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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  Production budget/costs
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Baltis.
Posted: July 25th, 2009, 8:55pm Report to Moderator
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Picture the bidding war for movies the same as it would be for a general contractor for a building project.

They say they can wrap the movie up with 10 million  -- The contractor says he can wrap the construction up with 500,000.  

This means they can pay for everything and everyone.  Keep in mind, you often run over budget on both ends of the business and often have to reach back into the well... Meaning, you make less in the end.

Hope this helps.
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cloroxmartini
Posted: July 25th, 2009, 9:20pm Report to Moderator
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Lots of info online about film budgets.
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seamus19382
Posted: July 29th, 2009, 7:57am Report to Moderator
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Here's another one.  The Tolkien family is suing because they have yet to see a dime from the Lord Of The Rings movies.   Apparently they haven't turned a profit yet!

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/btm/?last_story=/ent/movies/btm/feature/2009/07/28/hobbit/
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Dreamscale
Posted: July 29th, 2009, 11:20am Report to Moderator
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That's very interersting, Seamus.  Unbeleivable how this shit goes down on a routine basis in Hollywood, isn't it?  $6 Billion in revenue and no profit.  Frankly, it really pisses me off.

Good find!
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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: July 29th, 2009, 11:34am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale
That's very interersting, Seamus.  Unbeleivable how this shit goes down on a routine basis in Hollywood, isn't it?  $6 Billion in revenue and no profit.  Frankly, it really pisses me off.

Good find!


It's shocking. The files are so complicated as well that you need to employ about 100 accountants just to be able to work out what's going on.

In other words, you have to risk a few million pounds in legal fees just to try and see if they are being unlawful. Unless you have very deep pockets you're up against it.
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grademan
Posted: July 29th, 2009, 11:38am Report to Moderator
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That's why all the musician's cry about the royalties system. SNAFU.
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sniper
Posted: July 29th, 2009, 11:43am Report to Moderator
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I remember Jim Thomas (one of the producer/writers of Predator) said in "the Making of Predator" documentary from 2001, that he had just gotten his first net point check from the studio - that was 14 years after the movie was released!

That movie had a budget of USD 15,000,000 and grossed just under USD 100,000,000.


Down in the hole / Jesus tries to crack a smile / Beneath another shovel load
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Ron Aberdeen
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 9:04am Report to Moderator
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The published figures regarding budgets mean as much as pond water.

The numbers are released by the producer or production company and can include or not include what ever they like.

They can include marketing costs but often as not, particularly for Indy Productions with a separate distribution deal, they will not.

The current production of my screenplay “The Darkness” has an initial budget of $4.5mil to produce the movie. The distributors, who are also one of the producers will bear the marketing costs but in doing so take a larger percentage of the pie, if it makes one.

Distribution of profits are based on a points basis agreed at the time of a contract, for example with the Director, lead actors (if included), DOP, writer, Exc. Producers, producers, etc ,etc.

The big chunk of the budget is used to pay the crew, location, writer’s fee, director and producer’s fees, travelling costs, insurance, lighting, film stock, editing and post.

Outside investors often make the largest return, but also take the greatest risk.

Remember the Gross Box-Office numbers are distorted by the percentage the cinemas make for showing the movie and that varies according to their location, first weekend, second weekend and so on, or the contracted price from the Studio if it is a Studio controlled project.

Distorting all the figures are the Tax Credits and Off Sets within a trading group on other movies.

Just an example, the original Richard Donner movie, The Omen cost $2.8mil to make and the marketing spend was $15mil. The marketing figure is not included as part of the budget because Twentieth Century-Fox Corporation were the distributors (who spent the $15mil) and Twentieth Century-Fox Productions were the producers.

The numbers are always massaged to suit the needs


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seamus19382
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 10:10am Report to Moderator
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SO when all is said and done, how much is going to cost you to have your screenplay produced?  
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Dreamscale
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 11:31am Report to Moderator
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Ron, this is good info, but not that clear.  Maybe that's just the nature of the beast, when it comes to budget and what exactly it means.

When you mention your screenplay "The Darkness", are you referring to the comic book story?  Has production begun yet?  Are we talking about a theatrical release, or DTV?

What is your info on the original Omen, based on?  I have the DVD, and I remember a special feature discussing the budget, etc, but it's packed away, as I'm moving very soon. I seem to remember something different.

Thanks for the info.
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Ron Aberdeen
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 12:55pm Report to Moderator
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Dream

The screenplay is one I wrote as an assignment for a UK producer / director in January 2006.

Shooting is scheduled for January 2010 and yes it has a theatrical and DVD distribution contract.

It is not based on any other story.

I understand if it is a successful film DreamWorks are interested in a follow up TV series.

The info on The Omen came from a TV documentary on British TV just before the release of the remake.


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Dreamscale
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 1:15pm Report to Moderator
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Sounds good, bud.  Best of luck to you with your project.  Are they sticking with the title?  I see there are a number of "The Darkness" out there already.

Take care.
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Andrew
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 2:36pm Report to Moderator
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Ron Aberdeen - now that's what I call a name.

Andrew


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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 2:52pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Ron Aberdeen
The published figures regarding budgets mean as much as pond water.

The numbers are released by the producer or production company and can include or not include what ever they like.

They can include marketing costs but often as not, particularly for Indy Productions with a separate distribution deal, they will not.

The current production of my screenplay “The Darkness” has an initial budget of $4.5mil to produce the movie. The distributors, who are also one of the producers will bear the marketing costs but in doing so take a larger percentage of the pie, if it makes one.

Distribution of profits are based on a points basis agreed at the time of a contract, for example with the Director, lead actors (if included), DOP, writer, Exc. Producers, producers, etc ,etc.

The big chunk of the budget is used to pay the crew, location, writer’s fee, director and producer’s fees, travelling costs, insurance, lighting, film stock, editing and post.

Outside investors often make the largest return, but also take the greatest risk.

Remember the Gross Box-Office numbers are distorted by the percentage the cinemas make for showing the movie and that varies according to their location, first weekend, second weekend and so on, or the contracted price from the Studio if it is a Studio controlled project.

Distorting all the figures are the Tax Credits and Off Sets within a trading group on other movies.

Just an example, the original Richard Donner movie, The Omen cost $2.8mil to make and the marketing spend was $15mil. The marketing figure is not included as part of the budget because Twentieth Century-Fox Corporation were the distributors (who spent the $15mil) and Twentieth Century-Fox Productions were the producers.

The numbers are always massaged to suit the needs


The Darkness sounds interesting. I'll look out for it.

"Signs meets Pitch Black" is the logline I came across. How close is that to the truth?

Anyway, I hope you stick around. I reckon your advice on marketing scripts would be invaluable for a lot of members.

Rick.

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Ron Aberdeen
Posted: July 30th, 2009, 6:17pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Scar Tissue Films


"Signs meets Pitch Black" is the logline I came across. How close is that to the truth?

Rick.



Family of four go on a vacation to Grandma’s remote cottage. When they wake in the morning there is no sunlight and it doesn’t return.

When the producer/director offered me the job, I asked him, “Why is there no sunlight”. He replied, “If you take the job it’s your problem to come up with a logical solution”.

Obviously I did.


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