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What percentage should I budget for a project manager?

Soo, as some of you know I am going to try the fiscal sponsorship avenue of financing. I would like to budget for a project manager and need to know what would be an acceptable percentage of the budget, 1, 2, 5%...? Any ideas folks? Thanks! Ray? Bueller?
 
Sorry. I haven't the slightest idea even where to go looking for such information.
Likely, an entertainment lawyer will have a better idea of what the industry pay scale norms are for key positions or knows where to find such information.
And if you're looking for entertainment financing you'll certainly need an entertainment lawyer.

GL!
 
Appreciate your response, Ray!

I will be designating my sister as Project Manager, so I think I may try an estimated hourly budget. I've done a little research on consultants in general (although this project manager is more fiscal agent than consultant) and specialists run from 150.00-300.00 an hour.
 
First, it's rather hard to put out a percentage that would fit all bills right. What percentage would work for a low/no budget won't fit a medium to high budget. I would expect a line producer would be a good person to ask as they're usually the person responsible for putting together the budget.

Then again, it really depends on what you mean by a project manager. I suspect you mean a UPM - Unit Production Manager, but you also could mean a producer.

You can also look up sample budgets in your range to see what people are paying for particular roles. Just look for sample budgets in google or search these forums, I've posted a link before to sample budgets given in a producers book.

Good luck.
 
First, it's rather hard to put out a percentage that would fit all bills right. What percentage would work for a low/no budget won't fit a medium to high budget.

You can also look up sample budgets in your range to see what people are paying for particular roles. Just look for sample budgets in google or search these forums...
Very good.

There might be something useful on post #29 for you, Bird: http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=39122&page=2
 
First, it's rather hard to put out a percentage that would fit all bills right. What percentage would work for a low/no budget won't fit a medium to high budget. I would expect a line producer would be a good person to ask as they're usually the person responsible for putting together the budget.

Then again, it really depends on what you mean by a project manager. I suspect you mean a UPM - Unit Production Manager, but you also could mean a producer.

You can also look up sample budgets in your range to see what people are paying for particular roles. Just look for sample budgets in google or search these forums, I've posted a link before to sample budgets given in a producers book.

Good luck.

Thanks Sweetie!

The definition of project manager for this particular sponsorship is someone who will be responsible for requesting funds and reporting (any) monies to the fiscal agency. She (my sister) wouldn't be responsible for bringing the production in on budget, nor any sort of regulatory considerations. My sister is a contract lawyer and I thought she'd be a good candidate to help me out. She'd certainly donate her services in-kind but if I were to get funding I'd want to pay her a fair wage.

Thanks again, peeps!
 
Thanks Sweetie!

The definition of project manager for this particular sponsorship is someone who will be responsible for requesting funds and reporting (any) monies to the fiscal agency. She (my sister) wouldn't be responsible for bringing the production in on budget, nor any sort of regulatory considerations. My sister is a contract lawyer and I thought she'd be a good candidate to help me out. She'd certainly donate her services in-kind but if I were to get funding I'd want to pay her a fair wage.

Thanks again, peeps!

Ok, by the sound of it you're looking for a cross between an Executive Producer (responsible for sourcing the money) and a bookkeeper/accountant/payroll (recording keeping and reporting) for the first parts. For bringing it in on budget, that's usually the UPM and sometimes the producer. If you're talking about getting the money from some government body, that's usually the producers job. A typical fee is often 10-15% of the budget, depending on the size of budget, though I don't know if there is a typical rate on Govt subsidized projects.

The going rate for an Executive Producer is usually 10-15%, normally in the 10% range and it can go as high as 20%. For the UPM roles, it does depend on where you are, but off the top of my head, about High $1k to low $2k/week is typical. The bigger the production, the higher this rate would be. As for the bookkeeping/accountant/payroll, that's usually a per hour thing.

Depending on the size of your production, you may be asking for trouble getting the UPM to pair up with any other role during the production, unless you're diluting the role among other dept heads anyway. The UPM is usually a very busy person.

This of course assumes I understand what you specified correctly.
 
Ok, by the sound of it you're looking for a cross between an Executive Producer (responsible for sourcing the money) and a bookkeeper/accountant/payroll (recording keeping and reporting) for the first parts. For bringing it in on budget, that's usually the UPM and sometimes the producer. If you're talking about getting the money from some government body, that's usually the producers job. A typical fee is often 10-15% of the budget, depending on the size of budget, though I don't know if there is a typical rate on Govt subsidized projects.

The going rate for an Executive Producer is usually 10-15%, normally in the 10% range and it can go as high as 20%. For the UPM roles, it does depend on where you are, but off the top of my head, about High $1k to low $2k/week is typical. The bigger the production, the higher this rate would be. As for the bookkeeping/accountant/payroll, that's usually a per hour thing.

Depending on the size of your production, you may be asking for trouble getting the UPM to pair up with any other role during the production, unless you're diluting the role among other dept heads anyway. The UPM is usually a very busy person.

This of course assumes I understand what you specified correctly.

Thanks again, Sweetie!

My project is a feature animation, more artsy than commercial (although I am making concerted effort to commercialize as best I can) so organizations I would apply to would be similar to Guggenhein, etc. I estimated my budget to be around 150,000. I am sole animator and I would have one assistant. I'm also budgeting for a few Indietalkers for sound design, graphics... :D. I am assuming the role of UPM, myself as well as other hats (pretty much what most Indietalkers, do). I'm leaning towards your 10% suggestion and I think sis will be agreeable. :D

Much appreciated, Sweetie!

Oh, and I will post up my initial budget for responses. I'd love to hear if I've missed something (most probably will, lol) or if something needs revision.
 
Oh, you will miss things. Guaranteed. And on top of that, things change, accidents happen. To ensure you survive those, you usually have to pad the budget somewhat or have an added buffer line to the budget. 10% it typical. Professional investors understand this line. For less professional investors, you usually want to pad the expense list.

As for animation, I've never seen, know about, read about or really have much interest in them. Well apart from I like watching them. I'm sure their entire flow works completely different as there is not a lot of production, it's all pre production and post production by most other movie standards. Just saying, animation might throw out most of what I previously said out the window. I don't really know.
 
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