How Much Does it Cost to Film a Movie?
Filming a movie is a big deal, especially if it’s a feature film. We constantly hear about these huge box office film budgets of millions of dollars and then we’re quick to think “WOW, How much does it cost to film a movie?” and “is it really that expensive?” Does it really cost that much to produce these blockbuster movies that we have all grown to love?
What about the average filmmaker — how do they create movies that are affordable, or even within a budget? We’re taking a closer look at what it costs to film a movie, why blockbuster movies have such substantial budgets, and just where the film production budget is being spent.
Average Cost to Produce a Feature Film
The average cost to produce a feature film is somewhere in the range of about $100M to $150M. Keep in mind, that is an average which means that there are feature films that come into the box office at a cost of less than $80M to produce and there are equally those that come in at a cost of over $200M to produce.
Movies have production rates that are varied based on things like the actors involved, the animations or use of special effects involved, and the locations in which they are filmed. Many comedy films are filmed for $70M to $90M as are some animated features like recent DreamWorks films.
Production Budgeting
What is it that costs so much to make a movie? The answer to that question really varies based on the production. Some movies are produced for very little while others have substantial costs.
Budgeting a production is largely based on the anticipated production features and the talent involved in the production. High-end productions, like the Avatar, come in at a cost of over $425M to produce. Typically the budget for filming a movie is broken down based on:
● The cast and crew.
● The rights and writers that produce the script.
● Producers.
● Directors.
● Variable production costs.
● Post-production editing costs.
Feature films usually have significant budgets for cast and, these days, many movies have equally significant budgets for special effects. Location expenses, transportation, and the construction of the set also come into play here.
Cost to Film an Independent Movie
So, “how much does it cost to film an independent movie?” That’s another great question and the answer is equally hard to define. The truth is, the cost to film an independent movie is typically much lower than the budget for filming a feature Hollywood film — and understandably so, because few have millions of dollars laying around! If you’re an independent filmmaker trying to hammer down a budget for filming a movie, consider the recent budgets for some Sundance Film Festival entrants which have ranged from $10,000 to more than $100,000.
Your budget ultimately is based on the independent needs of the film and the investors involved. The costs that you’re expecting for production will largely include the following professionals:
● Film Director – >$250 per hour
● Script Writer – >$150 per hour
● Cameraman – >$400 per hour
● Editor – >$175 per hour
● Actors – >$500 per hour
● Equipment – up to 100s per hour
● Studio Shooting – up to $400 per hour
● Narrator – >$400 per hour
● Audio Files – up to $1000
● Video Rendering – up to $75 per hour
● B-Roll – expect to pay a percentage between 10 and 50% of your total cost
● Miscellaneous Fees – can cost very little up to 1000s extra
Keep in mind that all of this can vary based on your independent budgeting and the individual complexities of your movie. Still, need information or wondering how much it will cost to film a movie that you’re creating? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call — we’ll break it down for you!