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Film Budgeting & Production Scheduling Services

Bringing your creative vision to life requires meticulous planning and a comprehensive financial blueprint. When we do a script breakdown, we ensure you get a clear understanding of all the elements needed for production, from locations and props to cast, crew, and special effects. Once you have a solid foundation with the budget, next step is crafting a production schedule.

By aligning your schedule with your financial plan, you can optimize shooting days, streamline logistics, and avoid fires before they even start. With smart budgeting and scheduling strategy, you’ll be way ahead of game in seeing your project through to completion.

Budget& Scheduling

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Consulting Producer

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Finishing &Delivery

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IP Development

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Script Doctoring

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Story Producing

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Post-ProductionManagement

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Film Festival Panels

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Mentorship Programs

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Your Filmmaking FAQs Answered

Useful questions and answers to think about before we get started

Can you align with union requirements (SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE)?

Yes, we can budget and schedule in compliance with union rules, rates, and working conditions.

Can you split budgets across regions and currencies (e.g., U.S. + India)?

Yes, we can build multi-region budgets in local currencies and roll them into one combined plan.

How do you plan for overtime, pickups, and mid-production changes?

We include buffers and contingencies. Extra shoot days or reshoots are costed separately and added to the schedule as needed.

How do revisions and change requests work?

Minor tweaks are included; bigger scope changes (new scenes, new locations, etc.) are re-costed and delivered as updates.

Can you create multiple budget versions?

Yes, we can prepare lean, mid-range, or premium versions so you can compare options and adjust to your funding.

What do you need from me to build an accurate budget and schedule?

We need your script, location details, timeline, production scale, and any special requirements like unions, VFX, or travel.

How do you keep budgets accurate — rates, quotes, and assumptions?

We use up-to-date vendor and crew rates, real quotes when available, and clear assumptions with contingencies built in.

What is a top sheet and when is it useful?

A top sheet is a high-level summary of costs. It’s great for pitching, investors, or quick overviews without all the line items.

What’s the difference between an estimate, a preliminary budget, and a final budget?

An estimate is a rough ballpark, a preliminary budget is based on a full script breakdown, and a final budget is fully detailed and production-ready.

How do I get started?

There are two ways to get started. If your script is written and ready to be made, fill out our Budget Request form to get a full breakdown.

If you are interested in other Consulting Services such as Development, Line Producing, Post Producing or Distribution Strategy, submit your request through our Contact Page.

Does it matter if I have experience in the industry?

At Gotoma we work with filmmakers of all experience levels, and we are happy to teach our clients the basics if necessary. Everyone starts somewhere and with Gotoma you are in good hands to begin your journey.

I’m having difficulty producing my project. Can you help?

Absolutely! We can help at any stage of production, and are more than ready to jump in and work with you, whether it’s putting out fires on set or coming to help with finishing/post-production, we can step in and get your project back on track.

How long does it take to produce a film?

Generally it can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months, but it can be longer depending on multiple factors including development time, shooting schedule and post-production schedule. Other considerations include the length of the script, the complexity of production needs, and the amount of money in the budget.

Can you help me get an agent and sell my idea?

While we work to help develop your vision and strategize pitch materials, we can never guarantee your idea will be bought and sold for distribution, that you will get representation from a talent agency or get a meeting with a network. Our services are meant to give you a leg up in a competitive market and provide the highest quality tools and resources for you to succeed. It’s important to keep this in mind when shopping your idea to potential investors.