Definition and Concept of Below-the-line
– Below-the-line refers to the separation of production costs between script and story writers, producers, directors, actors, and casting (above the line) and the rest of the crew or production team.
– It is derived from the top sheet of a film budget.
– Below-the-line is applicable to motion pictures, television programs, industrial films, independent films, student films, documentaries, and commercials.
– The top sheet of a budget serves as an at-a-glance reference to a fully detailed main budget document.
– The main budget document includes total expenses, taxes, insurance, and production incentives.
Below-the-line Crew
– Below-the-line film crews operate in pre-production, production, or post-production stages of filmmaking.
– Examples of below-the-line crew members include film editors and boom operators.
– These crew members usually belong to unions or guilds such as I.A.T.S.E., The International Cinematographers Guild, and Motion Picture Sound Editors.
– Below-the-line crew members often work for hourly wages.
– They are responsible for various tasks that contribute to the creation of a film or television program.
Entry-Level Positions in Below-the-line Crew
– Entry-level positions within the below-the-line crew include lighting technicians, grips, wranglers, stunt performers, property masters, ADR, foley, set painters, and stagehands.
– These positions provide an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the film industry.
– Schools and nonprofit organizations offer training programs to prepare individuals for these positions.
– These programs cover film and video terminology, equipment, and life skills.
– The film industry is highly competitive, and these skills are valuable for aspiring professionals.
Variable Costs in Below-the-line Budget
– Craftspeople in the below-the-line crew are considered variable costs in the budget.
– If a scene is cut from the script, certain costs associated with that scene can be eliminated.
– For example, set construction, painting, and dressing may not be required.
– This flexibility allows for adjustments in the budget based on changes in the script.
– Variable costs help optimize the allocation of resources in film production.
Related Concepts and References
– Above-the-line filmmaking is the counterpart to below-the-line and includes scriptwriters, producers, directors, and actors.
– Film budgeting is the process of estimating and allocating resources for a film production.
– Film crew and television crew refer to the collective group of professionals involved in the production process.
– The list of IATSE locals includes the various local branches of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
– References for further reading and understanding of below-the-line filmmaking include articles from How Stuff Works, Harvard Business Review, Edictive, and FilmmakerIQ.com. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Below-the-line_(filmmaking)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2017) |
"Below-the-line" is a term derived from the top sheet of a film budget for motion pictures, television programs, industrial films, independent films, student films and documentaries as well as commercials. The "line" in "below-the-line" refers to the separation of production costs between script and story writers, producers, directors, actors, and casting ("above the-line") and the rest of the crew, or production team.
The top sheet of any creative project's budget serves only as an at-a-glance reference to a fully detailed and attached main budget document, which features total expenses including federal, state and local taxes, as well as insurance within the entire production, and/or production incentives. This painstaking task is usually assigned to the Production Manager or UPM of a production and should be completed before principal photography begins for any project.
