AV News 183 - February 2011
3. Travel - Maybe a number of journeys not only to shoot but also for
consultations, research, showing 'rushes' and keeping in touch with all
your sponsors and presenting the results.
4. Location expenses - (Lovely phrase, that) This may include lighting. If
you are at it all day then decide who pays for the meals. (Location
Catering?)
5. Phones, postage, printing - of scripts etc.
6. Insurance - Not just for equipment but, if you are in any way 'exposed',
consider also your wider liabilities. Arrangements are available for
photographers.
7. Post production - in most cases just means long hours at the computer.
But don't forget the costs that might be associated with sound recording.
If using music is there a copyright cost? And will there be charges for your
'voiceover'?
8. Contingency - If you have to produce a fixed budget in advance it is wise
to include say 5% for the unexpected.
Personally, while quoting a global figure I avoid publishing this breakdown.
People tend to 'pick' at it! For instance they might think they know a
cheaper way to cover item A but ignore the fact that you are giving them
a bargain on item B.
Copy Costs
1. Once you have finalised your master you need to make copies. I assume
that whatever you produce will, for general consumption, end up as a
DVD. Small runs could be done in house but for longer runs go to a
professional copyhouse and get a quote. You will be surprised at how the
unit price drops when you go for a big order. Remember to allow for
carriage of the completed bulk order.
2. DVDs need boxes and you can either get these direct from the copyhouse
or locally. Boxes need sleeves and the DVD itself ought to have an imprint.
The latter must be done at the time of the copying (usually free) but the
sleeve is something you could get done locally. For a proper job, both
need designing and you might need to pay for that unless your sponsors
can do it themselves. But you may still need to allow for the cost of the
paper copies.
So there you are and if you want to go down this route I am sure there will be
people near you who would value your skills.
In the above I have not included any costings for your own time, trouble,
experience etc. After all we do it for love, don't we? But there's no harm in
letting them know that none of the above helps to pay for your next holiday.
I attach an example of a budget, one which in fact did not happen, but it
shows all the items that need consideration. They wanted instead to go for
'a real film'. But when they heard the (much higher) cost of this, they dropped
the whole project. In fact, even as an AV, this sort of thing would have
needed an outside grant to cover at least part of the expenses.
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