Film Works shares the breakdown of a recent feature's budget
Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2011

Earlier this month, the people behind Film WorksL.A. decided to take a look at what local businesses in Los Angeles California stand to lose when a single motion picture chooses to film outside the region.
Thanks to the generosity of one major studio (which asked to remain nameless), Film Works secured the following top-level expense breakdown for a major motion picture filmed on-location in Los Angeles.
From September to November 2009, the picture in question spent a total of 93 days on location and hired 43 cast members, 924 crew members, and nearly 1,000 extras (in working days).
Total production spending came to a $20,210,176. For confidentiality reasons, we have to withhold the name of the film, but it is still interesting seeing where the project’s budget was spent:
Hotel room days: 213 |
$66,061 |
Car rental days: 655 |
$45,070 |
Catering, bakery goods & other food items |
$751,790 |
Hardware & lumber supplies |
$716,678 |
Secretarial personnel, equipment (Xerox, phones etc) |
$243,560 |
Local wardrobe purchased |
$1,374,397 |
Dry cleaning |
$66,046 |
Gasoline |
$264,234 |
Location fees public |
$69,500 |
Location fees private |
$1,566,405 |
City, county and other governmental permit fees |
$273,885 |
Off-duty personnel (police, fire etc) |
$135,749 |
Local extras hired |
$324,148 |
Local security hired |
$327,917 |
Per Diem payments |
$21,049 |
Local hires (carpenters, electricians etc.) |
$5,848,083 |
Other rentals |
$3,869,422 |
Other purchases: |
$4,246,182 |
GRAND TOTAL SPENT: |
$20,210,176 |
Clearly, the economic impact of even one film ripples throughout the California economy. The next time you see a shoot taking place in your community, take a minute to appreciate how well Film Works for California.
Then, consider joining Film Works L.A. to help us educate Angelenos about the importance of filming to our region.
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