budgeted numbers need to be
directed. You’ll also need to inspire confidence in the
Financiers, or the Bonding Company, that you know what the
weekly financial report card is all about (that is, the
universally standard Weekly Cost Report).
Most of those questions, with a little imagination, can also
apply to anyone who wants to upgrade to a Department Head. A
Production Manager would be completely blown away!
So how does a director or crew member get familiar with Budgets
and Cost Reports? I’ve been a Production Auditor for 20 years
and I’ve NEVER shown a crewmember a Final Budget or a Weekly
Cost Report (the universally standard financial report card
issued to the Financiers and Producers every week) in that
entire time. They are considered sacrosanct by Studio
Executives, Financiers and Bonding Companies everywhere.
Well, I’m about to tease you with