Professional Film/Video Budgeting

Understanding how budgets are written will make you a more knowledgeable filmmaker, whether you are an aspiring producer/production manager or a technician or a creative. This class is for anyone who wants to understand the foundational art of budgeting and getting a project made successfully...so that you are set up to make the next one! Whether you are producing a commercial, documentary, corporate video, or feature film, this class can show you how to break down a project and build the budgets you need to win over clients, fundraise, and spend money wisely. We will break out the bag of producer's tricks and show you how it is done. You will get access to links and resources which will help you understand the producer's path, as well as engage in energetic discussions about some of the more controversial topics which producers engage behind the scenes.
Topics covered:

• Understanding the Five Mountains of Any Film Project
• Above the Line/Below the Line- Working with Agencies
• Working with Unions- Creative Briefs & Scripts
• Project Breakdowns
• Relationship between Scheduling & Budgeting

• Software Options
• Fun with Payroll
• Paperwork, Schmaperwork
• Budget Structure
• How Much Do Things (and People) Cost?
• Cost Analysis

Class Size

To ensure a positive class experience, this class is limited to only 20 participants.

Location

This class will be held in-person in Boulder, Colorado; location will be confirmed shortly.

Taught By Industry Pros

This is a unique opportunity to learn practical budgeting skills from an award-winning filmmaker with over two decades of professional experience in film and video production.

Beef Up Your Resumé

Each participant will receive a certificate from the Boulder County Film Commission upon completion of the class.

Make Industry Connections through the Boulder County Film Commission

Meet and connect with leaders in the Colorado film/video industry who run successful businesses that hire and recommend crew throughout the year.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with set life and with common film terminology used during production will help you to get the most from this class. This class is best suited to filmmakers who have brought at least 2-3 projects through all five phases of filmmaking (development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution) and want to sharpen their skills and level up their budgeting game to take on larger projects.

Cost

The class is $119 for a limited time. Please be aware that due to using Eventbrite, refunds are very difficult for us to process, so PLEASE be sure you definitely want to take the class before signing up and paying, as no refunds will be given.

Meryem Ersoz is an award-winning filmmaker who has worked in the Colorado film industry for over twenty years, first as a cinematographer and eventually as a producer. As a cinematographer, she shot for Nat Geo, NOVA, Vice, CNN, Discovery Channel, and many others. As a producer, she has produced eight feature films in addition to countless commercial projects and documentaries. She also currently manages Blackwing ASL, Colorado’s premiere pursuit vehicle company. She is one of the founding board members of Women in Film and Media in Colorado (WIFMCO) and has worked tirelessly to help promote the visibility of women working in the technical arts. She has also taught budgeting and scheduling to the next generation of filmmakers in CCA's Cinematic Arts program.

The instructor for this class is Meryem Ersoz, an award-winning filmmaker who has worked in the Colorado film industry for over twenty years.

Photo of our recent "Producing Reality TV" class, taught by producer Tim McOsker at Citizen Pictures in Boulder.

Photo from our recent "Advanced P.A. Masterclass", taught by DP Fredo Jones and Gaffer Austin Michaels at LSP Studios (La Storia Productions).

Host or Publisher Boulder County Film Commission