Chart of Accounts
One of the most important steps to selling any show is a producer's ability to create an accurate and realistic preliminary budget. We built the following chart of accounts (C of A) as a template for this purpose. This all-encompassing C of A can be utilized for 2D, 3D and hybrid productions. It lists all possible line items including personnel, equipment, etc., to be budgeted for and their respective account codes (e.g., 0200 Producer's Unit). Once in production, these account codes are utilized by the production accountant and crew to assign and track costs for each line item. Depending on the studio, there may already be a standard numbering system in place, in which case these codes will need to be adjusted accordingly. No matter how your project is produced, the purpose of having all items included in the C of A is to remind you of all potential costs to be incurred on your production. As with all templates, the producer should tailor the information to suit his or her particular production requirements. There are different ways to create a budget. For example, you can build your own spreadsheets using software such as MicrosoftÒExcel. However, the most commonly used budgeting system in the entertainment industry is called Movie Magic. It is an interactive software application that is specially designed for production accounting. This chart of accounts, named the "Animation Budget Builder," is available on Movie Magic budgeting software.

Download your chart of accounts now using Adobe Acrobat.

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Here is a sampling of the type of response we have received in relation to the Animation Budget Builder:

You guys have made my day! Thank goodness for the animation add-on for Movie Magic!!!!! I have called them a million times asking why there was no such thing in Movie Magic! YOU'RE WONDERFUL!

Randi Yaffa
Executive Producer
Red Rover Studios Ltd.

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Catherine Winder has worked as both an executive producer in television and feature animation. Her background in development, as well as production with studios from around the world has given her a rare global expertise in the field of animation. In her present position as vice president production for Fox Feature Animation, she is overseeing production of the studio's 2D traditional and 3D CGI animated movies. She has co-written Producing Animation with Zahra Dowlatabadi.

Zahra Dowlatabadi, an award-winning producer, started her animation career in 1986. Since then, Dowlatabadi has worked in almost every major studio in Los Angeles along with many internationally acclaimed animation studios and talent. Dowlatabadi is the founder of an organization entitled Animation Team, which assists studios with production staffing needs ranging from qualified line producers to experienced production assistants. She also has co-written a book entitled Producing Animation with Catherine Winder for Focal Press.