1	Flat	$15,000	$15,000
	Total 1200				$15,000
1300	DIRECTOR
1301	Director fee, prep through director's cut (loan-out)	1	Flat	$15,000	$15,000
	Total 1300				$15,000
1400	CAST AND STUNTS
1401	DELL (Marco Ybarra), weekly, 13 paid days per DOOD	2.6	Weeks	$1,560	$4,056
1402	JUNE (Tessa Quill), weekly, 14 paid days per DOOD	2.8	Weeks	$1,560	$4,368
1403	HOLLIS (Glenn Hardesty), daily, drop and pickup	5	Days	$449	$2,245
1404	MARISOL (Ana Lucero), daily	2	Days	$449	$898
1405	DEPUTY PACE (Curtis Vail), weekly, 9 paid days per DOOD	1.8	Weeks	$1,560	$2,808
1406	EARL (Ray Oberst), daily	2	Days	$449	$898
1407	NADIA (Priya Sandhu), daily	1	Days	$449	$449
1408	BEV (Donna Kell), daily	1	Days	$449	$449
1409	Cast overtime allowance	1	Allow	$1,000	$1,000
1410	Stunt coordinator, Day 10 rehearsal and Day 11	2	Days	$600	$1,200
1411	Stunt doubles, Dell and Hollis	4	Days	$449	$1,796
1412	Casting director (loan-out)	1	Flat	$5,000	$5,000
1413	Casting sessions, room and reader	1	Allow	$600	$600
	SAG-AFTRA pension and health, 22% of $20,167 payroll				$4,437
	Payroll taxes and fees, 18% of $20,167 payroll				$3,630
	Total 1400				$33,834
	TOTAL ABOVE THE LINE				$74,414

Production (2000 series)

Acct	Description	Qty	Unit	Rate	Total
2000	PRODUCTION STAFF
2001	Line producer / UPM, 9/14 to 10/23	6	Weeks	$1,750	$10,500
2002	Production coordinator, 5 prep and 12 shoot days	17	Days	$275	$4,675
2003	1st AD, 5 prep and 12 shoot days	17	Days	$440	$7,480
2004	2nd AD, 3 prep, 12 shoot, 2 wrap days	17	Days	$330	$5,610
2005	Script supervisor, 1 prep and 12 shoot days	13	Days	$330	$4,290
2006	Key set PA	12	Days	$220	$2,640
2007	Set PA	12	Days	$220	$2,640
2008	Set medic	12	Days	$275	$3,300
2009	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$6,865	$6,865
	Fringes, 18% of $48,000 payroll				$8,640
	Total 2000				$56,640
2100	BACKGROUND AND STAND-INS
2101	Background performers (6 on Day 4, 4 on Day 6)	10	Days	$200	$2,000
2102	Stand-ins, 2 x 4 days	8	Days	$220	$1,760
2103	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$490	$490
2104	Extras casting fee	1	Flat	$300	$300
	Fringes, 18% of $4,250 payroll				$765
	Total 2100				$5,315
2200	ART DEPARTMENT
2201	Production designer	4	Weeks	$1,500	$6,000
2202	Art department PA / set dresser	15	Days	$220	$3,300
2203	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$750	$750
2204	Set dressing, purchases and rentals	1	Allow	$4,000	$4,000
2205	Graphics (diner menus, motel signage)	1	Allow	$300	$300
2206	Box rental, production designer	5	Weeks	$100	$500
	Fringes, 18% of $10,050 payroll				$1,809
	Total 2200				$16,659
2300	CAMERA
2301	Director of photography, 3 prep and 12 shoot days	15	Days	$660	$9,900
2302	1st AC, 1 prep, 12 shoot, 1 wrap	14	Days	$385	$5,390
2303	2nd AC, 1 prep, 12 shoot, 1 wrap	14	Days	$275	$3,850
2304	DIT	12	Days	$330	$3,960
2305	B-camera operator, Day 11	1	Days	$550	$550
2306	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$5,550	$5,550
2307	A-camera package (VENICE 2, Supreme Primes, zoom)	2	Weeks	$4,500	$9,000
2308	B-camera body, Day 11	1	Days	$600	$600
2309	RAID shuttle and backup drives	1	Allow	$1,200	$1,200
2310	Camera expendables	1	Allow	$300	$300
	Fringes, 18% of $29,200 payroll				$5,256
	Total 2300				$45,556
2400	ELECTRIC AND GRIP
2401	Gaffer, tech scout, 12 shoot days, return	14	Days	$440	$6,160
2402	Key grip, tech scout, 12 shoot days, return	14	Days	$440	$6,160
2403	Best boy electric and generator operator	13	Days	$330	$4,290
2404	Best boy grip	13	Days	$330	$4,290
2405	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$5,050	$5,050
2406	G&E package on cube truck	2	Weeks	$2,500	$5,000
2407	Tow plant generator with fuel	12	Days	$125	$1,500
2408	Process trailer and car rig, Day 8	1	Days	$1,200	$1,200
2409	Expendables	1	Allow	$700	$700
	Fringes, 18% of $25,950 payroll				$4,671
	Total 2400				$39,021
2500	PRODUCTION SOUND
2501	Production sound mixer, 1 prep, 12 shoot, 1 wrap	14	Days	$440	$6,160
2502	Boom operator	12	Days	$275	$3,300
2503	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$2,340	$2,340
2504	Sound package, mixer's kit	12	Days	$250	$3,000
2505	Batteries and expendables	1	Allow	$300	$300
	Fringes, 18% of $11,800 payroll				$2,124
	Total 2500				$17,224
2600	LOCATIONS
2601	Location manager	5	Weeks	$1,500	$7,500
2602	Ruiz House, Oildale (Days 1 and 2)	1	Flat	$2,000	$2,000
2603	Hardesty Salvage (Days 3 and 4)	2	Days	$1,150	$2,300
2604	Tumbleweed Diner (Day 4)	1	Days	$1,200	$1,200
2605	Sundown Motor Inn (Days 5 and 6)	2	Days	$1,000	$2,000
2606	Gas station, Buttonwillow (Day 7)	1	Days	$800	$800
2607	Warehouse set, Bakersfield (Day 9)	1	Days	$1,000	$1,000
2608	Salt flats, private ranch (Days 10 and 11)	2	Days	$750	$1,500
2609	Orchard road, Shafter (Day 12)	1	Days	$400	$400
2610	Permits, Kern County and City of Bakersfield	1	Allow	$2,148	$2,148
2611	Catering, breakfast and lunch, 40 people x 12 days	480	Person-days	$20	$9,600
2612	Craft service	12	Days	$100	$1,200
2613	Security, overnight	4	Nights	$250	$1,000
	Fringes, 18% of $7,500 payroll				$1,350
	Total 2600				$33,998
2700	TRANSPORTATION
2701	Driver, Van 1	12	Days	$275	$3,300
2702	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$900	$900
2703	15-passenger van	2	Weeks	$650	$1,300
2704	Cargo van, art department	2	Weeks	$550	$1,100
2705	Picture vehicle, Dell's pickup	12	Days	$75	$900
2706	Picture vehicle, Hollis's tow truck	4	Days	$250	$1,000
2707	Picture vehicle, Pace's cruiser	2	Days	$300	$600
2708	Restroom trailer	12	Days	$150	$1,800
2709	Fuel	1	Allow	$1,500	$1,500
	Fringes, 18% of $4,200 payroll				$756
	Total 2700				$13,156
2800	PROPERTY
2801	Prop master	4	Weeks	$1,500	$6,000
2802	Props, purchases, rentals, and picture food	1	Allow	$1,500	$1,500
	Fringes, 18% of $6,000 payroll				$1,080
	Total 2800				$8,580
2900	WARDROBE, MAKEUP, AND HAIR
2901	Costume designer	4	Weeks	$1,500	$6,000
2902	Set costumer	13	Days	$220	$2,860
2903	Key hair and makeup	13	Days	$385	$5,005
2904	Hair and makeup assistant	12	Days	$220	$2,640
2905	Overtime allowance, hours 11 and 12 on shoot days	1	Allow	$2,745	$2,745
2906	Wardrobe purchases and rentals	1	Allow	$2,500	$2,500
2907	Cleaning and repairs	1	Allow	$300	$300
2908	Hair and makeup kit rental and supplies	1	Allow	$700	$700
	Fringes, 18% of $19,250 payroll				$3,465
	Total 2900				$26,215
	TOTAL PRODUCTION				$262,364

Post-production (3000 and 4000 series)

Acct	Description	Qty	Unit	Rate	Total
3100	EDITORIAL
3101	Editor, assembly from Day 1	10	Weeks	$1,200	$12,000
3102	Assistant editor	4	Weeks	$800	$3,200
3103	Edit system and storage	10	Weeks	$100	$1,000
	Fringes, 18% of $15,200 payroll				$2,736
	Total 3100				$18,936
3200	POST SOUND
3201	Sound edit, foley, and mix (flat bid)	1	Flat	$9,000	$9,000
3202	ADR session (Sc. 26)	1	Sessions	$500	$500
	Total 3200				$9,500
3300	MUSIC
3301	Composer package	1	Flat	$4,500	$4,500
3302	Song licenses, festival term	2	Songs	$750	$1,500
	Total 3300				$6,000
3400	VISUAL EFFECTS AND TITLES
3401	VFX cleanup (signs, rigs, sky)	1	Allow	$1,500	$1,500
3402	Main and end titles	1	Flat	$800	$800
	Total 3400				$2,300
4100	PICTURE FINISHING
4101	Color grade	4	Days	$650	$2,600
4102	Conform and online	1	Flat	$800	$800
	Total 4100				$3,400
4200	DELIVERABLES
4201	DCP	1	Each	$1,200	$1,200
4202	ProRes master, stereo and 5.1 stems, M&E	1	Allow	$800	$800
4203	Closed captions and SDH	1	Each	$700	$700
	Total 4200				$2,700
	TOTAL POST-PRODUCTION				$42,836

Other costs (5000 series)

Acct	Description	Qty	Unit	Rate	Total
5100	INSURANCE
5101	Production package (liability, equipment, property)	1	Policy	$6,000	$6,000
5102	E&O insurance, bound before delivery	1	Policy	$3,500	$3,500
	Total 5100				$9,500
5200	LEGAL
5201	Production counsel	1	Flat	$5,000	$5,000
	Total 5200				$5,000
5300	ACCOUNTING
5301	Production accountant / bookkeeper	7	Weeks	$500	$3,500
	Total 5300				$3,500
5400	TRAVEL AND LIVING
5401	Hotel, out-of-town crew (6 rooms x 16 nights) and cast (30 nights)	126	Room nights	$90	$11,340
5402	Per diem, crew, $40 per night away	96	Nights	$40	$3,840
5403	Mileage, LA round trips	6	Trips	$120	$720
5404	Airfare, Tessa Quill	1	Each	$400	$400
	Total 5400				$16,300
5500	OFFICE AND GENERAL
5501	Production office rental	5	Weeks	$300	$1,500
5502	Walkie-talkies, 20 radios	2	Weeks	$350	$700
5503	Phones, internet, printing, supplies	1	Allow	$1,000	$1,000
	Total 5500				$3,200
5600	FESTIVALS
5601	Festival submission fees	1	Allow	$1,000	$1,000
	Total 5600				$1,000
	TOTAL OTHER				$38,500

Budget totals

Line	Total
Total above the line	$74,414
Total production	$262,364
Total post-production	$42,836
Total other	$38,500
Total below the line (production, post, other)	$343,700
Total above and below the line	$418,114
Contingency, 9.3% of below the line	$31,886
GRAND TOTAL	$450,000

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