Still, double checking the work will be far less time-consuming than manually inputting everything from zero. Final Draft Tagger is not perfect, however, so you definitely want to go in and double check all the work. That’s a WHOLE LOT LESS information that you now need to add in manually.
You can, of course, build the breakdown sheets from scratch, but Final Draft Tagger imports all of the information already available (such as sluglines, INT/EXT, Day/Night, Page Counts, etc) directly into scheduling.
#MOVIE MAGIC BUDGETING TUTORIAL MOVIE#
Final Draft Tagger basically lets you prepare an fdx file to import into Movie Magic Scheduling.
#MOVIE MAGIC BUDGETING TUTORIAL SOFTWARE#
If you own Final Draft, it also comes with a free software called Final Draft Tagger. However, there is an infinitely easier and faster way (and in my opinion, more efficient way as well). It’s important to note that in the old days, people broke down scripts using pens, highlighters and a lot of paper, so you can really use whatever technology you have available. Keep in mind that after this, your schedule and all of your breakdowns will be based on this script numbering, so make sure it’s properly done! Now just save a new fdx file! Next Stop: Final Draft Tagger
This is one of the most important first steps. Once all the sluglines look good, I make sure to number the script. The more you catch these details in the script, the better prepared you’ll be when scheduling, and ultimately when budgeting. In that case, I’ll make sure the script details at least one slugline for each location. Sometimes you’ll find things in the script like “20 MINUTES LATER…”, or in some cases the writer will cut back and forth between two people in different locations on a phone conversation without adding all of the necessary sluglines. It’s an expensive investment, but one very much worth making, and I highly recommend it if you can afford it.įirst thing I do is review the sluglines. While I’m not writer, I use Final Draft constantly. The first thing I always do when I’m hired to budget a film, is ask for the script in fdx (Final Draft) format. Step 1: Beginning with the ScriptĮverything begins with the script. Your budget needs to be based on something.
For example, how many extras should you budget for? The only way to figure that out is by breaking down the script scene by scene, adding the appropriate amount of background performers in each scene, then scheduling all of your scenes, and summing up how many “background mandays” that totals up to. But you can’t have a real budget, unless it’s based on a schedule, which is based on a breakdown. You can have a generic budget to get a general idea. The course is primarily aimed at production managers and producers responsible for producing budgets, but may also include accountants who have to use the software on a daily basis to track spending and produce cost reports.You can’t have a budget without a scheduleĪt least not one you can trust.The added value in this particular course comes from the time taken to explore and explain both the software and the processes involved – the training goes beyond the HOW and looks at WHY certain choices and decisions are made and this enhances immeasurably the participants' takeaway learning. The flexible format allows users to create and edit comprehensive budgets of all sizes for all types of productions. Movie Magic Budgeting, like Movie Magic Scheduling, is the industry’s favourite and most widely used production software. The added value in this particular course comes from the time taken to explore and explain both the software and the processes involved – the training goes beyond the HOW and looks at WHY certain choices and decisions are made. Movie Magic is the most widely-used software for scheduling and budgeting. This course is free of charge but subject to a late cancellation / no-show fee of £50 3 day course: 7th, 8th & 9th September 2016