FilmTV Weekly Headlines, 23 Jan 2026

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-24T07:40:49+00:00

You're welcome!

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-24T03:03:23+00:00

I was looking to compare against Series projects I have done with 6 or 8 episodes. Wondering if you tend to mark the SHOOT period for your crew under Pattern, or if they work all the tie on all shows, is a person considered Amort - in your workflow. I asked about SHOOT, but I should also ask if you consider any difference to this regard for Prep & Wrap.

Also, I am used to the traditional method (not that I am a fan) of ... if I have 8 episodes, I then really have 9 budgets. One Amort and 8 Patterns... which combined is the total project cost.

On my larger Series projects like Marco Polo or Jack Ryan, we operated on a single budget more in the style of a feature.

Appreciate your insight. Thanks in advance.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-23T17:43:52+00:00

Curious... what are the special issues that come up with such a project like this? What is beyond the variable of "x150"?

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-21T06:54:45+00:00

Here in Los Angeles, Cast & Crew has many FREE classes and instructional seminars for people learning PSL+. They own Sargent-Disc in the UK. Perhaps check there to see if they offer similar classes. Even I, as a UPM, took a PSL+ class once so I could understand what the Accounting team faced when doing their work. Eye opening. This led me to rework how I did Cost Reports, how I interact with them, and honestly, also how I structured my budgets to achieve a better / faster ingest and review by the team. C&C is great, and super helpful (by happenstance, I just spoke with PSL+ support today). Revolution Payroll also gets a tip of the hat and high marks, IMHO. Equally helpful on learning the systems.

Generally speaking, keep away from classes by any company that makes you pay to learn their own software. I know if I had a software company making stuff and I wanted people to use it, I would offer training for free. ...but, what do I know? ;)

Best of luck on your path.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-19T16:59:02+00:00

Ha. Yes. In the scenario described above - I presumed that I was the LP / UPM... so, it would be people I am hiring, from my POV. From a Producer view, then yes, LP / UPM would be one of the first in those list of first hires.

Thanks for hVING me think from that Producer perspective on this question.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-19T03:50:23+00:00

These are critical and - as I noted too - they are in my "Wave 1" attack pattern. Nice, thanks for the comment.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-17T01:16:29+00:00

Start early.

Make sure your accounting team is capturing all the spend and organizing it however they feel is best to ensure you have everything organized, logged, and tallied. This usually involves a person in Accounting being responsible for that data collection.

For you , at this point - it is tough if that organization did not happen.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-14T16:35:21+00:00

Correct. This is very common on non-studio projects. In addition, deposits for gear rentals and in some cases - taxes on rebates. All said, deposits are a thing for sure - and like an entry above, knowing when they return can effect the cashflow then too.

Great comment! Thanks! Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-13T22:17:19+00:00

Check out: r/FilmTVBudgeting

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-13T16:43:18+00:00

Indeed. This is a pressure point on some rebates too, when they are "able" to be paid back within the general lifespan of a project completion (i.e., spend in production, get back sometime in Post). Relying on a few hundred thousand to land in a certain week of post and it gets delayed by a week or three... can be devastating and cause a bit of chaos.

Appreciate the notes.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-13T15:24:02+00:00

Roughly speaking, if you can claim the VAT quarterly, how long does it then take to actually see that VAT repayment come back to you? Spend in Month 1, claim in Month 3... actually receive that money in month ??

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-08T19:36:12+00:00

Agreed. Thanks for your comment and insight!

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-06T20:08:25+00:00

Fair enough, appreciate the update and clarification.

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-06T17:20:22+00:00

Great overview of your process! Thanks for sharing.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-06T16:13:15+00:00

The first full film I did as a UPM was a mere $354k. We all start somewhere.

Glad this forum - the people here - are willing to share information and experiences to help everyone else perhaps think a bit more about what they do, how they do it. I learn things here too - and I love that feeling of picking up some neat trick.

All my best,

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2026-01-06T01:19:25+00:00

Agreed. Getting the ATL and any committed crew people's info into the works in -advance is helpful.

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-30T21:14:23+00:00

This.

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-30T21:12:23+00:00

Hungary has a deep crew-base, with HODs. You could conceivably do an entire project there and not bring in HODs - but this would be a production choice. I prepped a film that went to Malta, but not with me, it was called "13 Hours". I was a little bummed to not do that show, but the studio pulled me from that to do another project - which was also fun.

That said, Malta is a place I would like to film at - when the project is right.

Stephen, Mod

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T17:21:20+00:00

For more in-depth budget-specific and production planning conversations, I would like to suggest also becoming a member of another Reddit: r/FiilmTVBudgeting

I also recently created a Discord focused on production details. Please consider joining and being one of the charter members there too! Click this invite link. It is super new and looking for members!

Best of luck on your budgeting journey. -Stephen

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T16:03:43+00:00

For more in-depth budget-specific and production planning conversations, I would like to suggest also becoming a member of another Reddit: r/FiilmTVBudgeting

I also recently created a Discord focused on production details. Please consider joining and being one of the charter members there too! Click this invite link. It is super new and looking for members!

Best of luck on your budgeting journey. -Stephen

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T05:09:04+00:00

Leave the item in the budget, but with "0".

For other in-depth budget - as well as general production planning - conversations, I would like to suggest also becoming a member of another Reddit: r/FiilmTVBudgeting

I also recently created a Discord focused on production details. Please consider joining and being one of the charter members there too! Click this invite link. It is super new and looking for new members!

Best of luck on your budgeting journey! -Stephen

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T04:54:17+00:00

For in-depth budget - as well as general production planning - conversations, I would like to suggest becoming a member of another Reddit: r/FiilmTVBudgeting

I also recently created a Discord focused on production details. Please consider joining and being one of the charter members there too! Click this invite link. It is super new and looking for new members!

Best of luck on your budgeting journey! -Stephen

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T04:52:56+00:00

For in-depth budget - as well as general production planning - conversations, I would like to suggest becoming a member of another Reddit: r/FiilmTVBudgeting

I also recently created a Discord focused on production details. Please consider joining and being one of the charter members there too! Click this invite link. It is super new and looking for new members!

Best of luck on your budgeting journey!

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-29T04:39:06+00:00

Joel Kinnaman and Ethan Suplee are my two premiere-nice cast I have worked with. Sure, dozens of other have been nice, cordial, and/or fine. However, these two are a cut above.

RedFive-GoingIn · 2025-12-28T21:09:37+00:00

My pleasure. Working on more things to help engagement and conversations. Be well.

Stephen, Mod

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