An intelligent production assistant that transforms your scripts into comprehensive production kits, including automated scene breakdowns, department-specific budgets, and professional coverage reports.

Indie Film Budget Calculator

How to Calculate an Indie Film Budget

An indie film budget covers every cost from pre-production through delivery. Here's what you need to account for:

Above the Line (Creative)

Screenplay rights / option
Director's fee
Producer's fee
Principal cast salaries
Casting costs

Below the Line (Production)

Crew salaries (camera, electric, grip, sound, art, etc.)
Equipment rentals (camera, lighting, grip, sound)
Location fees and permits
Set construction / dressing
Costume and wardrobe
Makeup and hair
Transportation / vehicles
Catering / craft services
Stunts and SFX
Insurance and bonds

Post-Production

Editing (picture and sound)
Color grading
Sound design and mix
VFX
Music licensing / score
Titles and graphics

Other

Marketing and distribution
Festival submission fees
Contingency (typically 10% of total)

Common Indie Budget Mistakes

Underestimating post-production costs
Forgetting insurance and permits
Not budgeting for contingency
Ignoring music licensing costs
Underestimating crew days needed
Not accounting for overtime

How ScriptKit Calculates Your Budget from Your Script

ScriptKit reads your screenplay and generates a budget top sheet with above and below the line estimates based on your script's actual production requirements. It identifies every scene, location, cast member, prop, stunt, and VFX requirement — then estimates costs by department. You get realistic numbers based on what's actually in your script.

Get a budget estimate from your script. Try ScriptKit