# Build a production budget for a commercial or video shoot

A line-item production estimate covering pre-production, shoot days, crew, post, and contingency, with assumptions the client can sign off.

- Topic: Projects & Operations
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Rewrite & Edit, Code, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/build-a-production-budget-for-a-commercial-or-video-shoot

## Prompt

```text
Help me build a production budget for a shoot.

**Deliverables:** [e.g. "one 30s spot, two 15s cutdowns, 6 vertical social edits, 10 stills"]
**Creative scope:** [SCRIPT OR TREATMENT SUMMARY - locations, cast size, special requirements like animals, stunts, drones, kids, night work]
**Shoot days and location:** [NUMBER OF DAYS, city or country, studio vs location]
**Rates I know:** [crew day rates, equipment quotes, talent fees, post house quotes]
**Client budget ceiling:** [AMOUNT, if known]
**Who is producing:** [in-house agency production / external production company / hybrid]

Organize the estimate into these sections, similar to a standard production bid form:
- Pre-production (casting, location scouting, permits, tech scout, prep days).
- Shoot crew by department, with day rates, prep and wrap days, and overtime assumptions.
- Equipment (camera, grip, electric, specialty).
- Talent (session fees and usage noted separately), wardrobe, hair and makeup, art and props.
- Locations, permits, studio, travel, catering, insurance.
- Post-production (edit, grade, sound mix, music, VFX, versioning).
- Production fee, markup, and contingency.

Return:
1. A budget table: section | line item | quantity | rate | days | total | source of rate (quote / my rate / estimate).
2. Subtotals per section and a grand total.
3. The assumptions and exclusions the client must accept.
4. Three ways to bring the cost down, with the creative trade-off of each.

Never present an estimated rate as a quote: label it [ESTIMATE - GET QUOTE]. Note where union rules, local permits, or insurance need checking.
```

## What to fill in

- NUMBER OF DAYS, city or country, studio vs location
- AMOUNT, if known
- ESTIMATE - GET QUOTE

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