Budget Summary
Above The Line
$349,300
Below The Line—Production
$603,000
Below The Line—Post
$214,500
Other (Insurance, Legal, Contingency)
$193,600
Total Budget
$1,360,400
• • •
Above The Line—$349,300
1000
Story Rights & Development
Story Rights/Screenplay
$25,000
Development Costs
$5,000
1100
Producer
Executive Producer
$15,000
Producer
$35,000
Line Producer(35 days × $750)
$26,250
Associate Producer
$10,000
1200
Director
Director(prep through final cut)
$50,000
1300
Cast
Gil Padilla—Lead(22 days × $2,500)
$55,000
Wade Sutter(12 days × $1,800)
$21,600
Dolores Vega(10 days × $1,800)
$18,000
Sandra Chen(8 days × $1,500)
$12,000
Destiny Padilla(9 days × $1,500)
$13,500
Marlene Valdez(4 days × $1,200)
$4,800
Tommy Benavides(3 days × $1,200)
$3,600
Elena Marsh(4 days × $1,200)
$4,800
Caroline Sutter(2 days × $1,000)
$2,000
Council Members (4)(16 days × $600)
$9,600
Day Players(15 days × $500)
$7,500
Background/Extras(30 man-days × $150)
$4,500
Casting Director
$8,000
Casting Expenses
$2,000
Rehearsal(5 days × $500)
$2,500
1400
ATL Travel & Living
Airfare(out of town talent)
$2,400
Per Diem(60 days × $75)
$4,500
Housing(30 nights × $125)
$3,750
Local Transportation
$3,000
Total Above The Line
$349,300
• • •
New Mexico Tax Credit Calculation
Qualified Spend (est. 92% of budget)
$1,250,188
Base Credit Rate
25%
Additional ABQ Zone Credit
10%
Total Credit Rate
35%
Estimated Tax Credit
$437,566
• • •
Budget Notes
- Budget assumes sound stage partnership with favorable rental terms ($1,500/day)
- All shooting within ABQ metro to qualify for additional 10% tax credit
- SAG Modified Low Budget agreement ($700K–$2.5M theatrical budget)
- Non-union crew with local ABQ hires to maximize qualified NM spend
- 22 shooting days based on 60 scenes, ~2.7 scenes/day average
- Tucumcari storage unit scene to be shot at ABQ practical location
- Monsoon/flooding scenes: practical rain rigs + minimal VFX enhancement
- Gil's trailer interior built on stage; exterior at practical location
- Council chamber built or dressed on stage for maximum control
- Conspiracy wall is a permanent build requiring stage environment
- Crawlspace build: Practical stage set with removable floor sections for camera descent shot; includes Geiger counter prop, sand/fill texture, practical lighting for "Unearthing" aesthetic
- Rhyme scenes (14/56): Bank steps and apartment steps must be shot at same time of day (golden hour) with identical framing—schedule both for magic hour windows
- Geiger counter prop: Period-accurate Civil Defense model labeled "ROSA" with functioning needle and click audio capability