"I feel enabled as a creative. I understand the essential magic formulas of QAPE and QAPEability. I had no idea that I was going to learn so much from this short course, and part of that was the teacher’s willingness to answer all the questions from everyone.”
- Previous participant
Behind the scenes of 'The Greenhouse' | Directed by Thomas Wilson-White | Photo: Jack Baxter
Understand the fundamentals of a screen budget
Demystify the budgeting process and build practical skills and knowledge to help you produce your own screen project budgets. In this online Budgeting Fundamentals course, you will spend six weeks understanding the principles of a film and television budget while guiding you through the industry-standard A-to-Z budget template.
Covering the producer’s offset, scheduling, above and below-the-line costings, finance plans and funding, gain skills and resources that you can use towards a variety of screen projects and be equipped to step up in the production office.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
Examine above and below-the-line costs and when they apply.
Calculate costs for an A-to-Z budget for different screen formats, incorporating schedules, contingencies and rates of pay.
Identify methods of financing and funding, including the impact and application of the producer’s offset.
Is Budgeting Fundamentals right for you?
Budgeting Fundamentals is an introductory course for people who are or recently have worked on screen productions. It is expected that students entering this course are able to understand basic tv and film production techniques and processes.
This course is ideal for producers, production assistants and coordinators, and screen practitioners looking to upskill in screen finance basics and step up in the production office. It is also an ideal introduction to budgeting for producers and filmmakers who are developing independent screen projects and need to do an initial budget as part of a pitch, funding application or similar.
This course will not teach you everything you need to do a full series or feature film budget.
Course Requirements and Delivery
Budgeting Fundamentals is an online course that consists of 2 x Zoom sessions per week across 6 weeks and 2 hours of self-directed learning per week with readings, template resources and brief exercises.
You will need access to a desktop or laptop computer with a camera, sound and a reliable internet connection for the evening Zoom sessions.
Course Fee: $750 (pricing subject to change, please check enrolment form)
Early bird and other discounts available – learn more.
Meet Your Tutor
AFTRS short courses are taught by leading industry professionals.
Bridget Callow-Wright
Bridget is an award-winning screen producer specializing in scripted narrative film and television. With an extensive network of international and…
Further Reading
Link to
Bridging Creativity and Practicality: The Crucial Role of a Budget
We spoke with Judith Lanigan, who recently completed the Budgeting Fundamentals course, to explore her insights and takeaways. Judith’s creative expertise spans from experienced circus and street theatre stunt performer to set and costume designer and writer. She delves into what inspired her to take the course, how it complemented her skills, and the impact it has had on her approach to the screen industry.
Register your interest to stay up-to-date on future offerings, application or enrolment dates, and more information on this course.
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 about discounts and refunds here.
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