How do you budget a production documentary?

How do you budget a production documentary?

How To Create An Accurate Documentary Budget (Top 9 Do’s and Don’ts)

1. Make a Treatment for Your Film.
2. Create a Production and Post Production Timeline.
3. Talk to Potential Crew Members and Vendors.
4. Don’t Fudge Your Numbers.
5. Get Clear On Your “Wish List”
6. Use a Professional Budgeting Template.
7. Budget For Contingencies.

How much is a documentary budget?

As a general rule of thumb, producers assume an average cost of $1,000 per finished minute for a short film. So, if you’re planning a documentary that is in the estimated length of 30 minutes, you can potentially anticipate an expense of $30K.

How much does it cost to produce a short documentary?

For documentary film-making at the lowest-budget level, ‘$1000 per finished minute’ is the cheapest starting point for costing. We recommend using $2000 – $4000 per finished minute as a beginning point or ball park. And you should expect that even a ‘simple film’ may cost more.

How much does it cost to make a 1 hour documentary?

In 2011/12, the average cost per hour for a single documentary title hit a record high of $742,042 (in 2020 dollars), up 44 per cent on 2010/11, boosted by a small number of titles with very high budgets. In 2019/20, the cost per hour for both single and series titles was up on the previous year.

How much should I charge for editing a documentary?

But a standard for some people is $100 dollars per minute…of the finished product. For example, a flat rate for a five minute video would be $500.00. Or a flat rate for a 10 minute short film would be $1,000.00. Additional costs to keep in mind are stock photos, stock images, music, etc.

How do you fund a documentary?

10 Documentary Funding Ideas

1. Self-Funding. Savings, credit cards, personal loans and 401K’s.
2. Friends and Family. This documentary funding idea is a very real option for many first-time filmmakers.
3. Email or Text Campaign.
4. Wealthy Individuals.
5. Get THAT Person Talking.
6. Filmmaking Grants.
7. Crowdfunding.
8. Special Events.

How much do documentary producers make?

Salary Ranges for Documentary Film Producers The salaries of Documentary Film Producers in the US range from $41,600 to $62,400 , with a median salary of $52,000 . The middle 67% of Documentary Film Producers makes $52,000, with the top 67% making $62,400.

How do you charge for video production?

Video Production Price List

1. Project management and coordination: $25 to $250 an hour.
2. Script development: $50 to $150 an hour.
3. On-screen or voice-over talent: $55 to $500 an hour.
4. Supplemental visuals: 15% to 50% of total video production budget.
5. Special effects: $65 to $300 an hour.
6. Location costs: $95 to $400 an hour.

How do you sell a documentary?

5 Tips for Selling Your Indie Documentary

1. From day one, Know your audience and build awareness.
2. Apply for a doc grant or program, and/or attach a notable executive producer.
3. Get a sales agent.
4. Find the Festival where you can stand out.
5. Go with the distributor you can trust.

Are documentaries profitable?

As a general rule, documentaries are not big money makers unless you’re Michael Moore. Of course there are always exceptions, but depending on your subject, there usually is simply not the mass audience for documentaries like there is with fiction films.

What is a production fee?

Production Fees means costs in the case of courses necessitates production work in a studio / theatre/ performance venue can be claimed as part of the tuition fees and has to be indicated in the Unconditional Letter of Acceptance.

How much does the average documentary make?

The average Documentary Film Producer in the US makes $52,000. Documentary Film Producers make the most in New York, NY at $52,000, averaging total compensation 0% greater than the US average.

How do you plan a documentary?

Key Steps to Making Documentaries:

1. Tell a story you care about. Start with a subject that excites you.
2. Research. Learn everything you can about your documentary subject.
3. Make a Plan. Create an outline.
4. Create a Shot List.
5. Start Shooting.
6. Write a Script.
7. Begin Editing.
8. Check Legal and Copyright Issues.

How are documentaries funded?

Grants come from many sources: established institutions that support documentary filmmakers (Sundance Documentary Fund, Ford Foundation); government bodies that support the arts (City and State councils on the arts; Federal arts grants from bodies like the NEH); non-‐profits that support a film because it explores an …