Pre-production budget

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  • Pre-production budget

    Who pays for the pre-production budget? Is the screen writer obligated to share this expense?

    Thanks,

    Joe

  • #2
    Re: pre-production budget

    I would think the only time that would be the case is when the writer is also taking on the role of producer.

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    • #3
      Re: Pre-production budget

      If it's a financed production, no, the production company/studio finances pre-production. That budget has nothing to do with the writer or the writer's fee unless the writer is financing the movie.
      "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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      • #4
        Re: Pre-production budget

        Originally posted by viejojoe View Post
        Who pays for the pre-production budget? Is the screen writer obligated to share this expense?

        Thanks,

        Joe
        Short answer: NO!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Pre-production budget

          Money flows *to* the writer.

          - Bill
          Free Script Tips:
          http://www.scriptsecrets.net

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          • #6
            Re: Pre-production budget

            The pre production budget is still part of the overall production budget and not separate correct? When you hear about films being in preproduction for 3 and 4 months that stuff has to cost a good amount of money. I imagine those below the line people aren't working for free.
            One must be fearless and tenacious when pursuing their dreams. If you don't, regret will be your reward.

            The Fiction Story Room

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            • #7
              Re: Pre-production budget

              A production budget should incorporate pre-prod, shooting and post-prod. If you are asked to cough up cash towards the "pre-production budget" - kindly tell the schmuck who has asked you for it to f*&k off.

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              • #8
                Re: Pre-production budget

                FWIW, when a film is financed, the budget typically covers all these:
                Story rights / script + Development + Legal / admin / accounting + Pre-production + Principal photography / production / CGI + Post production / music + Release print / inter-positive/negative / security back-ups + deliverable documentation.
                The writer doesn't pay for any of this. The only time a writer would put money in is if they had equity in the project which in turn usually only happens with writer/producers. There are exceptions to everything but the above is normal.
                "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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                • #9
                  Re: Pre-production budget

                  Originally posted by DavidK View Post
                  The only time a writer would put money in is if they had equity in the project which in turn usually only happens with writer/producers.
                  The problem is that there are probably some dubious 'production' companies which receive scripts and then reply "We'd love to move forward in this project with you as a producer (even if we haven't read the script). We'll meet half of the pre-production expenses and you pay for the other half. It will cost $X thousand. This is your chance to be great. This is the way the business works."

                  We know that 'you are only being billed half of our `standard` rates' is fiction.

                  We see people hurt by these kind of 'business' deals. We know that they claim that nobody else is complaining - not mentioning the little detail of the NDA that other 'business' partners are limited by.

                  When I see a relatively new poster asking the question I worry that they are close to being hurt by the people offering a 'deal'.

                  Mac
                  Last edited by Mac H.; 06-05-2011, 04:13 PM.
                  New blogposts:
                  *Followup - Seeking Investors in all the wrong places
                  *Preselling your film - Learning from the Experts
                  *Getting your indie film onto iTunes
                  *Case Study - Estimating Film profits

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                  • #10
                    Re: Pre-production budget

                    Originally posted by Mac H. View Post
                    "This is the way the business works."
                    chances are if somebody is telling you this is how the business works yet you still feel like this.....then you're being taken for a ride.
                    One must be fearless and tenacious when pursuing their dreams. If you don't, regret will be your reward.

                    The Fiction Story Room

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Pre-production budget

                      Originally posted by Mac H. View Post
                      The problem is that there are probably some dubious 'production' companies which receive scripts and then reply "We'd love to move forward in this project with you as a producer (even if we haven't read the script). We'll meet half of the pre-production expenses and you pay for the other half. It will cost $X thousand. This is your chance to be great. This is the way the business works."

                      We know that 'you are only being billed half of our `standard` rates' is fiction.

                      We see people hurt by these kind of 'business' deals. We know that they claim that nobody else is complaining - not mentioning the little detail of the NDA that other 'business' partners are limited by.

                      When I see a relatively new poster asking the question I worry that they are close to being hurt by the people offering a 'deal'.

                      Mac

                      Sound like anyone we know...say in Marina Del Rey?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Pre-production budget

                        Originally posted by Mac H. View Post
                        When I see a relatively new poster asking the question I worry that they are close to being hurt by the people offering a 'deal'.
                        Yes - ambition shouldn't cloud one's judgement and the same self-regulation should apply to this as for any investment. If a writer is contemplating exposing themselves to a high degree of risk in a film investment - and film investments are a risky as any - they should know exactly what they are letting themselves in for before parting with any cash. Films are not a good area to invest in on spec, quite the contrary.
                        "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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