Those employed in the film business recognize how important it is usually to be acquainted with film budgeting, if not technically proficient. The confidentiality of film budgets makes it very difficult, even for working filmmakers, to obtain acquainted with film budgeting. (I have a true story within my book about a meeting that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where he wanted to understand specifics about the budget for his film - in spite of having been in the film business for over 30 years being an actor and budding director).
Learning about film budgets while on the task comes at the cost of hard knocks, expensive film budgeting software, and late-night self-training with a technical textbook (if you'll find one). In the 20 years that I've been employed in the film business, I have not shown a film budget to anyone but a select few insiders - Producers, Production Managers, Studios, Bonding Companies, etc. So, the experience of actual film budgets really is definitely an insider's privilege - which I'm about to open the doorway to for my readers. (Keep in your mind the figures shown are samples only. The figures are real enough, but are not drawn from my actual past/present/future film productions.)
Demi Rose just how can film students get acquainted with film budgets while they have enough time and opportunity? The only real colleges with film budgeting inside their syllabus (that I possibly could find after hours of internet searching) was a specialty course for Production Managers at the New York Film Academy, and through mentors at the American Film Institute (where I'm proud to say, elements of my book are now being utilized by a mentor there, who features a long record of producing films including a term as Vice President of Production at MGM).
The only real solution that I see for film students, and for working film crew, to obtain acquainted with film budgeting is to supply them with the data myself. But, what type of information, and at what level of detail?
The answer to that rhetorical question is - in as simple a structure as you can, yet still be effective. By effective, I show that any training in the area of film budgeting will in truth assist you to impress producers for anyone few film jobs, get your script into production, find financing, be rehired for more film contracts, be much more cost-effective cinematographers, etc. Also, the essential concept of translating creative ideas right into a budgeting process is new to the majority of people, especially those educated in film schools, to ensure that concept must certainly be presented first.
Film students don't have to become keen budget technicians. However, they do have to get enough experience of film budgets to know the fundamentals and to manage to communicate to film producers, film studios, bonding companies, banks, financiers, etc. in the exact same language as will be expected from professional filmmakers.
All the above is covered within my book, Walk The Talk. I have written a series of 7 free articles based on my book. They're written for the complete novice, so be patient if you've been already confronted with film budgeting.
There's a seventh article that may have been added for individuals who haven't been confronted with simple administrative procedures like petty cash, purchase orders, check requisitions, etc. Knowing how to utilize these forms will place you WAY out in front of the pack of job-hungry film students looking for those few film jobs. You'll need to buy my book at this link Walk The Talk to obtain that inside advantage.