There is a lot that goes into making a professional grade film. To give you an idea of the undertaking and what it costs here are the general parts that are required to make and distribute a film. 

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CAST

The actors normally get paid a minimum of 200 dollars a day for principal cast members, but the bigger the actor the higher their day rate.

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PRODUCTION CREW

Film making is fundamentally a communal effort. There are a lot of moving parts in production and because of this there are many members of a film crew that are necessary for a successful shoot. There are eight basic departments, which crew members fall under, Camera, Sound, Lighting, Make up and Costume, Directing, Production, Set Design and Craft Services. A skeleton crew requires two to three members under each department and payment for crew members starts at 200 dollars a day. 

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EDITING CREW 

After the film is shot a film editor is required to sort through the film footage and cut the film together. Other editing crew members include: a film music composer , a sound mixer and a colorist.  These crew members are normally paid a flat rate of upwards of 500 dollars. 

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EQUIPMENT

Good camera and lighting equipment is very expensive. Renting a minimum camera and lighting package for two filming days costs around 2,500 to 3,000 dollars. 

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PROPS, COSTUMES, AND SETS

Prop rentals, costume and set dressing is extremely variable between films but at the very least 300 - 400 dollars go into gathering all the items necessary. 

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OTHER

Other costs that go into making a film include: film insurance, between 400 - 800 dollars, supplying food, lodging and transportation for cast and crew and paying festival submission fees, between 50 - 100 dollars. 

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By adding up these costs it's easy to see that filmmaking is a pricey enterprise. Even though we cut a lot of corners, the average cost of our short films end up being around 10 grand  (and that is operating on a micro-budget!).  That is why we need YOUR help to continue making beautiful, impactful films in and about the Rocky Mountain Region. Along with our fundraising effort we have also applied to a variety of grants and film initiatives to secure funding. 

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