Articles Comments

Announcements

Gotta’ Script You Want To Make Into A Feature Film?

December 13th, 2010 | Add a Comment

Gotta’ Script You Want To Make Into A Feature Film?

Are you are a writer or a director who realizes that you need a budget and preferably a schedule before walking into a pitch meeting…? So your script is finally finished, you’re embarking on the next exciting phase of making your movie. There are many ways to negotiate a script, yet nearly all of them require that an expert in film production has first derived a budget and a preliminary schedule. Without these all-important “blueprints” distributors and … Read entire article »

Headline

Budgeting techniques and strategies for the professional DSLR video shooter

August 2nd, 2011 | 1 Comment

Budgeting techniques and strategies for the professional DSLR video shooter

Micro-Budgeting Class for the DSLR Director/Producer Learn how to analyze and breakdown storyboards, create an accurate film budget along with a well-designed shooting schedule.  Knowing how to craft a professional budget and schedule ensures you will always be in the running to be awarded the top jobs and protects your profit margin once you are in production.Whether you are shooting corporate or commercial advertisements, festival shorts or feature films, you need a water-tight budget and schedule … Read entire article »

Latest

Film Budgeting Software – There is no magic pill

Film Budgeting Software – There is no magic pill

Budgeting Software “There Is No Magic Pill”   By Keith S. Payson – Line Producer, UPM, 1st AD   “There is very little in this life more valuable than ones years of accumulated experience and the harvest of knowledge gained.  To thoughtfully, carefully and lovingly turn ones artful passion into a refined craft and earn the respect of ones peers in the process…. that is … Read entire article »

Are you a Screenwriter? [Keith wants to know]

Are you a talented up and coming screenwriter who currently feels a bit perplexed, unsure how to navigate the marketplace yet highly determined to do so… I might be able to help. If you’re willing to answer a few questions so that I can understand your specific needs, I’d be more than happy to supply you with helpful information explaining how to take the next step. Whether you want to sell your screenplay outright, co-produce it, or become a writer/director you will still need to start at the same place… by developing a business plan. Click on the survey button below and provide a few short answers so that I will be able to give you specific … Read entire article »

Film Budget, and Film Production Services

Film Budget, and Film Production Services

Here is a brief description of the typical needs my clients’ present me with and the services I usually then provide them, which are many and quite varied. They include: preliminary production consultation, script analysis and script breakdowns, budgeting, scheduling and of course in many cases complete line producing or executive producing services. The meticulous and detailed work I do … Read entire article »

Free Film Budget Notes

Free Film Budget Notes

If you are a fellow UPM or Line Producer, this bit of free film budget software might give you a headache instead of lighten your reminder load. It might however give you some light entertainment to wind up your production coordinator – if you pass it on as a useful reminder software. It’s a screensaver, upon being idle at your … Read entire article »

Protected: Are You Looking for a Film Producer

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. … Read entire article »

Gotta’ Script You Want To Make Into A Feature Film?

Gotta’ Script You Want To Make Into A Feature Film?

Are you are a writer or a director who realizes that you need a budget and preferably a schedule before walking into a pitch meeting…? So your script is finally finished, you’re embarking on the next exciting phase of making your movie. There are many ways to negotiate a script, yet nearly all of them require that an expert in film production … Read entire article »

The Hollywood Blacklist Screenwriters Want To Be On

The Hollywood Blacklist Screenwriters Want To Be On

I’ve just seen the “Black List.” Talk about diversity in Hollywood. Hard to imagine a more disparate range of storylines, character arcs or genres or for that matter risk levels in prospective film production projects. It makes me wonder just how much wisdom and safety there is in, “going with the trend.” Actually, it makes me a more ardent … Read entire article »

What is a Film Budget?

What is a Film Budget?

What Is A Film Budget? What is a film budget?  I suppose I should first tell you what in a generalized sense a budget is and why most people haven’t got a clue how to establish or read one – let alone commit to abiding by one.  Yes, that’s right I used the word commit, because that’s what a budget is, … Read entire article »

Big Film Budget SFX vs Low Budget Animation

Big Film Budget SFX vs Low Budget Animation

I recently watched multimillion dollar budget film Avatar again, this time in 3D and was quite impressed with the highly stylized technical proficiency achieved.  The current methods used for marrying live-action with animation are truly magnificent.  I was particularly surprised with the level of nuanced emotion expressed through gesture, facial muscle movement and eye contact.  The characters were able to … Read entire article »