Below the line (filmmaking)

Below-the-line is a term derived from the top sheet of a budget (Motion Picture, Television, Commercial, Industrial, Student Film, Documentary). The 'line' in below-the-line is the one separating the Actors, Director, Producers, and Writers from the other crew.

The top sheet of the budget is the summary of the entire budget of the project – no matter what the size (cost).

The traditional delineations for the top-sheet are:

• Total Above-the-line
• Total Below-the-line (hence the term)
• Total Above and Below the Line
• Additional Coverage (Other)
• Grand Total

In general, Above-the-line refers to Actors, Producers, Writers and Directors. For the most part, these are fixed costs. For example, if a scene is cut from the script, the writer is still paid the same amount.

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

• Assistant Director
• Art Director
• Best Boy Electric
• Best Boy Grip
• Boom Operator
• Camera operator
• Character generator (CG) operator (television)
• Director of Photography
• Costume Designer
• Composer
• Dolly grip
• Film Editor
• Gaffer
• Graphic Artist

• Hair Stylist
• Key Grip
• Line Producer
• Location manager
• Make-up Artist
• Production Assistant
• Script Supervisor (continuity)
• Sound Engineer
• Stage Manager (television)
• Stage Carpenter
• Technical Director (TD) (television)
• Unit Production Manager
• Video control Broadcast engineering (television)
• Visual Effects Editor

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.

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 postproduction crew working on film, TV and commercial projects.

See also

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

External links

• btlnews.com, Below the Line official website