Budgeting High-End Animated Series Clinic

Preparing a high-end animated series budget? Experienced in production, but have specific questions about your 2D, 3D/CG, mixed media or stop motion project? Keen to understand and develop best practice?

This clinic will provide you with the opportunity to explore budgeting strategy, planning, processes, tips and techniques to ensure your funding application and pitch materials are up to professional standards. Your budget can be reviewed in detail with an advisor to ensure it’s suitable for high-end series use in the UK and for a number of shareholders; public broadcasters, digital channels and co-producers globally.

You will be requested to specify which medium you are working in so that you can be assigned an appropriate advisor and be invited to share your budget with them confidentially.

You will connect with other experts in order to gain industry insight and build long-lasting networks.

This course is intended for high-end projects aimed at established linear broadcast or VOD networks and is not suitable for digital short-format web series.

There will be two Phases - workshops and 1-2-1 Advisor contact time. 

There will be 4-hours of group workshops on Zoom in the afternoon (UK time) with experts covering the topics below, combined with personal time for you to discuss your projects with an advisor.

If course dates listed don’t work please enquire about flexible alternative arrangements

These workshops are supported by the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund with contributions from UK animation productions.

Who it's for

Producers and finance directors with an animated series in development. 

What it covers

Phase 1 – Workshops

A - Introduction and Course Overview 

You will be introduced by facilitator Lindsay Watson to your fellow trainees and encouraged to network before the group begins. 

An introductory session will take place, which will cover some of the main strategic and shared common issues around high-end animation series budgeting, such as:

• Preparation
• Strategy
• Specific Questions
• Case Study: Budget,  Cashflow, Finance Plan,  Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Hiring rates/pension etc
• Legal/insurance discussion
• Signposting to Movie Magic, Excel and Shotgun with additional examples shared

You will be guided on how to use the ScreenSkills OneDrive (requiring you to have a Microsoft email account) and introduced to template documents and resources.

A group discussion with feedback from industry bodies such as the BFI (i.e. guidance on the tax credit) will take place and templates will be circulated in advance for review and reflection. Your specific questions will be shared in advance and answered by our advisors in this guided discussion.

B – Branding and Marketing 

Details to follow.

C – Scheduling 

• Tried and trusted techniques and software
• Dealing with change
• Managing expectations 
• Adjusting to Covid-19 safety measures

D – Wrap

Each participant will give an overview of what was learned about their budget and share any resources with the group. The case study budgets will be reviewed as a group and any advisors who are able to will attend. 

Phase 2 - Advisors - 2hrs, 1-2-1 contact time over 4-6 weeks

You will be matched with a professional advisor and be required to provide them with a draft copy of your working budget along with current questions and proposed meeting dates and times in advance of your first meeting. 

On reviewing your budget and proposed availability the advisor will suggest meeting dates and durations. You will have an allowance of up to 2 hours to meet with your advisor, which can be used across two 1 hour or four 30 minute sessions over the course’s duration. The advisor will then provide medium-specific feedback to you during your 1-2-1 meetings, which you will work on independently. Your advisor will not do any budgeting work for you, but might signpost you to resources, answer some of your questions and/or provide alternative advice in relation to the stage of development your budget is at and/or financial, legal, business affairs and shareholder decisions often required as part of the budgeting process.

Facilitator Lindsay Watson is the Founder & Executive Producer at CANUK Productions, a global animation development, production and sales company specialising in female, diverse and inclusive storytelling. A Canadian, British and Irish citizen with an MA in Animation Management (Bournemouth University 2016) and BFA in Integrated Media (OCAD University, 2007), she has leadership experience at award winning British and international companies. She has collaborated with channels such as Universal, Ch5, Disney-XD & Family Channel. Lindsay founded Animated Women UK in 2013 and has published reports on ‘British Animation Finance’ (Animation UK) and ‘girls’ animation’ (NORDICOM / Children’s Media Yearbook) speaking at industry events including BAFTA, Kidscreen & Mipcom and producing the C21 Kids ‘Diversity in Kids TV’ panel.  

How to apply

You will need to register for a ScreenSkills account to apply; click the APPLY button to submit your application for the clinic.

We particularly encourage applications from Women, Disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as these groups are underrepresented throughout the creative screen industries.

Spaces are limited, please apply by midnight on Friday 13 November.

 

Contact information

Name: Lindsay Watson
Email: Lindsay.Watson@screenskills.com