| This is my 20th year working in the film
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| | films including a term as Vice President
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| industry on over 40 film productions.
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| | of Production at MGM).The only solution
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| Throughout that time I have never met a
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| | that I see for film students, and for
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| new film school graduate who has a clue
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| | working film crew, to get familiar with
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| about handling the most important aspect
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| | film budgeting is to provide them with
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| of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had
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| | the information myself. But, what kind of
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| always assumed (wrongly, it turns out)
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| | information, and at what level of
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| that film students just weren't
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| | detail?The answer to that rhetorical
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| interested in knowing about film budgets.
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| | question is - in as simple a format as
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| However after a recent survey of film
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| | possible, yet still be effective. By
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| students at a reputable film college we
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| | effective, I mean that any training in
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| learned that film students DO intuitively
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| | the area of film budgeting will actually
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| understand that knowing the language of
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| | help you impress producers for those few
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| film budgeting is crucial to their
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| | film jobs, get your script into
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| careers in film. Surprisingly, over 80%
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| | production, find financing, be rehired
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| were enthusiastic about learning more
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| | for more film contracts, be more cost
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| about film budgeting!Here's what we
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| | effective cinematographers, etc. Also,
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| discovered from that survey (completed in
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| | the basic concept of translating creative
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| late September, 2005):1. Over 80% of film
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| | ideas into a budgeting process is new to
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| students are not only interested in
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| | most people, especially those educated in
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| learning more about budgeting for film
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| | film schools, so that concept should be
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| productions, they are emphatic about
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| | presented first.Film students don't need
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| it!2. In all cases, film students expect
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| | to become keen budget technicians.
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| to find information about film budgeting
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| | However, they DO need to get enough
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| from the internet, or as recommended
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| | exposure to film budgets to understand
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| reading from their professors.3. We also
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| | the fundamentals, and to be able to
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| learned that there are no references or
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| | communicate to film producers, film
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| books available to film schools or film
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| | studios, bonding companies, banks,
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| students on this very needed
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| | financiers, etc. in the same language as
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| subject.Those working in the film
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| | would be expected from professional
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| business recognize how important it is to
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| | filmmakers.All of the above is covered in
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| be familiar with film budgeting, if not
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| | my book, Walk The Talk. I have written a
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| technically proficient. The
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| | series of 7 free articles based on my
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| confidentiality of film budgets makes it
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| | book. They're written for the complete
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| extremely difficult, even for working
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| | novice, so be patient if you've already
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| filmmakers, to get familiar with film
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| | been exposed to film budgeting. You can
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| budgeting. (I have a true story in my
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| | sign-up, FREE, for 7 weeks of articles at
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| book about a meeting that I had with Ron
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| | .There is a seventh article that could
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| Howard in 1993 where he wanted to learn
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| | have been added for those who haven't
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| specifics about the budget for his film -
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| | been exposed to the simple administrative
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| in spite of having been in the film
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| | procedures like petty cash, purchase
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| business for over 30 years as an actor
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| | orders, check requisitions, etc. Knowing
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| and budding director).Learning about film
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| | how to use these forms will put you WAY
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| budgets while on-the-job comes at the
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| | out in front of the pack of job-hungry
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| expense of hard-knocks, expensive film
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| | film students looking for those few film
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| budgeting software and late night
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| | jobs. You'll need to buy my book at this
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| self-training with a technical textbook
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| | link Walk The Talk to get that inside
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| (if you can find one). In the 20 years
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| | advantage. (I have kept the price
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| that I've been working in the film
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| | affordable, specifically with students in
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| business, I have NEVER shown a film
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| | mind.)Here are the article
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| budget to anyone but a select few
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| | titles:1.MAKING IT! In Film Production2.
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| insiders - Producers, Production
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| | Introduction to Film Budgeting3.
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| Managers, Studios, Bonding Companies,
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| | Translating Creative Ideas Into the Film
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| etc. So, exposure to actual film budgets
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| | Budgeting Process4. Your Participation In
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| really is an insider's privilege - which
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| | Above-the-Line Budgeting5. Your
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| I am about to open the door to for my
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| | Participation In Below-the-Line
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| readers. (Keep in mind the figures shown
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| | Budgeting6. Your Report Card - Comparing
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| are samples only. The figures are real
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| | The Budget to Actual Costs7. Presentation
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| enough, but are not drawn from my actual
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| | of the Weekly Cost Report - It's As
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| past/present/future film productions.)How
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| | Important As the DailiesWhen you read my
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| can film students get familiar with film
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| | articles, print them out. Make your own
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| budgets while they have the time and
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| | examples. Reread them. Send me your
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| opportunity? The only colleges with film
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| | questions if you get stuck. You'll find
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| budgeting in their syllabus (that I could
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| | that you'll be way out in front of the
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| find after hours of internet searching)
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| | pack!(Copyright 2005 - John Gaskin)John
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| was in a specialty course for Production
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| | Gaskin opens the door to a confidential
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| Managers at the New York Film Academy,
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| | topic in the film industry -Film Budgets!
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| and through mentors at the American Film
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| | Learn the inside tips from a 20 year pro
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| Institute (where, I'm proud to say, parts
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| | of over 40 film projects all over the
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| of my book are being used by a mentor
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| | world.
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| there, who has a long record of producing
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|
