This article was written by Sid Kali.

“There are first time filmmakers that never get a movie off the ground because they put together an unrealistic “dream budget.” What I mean by a “dream budget” is a budget based on what a filmmaker wishes they had to spend as opposed to what they can spend.”

Read the rest of this article from Screen Writing Basics.

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“Script Breakdown & Film Scheduling Workshop”

As a film or TV director, one of the most important aspects of your job is to understand the film schedule.

Before you can create an accurate budget (time and money) for your film, you need an experienced AD or PM to break your script down and prepare a shooting schedule.

This “one liner” enables you to discover the total number of “real” shooting days, find out how many locations you have and generate a cast Day-Out-Of-Days.

A properly designed shooting schedule is fundamental to your directing process. Without an experienced Production Manager or Assistant Director to prepare this board, you will have an unrealistic budget which will have a negative impact on your entire production.

If you are a Directors Guild of Canada (BC) member and you live in Vancouver, I will be presenting my 2 day “Script Breakdown & Film Scheduling Workshop” on November 22 & 23, 2008.

For more information on how to register for this course, contact the Vancouver DGC office at (604) 688-2976. (This 2-day workshop is only available to DGC(BC) members.)

Walk The Talk means know how to ‘Direct’ the money – if you control the money, you control your career.

Every director should really understand the budget and learn the basics of film budgeting and cost reporting. You need to know this because then you know where you can take out things from the budget you don’t want (or can live without) so you can add things you do want.

I’m going to recommend a great resource on film budgeting for you. It’s a website and a book called “Walk the Talk“ by John Gaskin. His book is written in an easy reading style at a level appropriate for film students and crew who want to upgrade. It is also useful for Directors and new Producers who want some help with the basics of budgeting.

Also, here is an article John wrote called Film Directors – Direct the Money

MAKING IT in Film Production! by John Gaskin

Whether you are, or want to become, a film director, or already work in some capacity in film production of any kind, this article will help you make it!

Why aren’t there more AD’s becoming Film Directors, graduating Film Students becoming filmmakers, Film Crew becoming Line Producers? Why aren’t more crew reaching the level of Department Head? Why aren’t more film school students finding work? I’m sure there are lots of reasons, but take a quiet moment to really look. Let’s see…. It’s not competence – most crew disappear pretty quickly if they’re slow witted and incompetent. Film students who graduate have shown they’re pretty smart. It’s not a lack of drive – again, for the same reasons. Wouldn’t you agree that the biggest hurdle is getting the opportunity? Well, that’s true and not true. The biggest hurdle is MAKING the opportunity.

Click Here to read entire article

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Want to Learn More Film and Television Directing Tips and Techniques? Check out Peter D. Marshall’s 2008 multi-media reference guide for filmmakers, “The Art and Craft of the Director 10-Day Audio Seminar“ – a 162 page eBook packed full of insider film directing tips and tools supported by over 500 film making reference links, 26 mp3 audio files, 28 video links and 23 pdf special reports all designed to help you become a successful, working film and television director.
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