1. Script Breakdown, Schedules & Budgets Producer’s Craft Spring 2009

2. Script Breakdown

4. Scheduling Deliver detailed, accurate budgets Deliver detailed, accurate budgets Let everyone know what’s needed Let everyone know what’s needed Where Where When When How long How long We know when pre-production starts We know when pre-production starts We know when the shoot starts and ends We know when the shoot starts and ends We know when post-production begins We know when post-production begins We know our deadlines, airdates, release dates, etc. We know our deadlines, airdates, release dates, etc.

5. Scheduling

6. Scheduling Pages Pages Eighths Eighths Screen time Screen time Number of actors Number of actors How many scenes? How many scenes? How many sequences? How many sequences? Hours/day, days/week Hours/day, days/week NUMBER OF SET UPS NUMBER OF SET UPS

7. Set-Ups Clear the set Clear the set Camera move/lens change Camera move/lens change Lighting changes Lighting changes Reset flags & clear flares Reset flags & clear flares Adjust dolly track Adjust dolly track Props & sets Props & sets Make-up & hair Make-up & hair Adjust wardrobe Adjust wardrobe Return talent to set Return talent to set Rehearsal Rehearsal Check continuity Check continuity Final adjustments Final adjustments Shoot performance Shoot performance Do it again! Do it again!

8. The Naming of Parts Length of shoot day Length of shoot day How long do you like to work? Have to work? How long do you like to work? Have to work? Script logic Script logic Where did that come from? Where did that come from? What’s really in the montage? What’s really in the montage? “They went to every store in town…” “They went to every store in town…” How many of what on screen? How many of what on screen? “The street was filled with bicycles.” “The street was filled with bicycles.” Setups per scene Setups per scene How do you think you might shoot it? How do you think you might shoot it?

9. Script Breakdown My Script

10. Script Breakdown Cast Cast Crew Crew Construction Construction Set dressing Set dressing Equipment Equipment Locations Locations Studios Studios Special effects Special effects Music Music Sound Sound Rigging Rigging Stunts Stunts Drivers Drivers vehicles vehicles 2 nd unit 2 nd unit Travel Travel Pre-light Pre-light Stand-ins Stand-ins Wardrobe Wardrobe Props Props Holidays Holidays Hiatus Hiatus Meal penalties Meal penalties Overtime Overtime Shipping Shipping Editorial Editorial Voiceover Voiceover ??? ???

11. Script Breakdown

15. Creating Schedules

18. Dedicated software like Showbiz Scheduling Dedicated software like Showbiz Scheduling Gantt charts Gantt charts Project planning software like Microsoft Project Project planning software like Microsoft Project Calendars and planners including computer- based calendar programs Calendars and planners including computer- based calendar programs Spreadsheets – create a simple x/y grid with the elements Spreadsheets – create a simple x/y grid with the elements The idea here is to create some kind of easily read visual representation of your timeline. The idea here is to create some kind of easily read visual representation of your timeline.

19. Creating Schedules

20. Documentary Who Who What What Where Where When When How How Why Why So what So what And then what… And then what…

21. Documentary Who or what are you shooting? Interviews? Action? Performance? How long will it take to set up your gear? How long will it take to shoot? What will be covered in the interview? “B” roll? Or are you covering an event or happening? Where are you shooting? Local or distant? Is travel required? How long will it take to get to location? How many cameras or units? Start by laying out out the narrative – the story – and how you plan to tell it. Of course, it will change, but you need to start somewhere.

22. Budgeting A budget is: A budget is: The operating plan for a particular production. The operating plan for a particular production. Your analysis of what this production will cost. Your analysis of what this production will cost. A best guess estimate until A best guess estimate until The director arrives The director arrives You start shooting You start shooting A single number (total) at the bottom of the top sheet. A single number (total) at the bottom of the top sheet. Everything that went into coming up with that total. Everything that went into coming up with that total. The line between what you can do and what you can’t do for this production. The line between what you can do and what you can’t do for this production.

23. Budgeting Paper, pencil, adding machine Paper, pencil, adding machine Spreadsheets Spreadsheets Dedicated budgeting software Dedicated budgeting software

24. Budgeting

32. The Business Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary Describe the project Describe the project The Company or organization The Company or organization Funding Requests & Budget Funding Requests & Budget Distribution plans Distribution plans Miscellaneous – anything else important Miscellaneous – anything else important Exhibits Exhibits

33. The Business Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary Describe the project Describe the project The Company or organization The Company or organization Funding Requests & Budget Funding Requests & Budget Business plan details Business plan details Distribution plans Distribution plans Miscellaneous – anything else important Miscellaneous – anything else important Exhibits Exhibits

34. Describe the Project Working title Working title Writers and credits (for narrative) or producer and credits (for documentary) Writers and credits (for narrative) or producer and credits (for documentary) Genre (for narrative) Genre (for narrative) Synopsis of screenplay or treatment Synopsis of screenplay or treatment Acquisition history if not original material Acquisition history if not original material Production information Production information Marketing and promotion Marketing and promotion Promotional themes Promotional themes Box office appeal (for theatrical release) Box office appeal (for theatrical release) Comparables Comparables Distribution Distribution Production company Production company

35. The Business Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary Describe the project Describe the project The Company or organization The Company or organization Funding Requests & Budget Funding Requests & Budget Distribution plans Distribution plans Miscellaneous – anything else important Miscellaneous – anything else important Exhibits Exhibits

36. The Business Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary Describe the project Describe the project The Company or organization The Company or organization Funding Requests & Budget Funding Requests & Budget Distribution plans Distribution plans Miscellaneous – anything else important Miscellaneous – anything else important Exhibits Exhibits

37. Funding Requests & Budget How do you plan to raise money? How do you plan to raise money? From whom? From whom? Nature of requests – investment, donation, grant request, etc. Nature of requests – investment, donation, grant request, etc. Who will be paid from this money and how much? Who will be paid from this money and how much? Payback terms – who gets what, when Payback terms – who gets what, when Profits, losses and how they’re divided Profits, losses and how they’re divided Budget top sheet Budget top sheet

38. The Business Plan Executive Summary Executive Summary Describe the project Describe the project The Company or organization The Company or organization Funding Requests & Budget Funding Requests & Budget Distribution plans Distribution plans Miscellaneous – anything else important Miscellaneous – anything else important Exhibits Exhibits