The Budget – The Above-The-Line – The Cast
In the last article, we talked about the different ways one approaches putting a budget together. In this article, I will talk about how a line producer determines the budget for the hardest above-the-line talent: the Cast.
First, you need to determine a perfect, realistic schedule. Inevitably, this will not be the final schedule. Many things may change between this point and when the film is shot: script changes, actor availability, location availability, solutions to problems you haven’t come up with, etc. For now, assume this will be the schedule, important for both above and below-the line.
You will use this schedule to help you determine how long you will need each actor. Build in travel dates, as well as any paid rehearsals. You will not be able to shoot out every actor is the most efficient amount of time. You will find once you start to play with the schedule that if you shoot one actor out in the shortest amount of time, another will be taking two weeks to shoot out five days.
What to do? My suggestion is to hire the leads for the longest time that you can afford. As they will be in most of your film, they will need to be the most flexible. Then try to shoot out the biggest, supporting players in the shortest period possible. This will be clearer once you have done a budget.
At this point, let’s talk a little about union contracts. Many independent filmmakers feel very threatened when they hear the term union. In fact, it has been my experience that all of the unions can be reasonable, given the size of your budget.
This brings us to the issue of actors, who are covered under the Screen Actor Guild (SAG) agreement. Many people do not realize that the Screen Actors Guild has many contracts to accommodate any budget. According to budget, the basic ones you will deal with go as follows:
Experimental Contract: Usually under $75,000 and usually given just to shorts, though some features qualify. Payment can be made as a deferment until after money is recouped.
Modified Low Budget Contract: Budgets under $500,000. Day rate is approximately $248 a day, or $864 a week for a five-day week. Under both these contracts you are allowed to use non-union extras. Under both budgets, work on a Saturday or Sunday is no extra.
Low budget contract: Budgets under $1.8 million - $2 million (it is currently changing). Some requirements under higher budgets are waived.
Latest Articles