What is below the line costs in film?

What is below the line costs in film?

The “line” in “below-the-line” refers to the separation of production costs between script and story writers, producers, directors, actors, and casting (“above the-line”) and the rest of the crew, or production team.

What does above and below the line mean in film?

Above-and-Below the Line is a filmmaking term that you will come across frequently if working in the film industry. Above the line (Producers, Screenwriters, Directors, Lead Actors) have the most creative say in the film. Below the line (All other crew and supporting artists) get the least Creative power.

What is below the line in budgeting?

Below the line in production refers to, in a budgetary sense, any production costs that are not “above the line.” This can include film crew salary, publicity, music rights, and cutting together a trailer.

What are the above-the-line costs in film?

Above the Line costs are those determined or spent prior to filmmaking and may include screenplay rights and salaries of top talent (actors, directors, producers), casting director, screenwriter and others involved in the high level financial and creative direction of the film.

Who counts as above the line?

“Above-the-line” refers to the list of individuals who guide and influence the creative direction, process, and voice of a given narrative in a film and related expenditures. These roles include but are not limited to the screenwriter, producer, director, and actors.

Is cinematographer below the line?

Below the line positions typically include: Cinematographer. Production Designer. Costume Designer. Hair and Makeup.

What does above the line vs below the line mean why is it an important distinction and for whom )? Accounting?

Above the line vs below the line The term itself comes directly from budgeting. Above the line credits are given to those who are considered essential crew, whereas below the line crew members are considered “replaceable.” The major distinction between above the line vs below the line is budgetary.

Are screenwriters above the line?

What does above the line mean in finance?

Above the line refers to all revenue generated and expenses incurred by a business that have a direct impact on reported profits. The term does not refer to other activity that only impacts the financing or cash flows of the business.

Are film editors above the line?

You’ll notice some major film positions are not included above the line. You may have expected to find important personnel such as the director of photography, editor, and production designer above the line, but these roles are actually considered below the line by this traditional metric.

What is considered below the line?

What Does “Below the Line” Mean? Below the line credits (also called BTL) in film production refers to the positions responsible for the day-to-day work of making the film—during pre-production, production, and post-production.

Who is considered above the line in film?

What Are “Above the Line” Jobs? There are only a few film jobs that are consistently above the line—director, executive producer(s), producer(s), screenwriter(s), casting director(s), and principal cast.

What does below the line mean in film production?

Below the line’s meaning is twofold in production. The term relates to both the division of a film’s budget, and the division of a film’s crew. What does below the line mean? Below the line in production refers to, in a budgetary sense, any production costs that are not “above the line.”

What is the budget line in film?

This budgetary line is where crew members are placed either above or below. Film crew members above the line are what is known as ‘fixed rate,’ meaning their pay is set and agreed upon before production begins and does not change based on alterations to the production schedule, while the same cannot be said of crew members below the line.

Who is above the line in a film?

The line I am talking about is the imaginary line which separates those who have creative influence over a film and those who don’t. In a film crew people who are considered above the line are – the Director, the Screenwriter, the Producer and the Lead Actors. All other crew members are said to be below the line workers.

What is the difference between ‘above the line’ and ‘below the line?

The terms ‘above the line’ and ‘below the line’ go hand in hand as they are, in fact, two sides of the same coin. If something isn’t above the line in the budget, then it is below the line. Above the line vs below the line, there is no middle ground. Below the line’s meaning is twofold in production.