The information appearing on this page was put together by Brian Boyl and originally posted on the DV-L Mailing List in March 1999.  It's basically a cost comparison between various approaches for coming up with two different kinds of production on film: first, a 16mm short, and secondly, a 35mm feature.  (The data covers only the bare shooting, stock, processing, and editing costs; any other production costs are obviously outside its scope.) 

Thanks again to Brian Boyl for putting together all this information together, and giving permission to post it here - and thanks also to Adam Wilt for bringing it to  my attention and forwarding it to me! 
 
--MAS 
  
Introductory Notes by Brian Boyl 
  
I'm aware that some of my numbers should be better:  Using FotoKem was an expensive solution for film processing, CFI probably would have done better;  my $4000 for a DV camera was inexact but certainly within the ball park; and my $5000 for a Premiere NLE was probably a little low, 
however I've been able to put together a pretty good NLE for less. 

How to Read this Stuff 

A line like:  
16 NegativeStock Studio F&T $0.31 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 200 minutes shot = $2,232.00 

Means:  
16mm Negative Stock, purchased at Studio Film and Tape at a cost of $0.31 a foot.  At a rate of 36 feet per minute (normal 16 speed) and 200 minutes of shot footage (20 minutes at a 10 to 1 ratio) gives you $2,232.00. 

LEGEND:  

I've used the following company and product abbreviations throughout this analysis: 

Studio F&T or SFT:  Studio Film and Tape 
BIRNS: Birns and Sawyer 
FK: FotoKem 
Straight Line:  Straight Line Video Post 
Sin Hak Gaw:  A well respected negative cutter for indies 

IP: Inter-positive 
IN: Inter-negative 
Answer A/B:  an A/B roll answer print 
Camera Mast:  The camera master tape 
Edit Mast:  The edited master tape 
Christies:  Christies Film Rentals 
Dupe:  A dirty dupe for projection and sound editing prep 
ProMax:  Who do you think? 
4MC:  4MC Processing and Transfer 
Sony:  Sony High Def Center 
Plus 8:  Plus 8 Video Equipment Rentals 

 
I. Costs for 16mm Film Short 

ASSUMPTIONS (appearing where applicable):  
- 16mm Short for festival release 
-  3 release prints 
- 20 minutes long 
- 200 minutes shot 
- Production rate:  5 pages/day = 1 week production time 
- NLE offline of 2 weeks 
- Flatbed offline of 4 weeks (probably too short) 
- 2 hours video online (fine cut finished before online) 
 
 
Shoot 16, cut on Avid, 16mm release print 
  
SHOOT: 16mm Film 

16 NegativeStock Studio F&T $0.31 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 200 minutes shot = $2,232.00 
16 Processing FK $0.25 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 200 minutes shot =$1,792.80 
16 Camera Rental BIRNS $200.00 $/day @ 3.000 d/wk * 1 week production =$600.00 
TOTAL 16mm Film          $4,624.80 

POST: Film to Beta NLE 

Film to Beta xfer FK $345.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 200 minutes shot =$1,150.00 
Avid Rental Straight Line $1,400.00 $/wk    * 2 weeks offline =$2,800.00 
Camera Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 200 minutes shot =$116.67 
Edit Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 20 minutes final show =$11.67 
Online Straight Line $225.00 $/hr    * 2 hours online = $450.00 
TOTAL  Film to Beta NLE          $4,528.33 

RELEASE: Shot 16, NLE Edit to 16-Std Answer 

Negative Cutting Sin Hak Gaw $6.50 $/cut @ 15.000 cuts/min * 20 minutes final show = $1,950.00 
Answer A/B FK $1.81 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $1,303.20 
Check Print (2) FK $0.38 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $270.00 
IP FK $1.43 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $1,028.16 
IN FK $1.18 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $848.16 
Release Print FK $0.34 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 60 printed minutes (3 prints * 20 minutes final show) = $732.24 
TOTAL  Shot 16, NLE Edit to 16-Std Answer          $6,131.76 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $15,284.89 
 
 
Shoot 16, cut on a flatbed, 16mm release print 
 
SHOOT: 16mm Film     $4,624.80 

(See 16mm Film above.) 

POST: 16 Flatbed Edit 

One Light FK $0.44 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 200 minutes shot = $3,182.40 
Flatbed Rental Christies $140.00 $/wk    * 4 wks flatbed post = $560.00 
Splicer Christies $10.50 $/wk    * 4 wks flatbed post = $42.00 
Bins Christies $10.50 $/wk    * 4 wks flatbed post = $42.00 
Dupe FK $0.44 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $318.24 
TOTAL  16 Flatbed Edit          $4,144.64 

RELEASE:  16 Flatbed to 16-Std Answer 

Negative Cutting Sin Hak Gaw $4.20 $/cut @ 15.000 cuts/min * 20 minutes final show = $1,260.00 
Answer A/B FK $1.81 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show =$1,303.20 
Check Print (2) FK $0.38 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show =$270.00 
IP FK $1.43 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $1,028.16 
IN FK $1.18 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 20 minutes final show = $848.16 
Release Print FK $0.34 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 60 printed minutes (3 prints * 20 minutes final show) = $732.24 
TOTAL  16 Flatbed to 16-Std Answer          $5,441.76 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $14,211.20 
 

Shoot on purchased MiniDV, cut on purchased Premiere system, 16mm transfer at 4MC 

SHOOT:  MiniDV Purchase 

Master Stock StudioF&T $16.32 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 200 minutes shot =$54.40 
Camera Purchase ProMax $4,000.00 $/camera        $4,000.00 
TOTAL MiniDV Purchase          $4,054.40 

POST:  Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV Camera  

NLE Purchase ProMax $5,000.00 $/system        $5,000.00 
Master Stock StudioF&T $16.32 $/tape @ 0.017 tape/min * 20 minutes final show = $5.44 
TOTAL  Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV Camera 
$5,005.44 

RELEASE:  DV to 16-4MC  

DVCAM to DigiBeta xfer 4MC 167.00 $/20 min @ 0.050 tape/min * 20 minutes final show = $167.00 
Video to 16 xfer 4MC 180.00 $/min    * 20 minutes final show = $3,600.00 
Additional Prints 4MC 0.18 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 40 additional printed minutes (2 addt'l prints * 20 minutes final show) = $259.20 
TOTAL  DV to 16-4MC          $4,026.20 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $13,086.04 
 

Shoot on a rented DVCAM 130, purchase Premiere edit system with rented deck,16mm transfer at 4MC  

SHOOT:   DVCAM  

Master Stock StudioF&T $25.00 $/34min @ 0.029 tape/min * 200 minutes shot = $147.06 
Camera Rental Plus8 $450.00 $/day @ 4.000 d/wk * 1 week production = $1,800.00 
TOTAL DVCAM          $1,947.06 
 
POST:   Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental  

NLE Purchase ProMax $5,000.00 $/system        $5,000.00 
Deck Rental Plus8 $225.00 $/day @ 4.000 days/wk * 2 weeks offline = $1,800.00 
Edit Mast StudioF&T $25.00 $/tape @ 0.029 tape/min * 20 minutes final show = $14.71 
TOTAL  Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental          $6,814.71 

RELEASE: DV to 16-4MC  $4026.2  

(See DV to 16-4MC above) 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $12,787.97 
 

Shoot DigiBeta, cut on an analog Avid, 16mm transfer at 4MC  

SHOOT: DigiBeta  

Master Stock StudioF&T $48.49 $/40min @ 0.025 tape/min * 200 minutes shot = $242.45 
Camera Rental Plus8 $1,200.00 $/day @ 4.000 d/wk * 1 week production = $4,800.00 
TOTAL DigiBeta          $5,042.45 
 
POST:  DigiBeta to Beta NLE  

DigiBeta to Beta xfer FK $150.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 200 minutes shot = $500.00 
Avid Rental Straight Line $1,400.00 $/wk    * 2 weeks offline = $2,800.00 
Camera Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 200 minutes shot = $116.67 
Edit Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 20 minutes final show = $11.67 
Online Straight Line $225.00 $/hr    * 2 hours online = $450.00 
TOTAL  DigiBeta to Beta NLE          $3,878.33 
 
RELEASE:  Beta to 16-4MC  

Video to 16 xfer 4MC $180.00 $/min    * 20 minutes final show = $3,600.00 
Additional Prints 4MC $0.18 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 40 additional printed minutes (2 addt'l prints * 20 minutes final show) = $259.20 
TOTAL  Beta to 16-4MC          $3,859.20 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $12,779.98 
 
 

II. Costs for 35mm Film Feature 

ASSUMPTIONS (appearing where applicable):  
- 35mm Feature for festival release 
-  3 release prints 
- 90 minutes long 
- 900 minutes shot 
- Production rate:  5 pages/day = 4 weeks production time 
- NLE offline of 9 weeks 
- Flatbed offline of 18 weeks 
- 9 hours video online (fine cut finished before online) 

 
Shoot 35, Avid Edit 

SHOOT:  35mm Film  

35 NegativeStock KODAK $0.52 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 900 minutes shot = $42,120.00 
35 Processing FK $0.25 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 900 minutes shot = $20,169.00 
35 Camera Rental BIRNS $425.00 $/day @ 3.000 d/wk * 4 week production = $5,100.00 
TOTAL 35mm Film          $67,389.00 
 
POST:  Film to Beta NLE  

Film to Beta xfer FK $345.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 900 minutes shot = $5,175.00 
Avid Rental Straight Line $1,400.00 $/wk    * 9 weeks offline = $12,600.00 
Camera Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 900 minutes shot = $525.00 
Edit Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $52.50 
Online Straight Line $225.00 $/hr    * 9 hours online = $2,025.00 
TOTAL  Film to Beta NLE          $20,377.50 
 
RELEASE: NLE Edit to 35 Release Print-Std Answer  

Negative Cutting Sin Hak Gaw $6.50 $/cut @ 15.000 cuts/min * 90 minutes final show = $8,775.00 
Answer A/B FK $1.88 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $15,219.90 
Check Print (2) FK $0.40 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $3,199.50 
IP FK $1.88 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $15,236.10 
IN FK $1.64 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $13,292.10 
Release Print FK $0.37 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 270 printed minutes (3 prints * 90 minutes final show) = $8,966.70 
TOTAL  NLE Edit to 35 Release Print-Std Answer          $64,689.30 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $152,455.80 
 

Shoot Super16, Avid Edit  

SHOOT: Super 16  

Super 16 Stock Studio F&T $0.31 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 900 minutes shot = $10,044.00 
Super 16 Processing FK $0.25 $/ft @ 36.000 ft/min * 900 minutes shot = $8,067.60 
Super 16 Camera Rental BIRNS $300.00 $/day @ 3.000 d/wk * 4 week production = $3,600.00 
TOTAL Super 16          $21,711.60 
 
POST: Film to Beta NLE  

(See  POST: Film to Beta NLE above) 

RELEASE: Shot S16, NLE Edit to 35 print  

Shot S16, NLE Edit to 35-Std Answer 
Negative Cutting Sin Hak Gaw $7.00 $/cut @ 15.000 cuts/min * 90 minutes final show = $9,450.00 
Answer A/B FK $1.88 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $15,219.90 
Check Print (2) FK $0.40 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $3,199.50 
35 Blowup CFI $2.57 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $20,854.26 
35 IP FK $2.61 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $21,165.30 
35 IN FK $1.64 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 90 minutes final show = $13,292.10 
Release Print FK $0.37 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 270 printed minutes (3 prints * 90 minutes final show) = $8,966.70 
TOTAL  Shot S16, NLE Edit to 35-Std Answer          $92,147.76 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $134,236.86 
 
 
Shoot HD, Avid Edit, transfer to 35 at Sony Pictures  

SHOOT: HD  

Master Stock Plus8 $64.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 900 minutes shot = $960.00 
Camera Rental Plus8 $1,500.00 $/day @ 4.000 d/wk * 4 week production = $24,000.00 
TOTAL HD          $24,960.00 
 
POST:  HD to Beta NLE  

HD to Beta xfer SONY $150.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 900 minutes shot = $2,250.00 
Avid Rental Straight Line $1,400.00 $/wk    * 9 weeks offline = $12,600.00 
Camera Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 900 minutes shot = $525.00 
Edit Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $52.50 
Online Laser Pacific $850.00 $/hr    * 9 hours online = $7,650.00 
TOTAL  HD to Beta NLE          $23,077.50 
 
RELEASE: HD to 35-SONY  

Video to 35 xfer SONY $458.67 $/min    * 90 minutes final show = $41,280.00 
Release Print FK $0.37 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 270 printed minutes (3 prints * 90 minutes final show) = $8,966.70 
TOTAL  HD to 35-SONY          $50,246.70 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $98,284.20 
 

Shoot DVCAM wide (DSR-130 WS), Purchase Premiere system w/ no deck, Sony transfer  

SHOOT:  DVCAM  

Master Stock StudioF&T $25.00 $/34min @ 0.029 tape/min * 900 minutes shot = $661.76 
Camera Rental Plus8 $450.00 $/day @ 4.000 d/wk * 4 week production = $7,200.00 
TOTAL DVCAM          $7,861.76 
 
POST: Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental  

NLE Purchase ProMax $5,000.00 $/system        $5,000.00 
Deck Rental Plus8 $225.00 $/day @ 4.000 days/wk * 9 weeks offline = $8,100.00 
Edit Mast StudioF&T $25.00 $/tape @ 0.029 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $66.18 
TOTAL  Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental       $13,166.18 
 
RELEASE: DV to 35-SONY  

DVCAM to DigiBeta xfer 4MC $167.00 $/tape @ 0.050 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $751.50 
DB Cam Mast SFT $48.49 $/tape @ 0.025 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $109.10 
Video to 35 xfer SONY $488.00 $/min    * 90 minutes final show = $43,920.00 
Release Prints FK $0.37 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 270 printed minutes (3 prints * 90 minutes final show) = $8,966.70 
TOTAL  DV to 35-SONY          $53,747.30 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $74,775.24 
 

Shoot DigiBeta, Avid Edit, Vid to Film Transfer at Sony  

SHOOT: DigiBeta  

Master Stock StudioF&T $48.49 $/40min @ 0.025 tape/min * 900 minutes 
shot = $1,091.03 
Camera Rental Plus8 $1,200.00 $/day @ 4.000 d/wk * 4 week production = $19,200.00 
TOTAL DigiBeta          $20,291.03 
 
POST: DigiBeta to Beta NLE  

DigiBeta to Beta xfer FK $150.00 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 900 minutes shot = $2,250.00 
Avid Rental Straight Line $1,400.00 $/wk    * 9 weeks offline = $12,600.00 
Camera Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 900 minutes shot = $525.00 
Edit Mast SFT $17.50 $/tape @ 0.033 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $52.50 
Online Straight Line $225.00 $/hr    * 9 hours online = $2,025.00 
TOTAL  DigiBeta to Beta NLE          $17,452.50 
 
RELEASE: DigiBeta/Beta to 35-SONY  

Video to 35 xfer SONY $488.00 $/min    * 90 minutes final show = $43,920.00 
Release Print FK $0.37 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 270 printed minutes (3 prints * 90 minutes final show) = $8,966.70 
TOTAL  DigiBeta/Beta to 35-SONY          $52,886.70 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $90,630.23 
 

Shoot on Purchased MiniDV, Purchase Premiere system, Sony transfer  

SHOOT: MiniDV Purchase  

Master Stock StudioF&T $16.32 $/hr @ 0.017 hr/min * 900 minutes shot = 
$244.80 
Camera Purchase ProMax $4,000.00 $/camera        $4,000.00 
TOTAL MiniDV Purchase          $4,244.80 
 
POST: Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV, Camera Purchase  

NLE Purchase ProMax $5,000.00 $/system        $5,000.00 
Master Stock StudioF&T $16.32 $/tape @ 0.017 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $24.48 
TOTAL  Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV, Camera Purchase $5,024.48 
 
RELEASE: DV to 35-SONY  

(See RELEASE: DV to 35-SONY above) 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $63,016.58 
 
 
Shoot DigiBeta, Avid Edit, Vid to Film Transfer at 4MC  

SHOOT: DigiBeta  

(See SHOOT: DigiBeta above) 

POST: DigiBeta to Beta NLE  

(See POST: DigiBeta to Beta NLE above) 

RELEASE: DigiBeta/Beta to 35-4MC  

Video to 35 xfer 4MC $425.00 $/min    * 90 minutes final show = $38,250.00 
Additional Prints 4MC $0.18 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 180 additional printed minutes (2 addt'l prints * 90 minutes final show) = $2,916.00 
TOTAL  DigiBeta/Beta to 35-4MC          $41,166.00 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $78,909.53 
 

Shoot DVCAM wide, Purchase Premiere system w/ no deck, 4MC transfer  

SHOOT: DVCAM  

(See  SHOOT: DVCAM above) 

POST: Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental  

(See POST: Shot DVCAM to Purchased DVCAM NLE, deck rental above) 

RELEASE: DV to 35-4MC  

DVCAM to DigiBeta xfer 4MC $167.00 $/20 min @ 0.050 tape/min * 90 minutes final show = $751.50 
Video to 35 xfer 4MC $425.00 $/min    * 90 minutes final show = $38,250.00 
Additional Prints 4MC $0.18 $/ft @ 90.000 ft/min * 180 additional printed minutes (2 addt'l prints * 90 minutes final show) = $2,916.00 
TOTAL  DV to 35-4MC          $41,917.50 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $62,945.44 
 

Shoot on Purchased MiniDV, Purchase Premiere system, transfer at 4MC  

SHOOT: MiniDV Purchase  

(See  SHOOT: MiniDV Purchase  above) 

POST: Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV, Camera Purchase  

(See POST: Shot MiniDV to Purchased MiniDV, Camera Purchase above) 

RELEASE: DV to 35-4MC  

(See RELEASE: DV to 35-4MC above) 
 
GRAND TOTAL: $51,186.78