A scoring budgeting tool for the independent filmmaker

PROJECTDescribe the project you are producing

Input the total production budget of your project.

If you don't know your total budget yet or you simply want to have an idea of the costs involved in the music production, you can leave this field blank.

Input the total duration of your project, in minutes.

For example, for a duration of 1 hour and 32 minutes, please type 92.

Select the type of project your are currently budgeting, among the listed options.

SCORENow, think about the score you would like to have.

Select the music coverage you can anticipate for your project.

For example, commercials or trailers have usually a wall-to-wall music coverage, while a documentary can have a sparse one.

Select the complexity of the music, which determines all the resources required during the following music production.

RECORDINGLet's talk about music production

Choose whether you require the music being recorded with live musicians or not.

Although the use of live musicians greatly enrichen the quality of a score and we always encourage that, there are many situations where the available timeframe and budget don't easily give access to a live recording.

If you want to optimize your budget, we can provide you with an excellent sampled and synthesized rendition of the score.

Choose whether you need the final mix being delivered in Stereo or 5.1 format.

SCHEDULETime is of the essence to the delivery of the score.

Time is another factor that greatly impacts on the cost of a score. We recommend you to select a safe or a relaxed schedule, if you want to save a sizeable part of your budget.

EXCLUSIVITYFinally, let's discuss about music rights.

Despite what many say on regards of the music rights, it is not necessary that a production company owns the score of its project. While a simple license is a much more affordable option, it is still all you need in order to sell or distribute your project. With a license you won't own the master recording, nor the music publishing rights.

A non-exclusive license lets you use the music in connection with your project with no limitations in terms of regions or time. You will be granted the use of the music worldwide and in perpetuity. The music, though, won't be exclusive to your project, which means that you could hear it in other projects other than yours. Still, this is the most affordable option.

Otherwise you could choose to have a license that is exclusive for a given time. Such a license will still allow you to you use the music in connection with your project worldwide and in perpetuity, but in addition to that the music will be also exclusive to your project for the amount of time you agreed upon.

Ultimately, you can opt for the ownership of the music. You will me the owner of the master recording and the publishing rights. This is the most expensive option.

If you are comfortable with the budget above, please contact us at your earliest convenience, writing to info@filmscoringlab.com

Your total production budget can easily fit the music production of a score such as the one you specified.

Please contact us at your earliest convenience, writing to info@filmscoringlab.com

Usual music budgets for an original score range from 2.5% to 10% of the total production budget – the higher is the total production budget, the lower is the percentage reserved to the music production.

The music production for a score with the characteristics you specified requires a slightly larger budget.

Since we still want to work with you, please consider changing some of the parameters you selected, which may result in a more relaxed budget.

For example, a tight deadline often forces a composer to invest more resources in order to complete a score in the given time. That is why extending the deadline, may result in slightly decreasing the music production budget and meeting your goal.

For further information, please get in touch with us, writing to info@filmscoringlab.com

Usual music budgets for an original score range from 2.5% to 10% of the total production budget – the higher is the total production budget, the lower is the percentage reserved to the music production.

The music production for a score with the characteristics you specified requires a budget that greatly exceeds a reasonable percentage of your total production budget.

You need to increase the budget to the amount we recommended.

If you have any specific question regarding your project and want to get in touch with us, please contact us at info@filmscoringlab.com

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