Detailed Film Budget Service & Movie Magic Budgeting
Get a screenplay-based motion picture budget with a detailed top sheet, account-level cost detail, rates, fringes, assumptions, and production reports. We deliver in Movie Magic Budgeting or formula-driven Excel for US and international producers, investors, studios, and production-finance teams.
A Detailed Film Budget Service for Production & Financing
Our detailed film budget service gives independent producers, production companies, directors, studios, and film funds a screenplay-based production budget for financing, greenlighting, incentive review, and pre-production.
Broad estimates can hide the true cost of cast days, crew weeks, equipment, locations, travel, overtime, post-production, insurance, payroll, fringes, and contingency. Our movie budgeting workflow starts with the screenplay, breakdown, and shooting schedule so each major assumption can be reviewed, revised, and explained. Where relevant, the budget can reflect US union or non-union labor, regional rate assumptions, currency, and eligible production incentives.
FilmDrafts has handled more than $300 million in budgets across 200+ client projects. Because most client work is confidential, public examples are limited to approved film budget samples and permission-based case studies.
What Your Film Budget Includes
- ✓ Detailed Film Budget Top Sheet and Account Detail: Above-the-line, production, post-production, insurance, travel, delivery, contingency, and project-specific accounts, supported by the underlying line-item detail.
- ✓ Rates, Fringes, and Payroll Assumptions: Crew and cast rates, overtime, employer taxes, pension, health, payroll fees, and union or non-union assumptions where applicable.
- ✓ Location, Currency, and Incentive Modeling: Regional cost assumptions, exchange rates, and eligible incentive estimates can be integrated when the project and jurisdiction require them.
- ✓ Editable and Presentation-Ready Files: Movie Magic Budgeting or Excel source files, Movie Magic Scheduling when included, and clean PDF top-sheet and detail reports for review.
How the Film Budget Is Built
Movie Magic Budgeting Consulting
Many line producers, production accountants and financiers expect a Movie Magic Budgeting file. We build budgets natively in Movie Magic, with linked globals, fringes, groups and account detail that stay usable when the schedule changes. If your team works in spreadsheets, the same budget can be delivered as a formula-driven Excel file instead. If you already have a draft budget, we can review it against the script and schedule and identify missing accounts, unrealistic rates or assumptions that no longer match the shooting plan.
What to Send for a Budget Quote
- The current screenplay (PDF or Final Draft)
- Your target budget range, if you have one
- Intended shooting location and production territory
- Union or non-union plans for cast and crew
- Any known casting, schedule, incentive or delivery requirements
Not sure what your film should cost yet? Read how much it costs to make an independent movie, or compare options in who makes a film budget.
Film Budgeting Service FAQs
What is a film budget?
A film budget is an itemized financial plan for a film production, covering above-the-line, below-the-line, post-production, delivery, contingency, and other production costs.
What is included in a professional film budget?
A professional film budget includes a top sheet plus detailed account pages for above-the-line, production, post-production, insurance, travel, delivery, contingency, and other project-specific costs. It can also include rates, fringes, payroll assumptions, currency, and eligible incentives.
What is a pilot budget?
A preliminary film estimate is sometimes called a pilot budget. A TV pilot budget specifically covers a pilot episode. We define the project format, available script, schedule assumptions and estimate stage before preparing either document.
What is the difference between a rough estimate and a professional itemized film budget?
An early estimate uses the information available during development. A detailed film budget ties quantities, rates, payroll assumptions, rentals and logistics to a specific script and shooting schedule, with provisional items clearly identified.
Why does a script breakdown come before a film budget?
A breakdown is required first because locations, cast days, shoot days, stunts, extras, vehicles, props, equipment, night shoots, company moves, and post-production needs all affect cost. Without knowing these elements, an accurate budget cannot be built.
Why are script breakdown and scheduling necessary for a proper itemized film budget?
Without breakdown and scheduling, a budget can only be a broad estimate, not a production-ready budget. Scheduling dictates the number of shoot days, which directly drives payroll and equipment rental costs.
Why use Movie Magic Budgeting?
Movie Magic Budgeting provides an editable native .mbd file with linked globals, fringes, groups, and account detail. Many producers and production-finance teams use it because assumptions can be reviewed and revised without rebuilding the budget from scratch.
Is this service for a single feature film?
Yes. Our starting price of $395 is designed for a single feature film screenplay of up to 120 pages. If you have a TV series, commercial, documentary, or a multi-project slate, please apply for a custom quote.
How long does a professional film budget take?
Standard delivery is 7 to 14 business days depending on project complexity. Rush delivery is available upon request.
What files are delivered?
You will receive Movie Magic Budgeting (.mbd) files, Movie Magic Scheduling (.mms) files, Excel formats, and PDF reports.
Do you calculate local state and federal film tax credits?
Yes. Where a project qualifies, we can model relevant state, national, or regional film incentives and show their estimated effect on the production cost plan. Final eligibility and monetization should still be confirmed with the relevant film office, legal adviser, or tax-credit specialist.
How much does it cost to make a movie?
Movie production cost varies widely because the screenplay, cast, union framework, shooting days, locations, travel, equipment, effects, post-production, insurance, payroll burdens, and delivery requirements are different for every project. A script breakdown and schedule are the most reliable starting points for a detailed film budget.
Is FilmDrafts a film financing company?
No. FilmDrafts provides budgeting, scheduling, business-plan, investor-document, and financial-modeling services. We do not lend, invest, broker securities, or guarantee financing. Our deliverables can help producers present a clearer project to investors, lenders, sales agents, production partners, and film financing companies.