Producing: EP (Entertainment Partners) Budgeting & Scheduling

EP (Entertainment Partners) Scheduling and EP Budgeting is the recognised industry standard software for scheduling and budgeting films and TV drama. They are complementary packages: information in scheduling may be exported to budgeting to assist in the process of costing the project. Please note that this EP software replaces Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting, the former industry standard software for production management.

LFA runs a specialised course to train producers in this industry software taught by working industry professionals. Tutors for this course have included international feature film production manager and 1st AD Marcia Gay: SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE and the BBC's HUSTLE.

The course will be run over two weekends, combining lectures, practical demonstrations using computer projection, group tutorials and one-to-one tuition, incorporating valuable advice from a professional producer's point of view:

Day one

• Lecture - Basics of scheduling principles
• Introduction to using EP Scheduling software
• Practical scheduling project - under tutor guidance, students individually schedule a 10 minute film script using EP Scheduling

- Entering Schedule data
- The breakdown sheet
- Creating strip boards
- Producing schedules

Day two

• Students complete inputting the script into EP Scheduling
• Using EP reports

- Day out of days
- Cast information
- Printing options

• Feedback on schedules and comparison with the actual schedule used for the film
• Student led session to re-visit any specific areas

Day three

• Lecture - Basics of budgeting principles
• Introduction to using EP Budgeting
• Practical budgeting project - under tutor guidance, students individually budget a 10 minute film script using EP Scheduling

- Importing information from EP Scheduling
- Entering budget data
- Using the top sheet and other levels
- Working with Globals, Subgroups, Fringes

Day four

• Students complete inputting the script into EP Budgeting

- More complex uses of EP Budgeting
- Working with other currencies
- Amending the budget
- Printing and reports

• Feedback on budgets and comparison with the actual budget used for the film
• Student led session to re-visit any specific areas
• Short film screening

The course tutor will illustrate teaching of the software with examples from her/his own experiences of working on films such as SKY CAPTAIN using multiple currencies and how EP can be utilised effectively with globals and split days.

Teaching hours are 10.00-17.00 on each day.

Duration: 4 days, 2 weekends