Demystify Budgeting for Screen Productions
Learn how to build a budget that works — and why it matters. In this two-day Screen Budgeting Basics course, you’ll gain a practical introduction to the budgeting process for film, TV and digital screen productions. Designed for emerging creatives, producers, and crew, this in-person course guides you through the essentials of preparing, understanding and managing a screen budget from development to delivery.
Through hands-on exercises, group work, and real-world examples, you’ll explore the budgeting lifecycle, break down scripts and schedules, estimate costs, and get familiar with an industry-standard A-to-Z budget template. You’ll also unpack how financing sources like grants and the Producer Offset affect your budget lines.
Taught by experienced industry professionals, this course will help you build budgeting confidence and provide tools you can take straight into production.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
Break down a script and use a schedule to inform budgeting decisions.
Populate core sections of a screen budget, including Above-the-Line and selected Below-the-Line costs.
Recognise how different funding sources influence a production budget.
Is the Screen Budgeting Basics right for you?
This is a beginner-friendly course designed for anyone working in or entering the screen industry who wants to understand how budgets are created and managed.
This course is ideal for early-career producers and production managers; emerging screenwriters, directors, and creatives; film students or recent graduates; crew stepping into budgeting responsibilities; and anyone interested in learning how screen budgets work.
No prior budgeting experience is required, though a basic understanding of screen production processes will be helpful.
Course Requirements and Delivery
Screen Budgeting Basics is delivered in person over two full days (9:30am – 5:00pm). You will participate in a mix of lectures, group activities, and guided budgeting tasks using simplified budget templates and real-world examples.
All course materials will be provided. You may bring a laptop with MS Excel for in-class exercises.
Once enrolled, you will receive further instructions.
$550
$495 (10%)
Early bird price is automatically applied at checkout until 14 days prior to course start date.
Over 18 years
12
20
Meet Your Tutor
AFTRS short courses are taught by leading industry professionals.
Kirsty Stark
Kirsty Stark is an Emmy award winning producer whose screen credits include children's series First Day (8 international awards including…
Screen Budgeting Basics Offerings
Perth
$495
This is the standard course price including the early bird discount, as it is currently more than 14 days from commencement of the course.
2 Bradford StMount LawleyWA 6050
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This course is for students aged 18+ only.
If a student wishes to withdraw from a course, they may do so up to 15 days before the course commences and get a full refund. Cancellations 14 days or less before course commencement will incur a penalty.
AFTRS reserves the right to cancel any course for any reason at any time. In the event of a course being cancelled by AFTRS prior to commencement a 100% refund or credit note of the course fees paid will be provided.
Should AFTRS need to cancel a course after commencement, but before its completion, reasonable efforts will be made to reschedule. If rescheduling is not feasible, it is at AFTRS sole discretion to issue either full or partial credit notes depending on the circumstances.
AFTRS will make every effort to ensure the scheduled run of any course.
If you are planning to travel to attend a course, please confirm with AFTRS that the course is confirmed before you make your travel bookings. This decision is dependent on course enrolments meeting minimum numbers. AFTRS is not liable for any travel or accommodation costs incurred through course cancellation at any time for any reason.
Find out more information about discounts and refunds here.
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