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Expense List for TV and Movie Productions

Every wondered why movies and TV show are so expensive to make? Or maybe you are considering pitching/producing a project and need a breakdown of what costs you might incur. For either of those scenarios, the following is a partial list of the many costs incurred on scripted television shows: PRE-PRODUCTION

LOCATION SCOUTS: TRANSPORTATION (PASSENGER VAN RENTAL, FUEL, DRIVER) MEALS

SET EXPENSES: CONSTRUCTION CREW AND SUPPLIES CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY TRANSPORTATION (BOX TRUCK, FUEL) FACILITY RENTAL SET DRESSING (FURNITURE, FIXTURES, PROPS) AND CREW

BUSINESS PERMITS

OFFICE SUPPLIES (DESKS & CHAIRS, PRINTERS, PHONES, PENS, PAPERCLIPS, FRIDGE AND SNACKS, PAPER, FIRST AID KIT, NOTEPADS, ETC., ETC., ETC.)

PRODUCTION

WARDROBE: COSTUMES COSTUME LABOR ALTERATIONS CLEANING / DYEING LOSS, DAMAGE, REPAIR BOX RENTALS RENTALS PURCHASES

MAKEUP AND HAIRDRESSING: KEY MAKEUP ARTIST ADDITIONAL MAKEUP ARTISTS SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP (PROSTHETICS) KEY HAIRSTYLIST ADDITIONAL HAIRSTYLISTS WIG AND HAIR PURCHASES WIG AND HAIR RENTAL BOX RENTALS RENTALS PURCHASES

CAMERA DEPARTMENT: DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA OPERATOR(S) CAMERA LOADER CAMERAS, LENSES, MEDIA (FILM/MEMORY CARDS), CABLE RENTALS, TRIPODS, ETC., ETC., ETC.

PRODUCTION SOUND: SOUND MIXER BOOM OPERATOR CABLEMEN / UTILITY SOUND PLAYBACK RENTALS – AUDIO/VIDEO RENTALS PURCHASES (SUCH AS SOUND STOCK/MEDIA)

TRANSPORTATION: COORDINATOR CAPTAIN CO-CAPTAIN STANDBY DRIVERS PARKING FUEL TRAILER/PUMPING/VEHICLE WASH MILEAGE/CAR ALLOWANCE DRIVERS MEAL MONEY

OTHER PRODUCTION CREW: PRODUCTION MANAGER AND COORDINATOR PRODUCTION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SCRIPT SUPERVISOR MESSENGERS/COURIERS SET SECURITY

LOCATION EXPENSES: SITE RENTAL FEES LOCATION MANAGER LOCATION STAFF PERSONNEL LOCATION SECURITY LOCATION POLICE LOCATION FIRE SAFETY OFFICER LOCATION MEDICAL LABOR LOCATION MEDICAL SUPPLIES

OTHER EXPENSES: EQUIPMENT LOSS, RENTAL, REPAIR BOX RENTALS (APPROVED REIMBURSEMENTS FOR PERSONAL EQUIPMENT USED BY EMPLOYEES, LIKE LAPTOPS) STANDBY VEHICLE RENTALS PICTURE VEHICLES AND CAR HAULING (IF APPLICABLE) CAMERA CAR CATERING EXPENSES

TALENT: AIRFARES HOTEL PER DIEM

POST PRODUCTION CREW: VIDEO EDITORS ASSISTANT EDITORS MUSIC EDITOR/DIALOG EDITOR/SOUND EFFECTS EDITOR SOUND MIXERS POST SOUND RECORDIST SOUND SUPERVISOR ADR RECORDIST FOLEY RECORDIST SOUND LAYBACK OPERATOR POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR POST PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

POST PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT: OFFLINE EDITING (EDITING SYSTEMS, OFFICE SPACE AND EQUIPMENT) TAPE STOCK DVD STOCK HARD DRIVES INSERT STAGE RENTAL

POST PRODUCTION SERVICES: ONLINE EDITING TAPE DUPLICATION DAILIES DISTRIBUTION FILM DEVELOPING / VIDEO PROCESSING SOUND AND PICTURE ARCHIVING COLOR CORRECTION VISUAL EFFECTS EDITING CLOSED CAPTIONING

MISC PURCHASES/RENTALS

OTHER CHARGES: LEGAL FEES PARKING VIDEO/AUDIO RENTAL CHARGES COMPUTER RENTALS INSURANCE PREMIUMS OFFICE EQUIPMENT RENTAL OTHER

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

PUBLICITY: CLIPS TAPE STOCK

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