Budgeting Film Scores

It takes time and experience to learn how to budget a filmscore. Different people will approach recording scores differently, and each score will have different demands that will or won't cost money. The more you can do in your own studio, the more you can save (and spend on more gear). These budgets assume you will record and mix outside of your studio with some number of live players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example 1 - Very low budget - 5 or fewer players (non-union), 40 minutes of music, no orchestrator

Cost	Number	Total
Studio Recording Time ($50/hour)	10 hours	$500
Musician ($50/hour)	5 players	$2000
Studio Mixing Time ($50/hour)	20 Hours	$1000
Engineer ($35/hour)	28	$980
Tape Cost (8 track digital)	8 Tapes	$65
Copyist (non-union) $5/page	100 Pages	$500
Pizza (large-$15 each)	4	$60
	TOTAL	$5105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example 2 - Modest budget - 25 or fewer players (non-union), 60 minutes of music

Cost	Number	Total
Studio Recording Time($120/hour)	15 hours	$1800
Musician ($50/hour)	25 players	$18,750
Engineer ($75/hour)	45 hours	$3,375
Cartage	2 players	$7,50
Studio Mixing Time ($50/hour)	30 Hours	$1,500
Tape Cost (8 track digital)	12 Tapes	$75
Orchestrator ($15/page)	200 Pages	$3,000
Copyist (non-union) $5/Page	150 Pages	$750
misc (transfers, overtime, couriers, gear rentals)		$2,000
	TOTAL	$32,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example 3 - Medium budget - 30 or fewer players (union*), 60 minutes of music

Cost	Number	Total
Studio Recording Time($120/hour)	15 hours	$1800
Musician ($65/hour with union costs)	30 players	$29,250
Engineer ($75/hour)	45 hours	$3375
Cartage	4 players	$1250
Studio Mixing Time ($50/hour)	30 Hours	$1500
Music contractor	5%	$1462
Orchestrator ($40/page average)	200 Pages	$8000
Copyist $5/Page	150 Pages	$750
misc (transfers, overtime, couriers, gear rentals)		$2000
	TOTAL	$49,387

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Union costs can vary considerable depending on the specifics of the project.
Contact the local union near you for information, or click here for a list of union costs.