Sample Deliverables Budget
Courtesy of Jack Binder, FilmBudget.com
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURE DELIVERY SCHEDULE & DELIVERABLES
Theatrical feature film Delivery Schedules are contractual agreements agreed with a Sales Agent or Distributor for your film postproduction materials which enable a film to be physically distributed. These critical items are referred to as Deliverables.
It is critical to allow for Deliverables for your production in order to be able to negotiate and close a Distribution Agreement.
As technology has changed, so have Delivery Schedules; however, most such lists are mind-numbingly outdated. Therefore they contain items not necessarily required. Keep in mind, however, that many Distributors have legacy agreements themselves with their Distributor partners and have language in their agreements which directs them to provide items as stipulated.
As always with Deliverables, all items are negotiable. While it is best to have a complete set of Deliverables to receive worldwide distribution and the best deal terms, you should carefully scrutinize your inventory and budget and only agree to what you can actually deliver.
Failure to deliver agreed items can most definitely, and will, delay payment of funds owed to the production company by the Distributor or Sales Agent until all agreed items are delivered by the Producer or Production Company.
Likewise, prices, costs, and items are variable, flexible, negotiable, and subject to constant change as technology, market conditions and negotiating positions vary. This is where a good postproduction supervisor earns his or her value. While it is best to obtain the services of a well-regarded vendor that Distributors are familiar and comfortable working with, due to the incredible availability of low-cost technology, many deliverables can and are being produced in the editing rooms or via vendors offering good value. Make sure your vendors are approved, however.
Your agreements will contain language specifying the approval of the quality of your deliverables by the Distributors’ laboratories. Not surprisingly, the Germans are famous for being extremely strict on the quality of their materials. The saying goes if you are good for Germany, you’re good for the world.
Costs will vary tremendously for high-budget films versus low-budget films, 35 mm versus High-Definition, 2 k, 4 k digital video, studio versus independent, U.S. versus international productions.
Contact FilmBudget.com to determine your actual requirements, obligations, and negotiating position. To have your film analyzed for Delivery items with a proper film budget, contact Jack Binder, Producer (Reign Over Me, The Upside of Anger) and Founder of FilmBudget.com (http://filmbudget.com) via [email protected] to obtain a custom finance and camera-ready film budget and schedule for your production as well as having your production vetted for Deliverables.
Here are some basic costs, tips, and strategies associated with Delivery Items for a Low-Budget Indie Film Production (which, of course, may overlap with postproduction and marketing expenses). This list is not intended nor should it be considered all-inclusive or complete. Contact FilmBudget.com for an accurate determination of your film’s specific costs and expenses and an entertainment production attorney for legal requirements associated with your Deliverables obligations.
Contact FilmBudget.com (http://filmbudget.com) [email protected] to determine your actual requirements, costs, obligations and negotiating factors. This list is not complete nor is it intended to be. For Sample purposes only.
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