Below-the-line (filmmaking)

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"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, to differentiate between script and story writers, producers, directors, actors and casting, including travel and living expenses from the rest of the crew, or production team usually referred to as "above the-line".

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. There are many compatible computer software programs available on the market to aid production companies in creating new and exciting projects to utilize from concept, to final production for film and television.

Video Below-the-line (filmmaking)

Below-the-line crew

Some below-the-line film and television film crews operate in pre-production, production, or post-production stages of filmmaking. Such as the film editor, who mostly works in the post-production stage, unless called on set to screen Dailies, which nowadays can be done anywhere based on technology utilized, and with the aid of Previs techniques. The boom operator on the other hand is mostly on set, because he or she has to pick up ambient noise, as well as dialogue, via actors saying their lines when the camera is rolling.

This particular type of film crew usually belongs to a guild or union, such as I.A.T.S.E, or in the case of the director of photography who serves as a major part of the below the line crew, also known as the cinematographer or DP, usually belongs to the IATSE Local 600 , he or she usually answers to the Director, and is on set the majority of the time during production of a film or television project. The Teamsters, Motion Picture and Theatrical Trade Division represents the Transportation Department of a production, which are bound by contracts of any given union as to which they belong.

It is usually the case for the "below-the-line" crew to work of hourly wages, as opposed to a set wage, or negotiated contractual wage on the front, or back end of any given project. These set workers are responsible for a number of many other unsung, and demanding tasks that must be completed to achieve the common goal of creating a film, or television program. These positions could be considered "less glamorous", and the unmentionable part of filmmaking. However, many dedicated and hard working individuals have made a good living with "below-the-line" job positions, whether if it's in independent filmmaking, and or coming from a major film studio.

Within the many entry-level positions available to gain knowledge of the industry, such as Lighting Technicians, Grips, Wranglers, Stunt Performers, Property Masters, ADR, Foley, Set Painters or any Stagehand etc., one could gain knowledge and skill of these, and many other key positions within the film industry to attain success. Many Schools and or Nonprofit organizations are set up nowadays to train the youth and other interested individuals to better prepare and teach a trade that may not otherwise be available within the traditional school system. These organizations teach about film and video terminology, equipment, and life skills, a must for today's highly completive entertainment market.

Below-the-line crew refers to everybody else including:

Most of these crafts people are considered variable cost in the budget. Meaning, if you cut a scene from the script, potentially, you don't have to build that set, or paint it or dress it, etc.

Maps Below-the-line (filmmaking)

Magazine

Below the Line is also the name of a Hollywood trade publication that bills itself as "The Voice of the Crew." It focuses on the production and post-production crew working on film, television, and commercial projects.

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See also

• Above-the-line (filmmaking)
• Film budgeting
• Film crew
• Television crew

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References

src: www.btlnews.com

External links

• btlnews.com, Below the Line official website

Source of the article : Wikipedia