The Australian standard. Ready for production.

Built for the rigorous demands of Australian feature films and television. From script development to post-production visual effects, this is your blueprint for compliance and clarity.

The Value Props

Built for Australian Compliance. The standard A-Z framework, pre-configured for local funding bodies and offset requirements. Forget manual fringe calculations. Focus on the creative.

Fluid Automation. Drop in your day rates. Apply MEAA rules instantly. Spend less time fixing broken formulas and more time optimizing your shoot schedule.

The Living Document. Your numbers are not trapped in a grid. This budget syncs directly with a clean, client-ready pitch document. Two sides. One brain.

Comprehensive Guide how to use the Australian A-Z budget template

Key takeaways

The Australian A-Z format is the definitive structure for long-form production in the region. This template handles everything from early-stage story rights to complex offshore travel and delivery requirements. It provides a standardized language for Line Producers, Executive Producers, and funding agencies.

For whom is this budget template? Who will benefit from this?

This template is engineered for Line Producers, Bidding Producers, and Production Accountants working on Australian domestic projects or international co-productions shooting in Australia. If you need to present numbers to Screen Australia, state agencies, or major studios, this is your foundation.

Understanding the structure of the budget

The A-Z template follows the chronological lifecycle of a film or television project. It begins with "STORY & SCRIPT" and "DEVELOPMENT," moving through above-the-line costs like "PRODUCERS" and "DIRECTORS". The bulk of the production is captured in sections like "UNIT FEES & SALARIES," "SETS & PROPERTIES," and "LOCATIONS," before concluding with detailed breakdowns for "POST-PRODUCTION," "MUSIC," and "DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS".

How to customize the spreadsheet for your production

Every production is unique. Use Splinde to easily toggle sections on or off. Shooting entirely in-studio? Collapse the "LOCATIONS" and "TRAVEL & TRANSPORT" sections. Managing an international cast? Adjust the "OFFSHORE CAST - Non-resident Fees" versus "AUSTRALIAN CAST" lines to reflect your exact talent mix.

Tips and Best Practices for Effective Budgeting

• Isolate Offshore Costs: Use the dedicated "OFFSHORE SHOOT" and "Expenses-Offshore" line items to clearly separate domestic spend from international expenses.

• Detailed Post-Production: Do not group post-costs. Utilize the specific line items for "Digital Intermediate," "Titles," and "Closed Caption & Audio Description" to avoid late-stage financial surprises.

• Protect the Contingency: Always map out your "INSURANCES" and weather days accurately based on your location recce.

How the Splinde key features will help you to manage this budget

Drag and Drop financial logics like social fees, taxes, fringes, overtime etc.

Australian payroll is complex. Splinde allows you to drag and drop superannuation, payroll tax, and workers' compensation directly into your crew lines. Math you can touch.

Real time collaboration for the entire workspace

Stop emailing different versions of the budget. Let your Production Manager update the "UNIT FACILITIES & STORES" while you refine the "CAST-PRINCIPALS"—all in real-time, without overwriting each other's work.

Real time generation of an offer document in a notion like editor

Presenting your budget shouldn't require copy-pasting into a separate text file. Splinde’s live-synced Document Editor pulls your top-sheet numbers into a rigorous, cleanly formatted proposal.

Calculate different currencies with real time conversion

Handling "Location Surveys - Overseas" or "Airfares International"? Input costs in the local currency and let Splinde instantly convert them back to AUD with live, accurate exchange rates.

Get the Australian A-Z template in splinde.io for free

Stop fighting with spreadsheets. Start building your production.

What's Inside (The Blueprint)

This template comes fully loaded with the standard A-Z line items, including:

• Development & Script: Pre-built lines for Story Rights, Writers Fees, and Script Editors.

• Comprehensive Casting: Separated logic for Australian resident fees versus Offshore cast.

• Granular Crew Salaries: Every department accounted for, from "Action Vehicles Crew" to "Occupational Health & Safety".

• Physical Production Logistics: Detailed tracking for "LOCATIONS" (Council fees, Security, Traffic Control) and "STAGE RENTALS".

• Post-Production & VFX: Specific sections for "DIGITAL VISUAL EFFECTS," "IMAGE POST-PRODUCTION," and "POST-PRODUCTION SOUND".

• Music & Delivery: Standardized entries for Commissioned Music, Pre-existing Music rights, and final delivery components like ISAN Registration.

Frequently asked Questions

What is the Australian A-Z budget format? It is the standard, chronological framework required by Australian funding bodies and production companies. It systematically organizes costs from early story development through to final film delivery.

How do I handle international crew in this template? The template features explicit sections for "Offshore Unit Crew" and "Expenses-Offshore". This allows you to easily track and separate non-resident fees, travel, and per diems from your local Australian spend.

Does this template cover digital capture and VFX? Yes. It includes modern post-production categories, including sections for "IMAGE CAPTURE - TAPE & HD," detailed "DIGITAL VISUAL EFFECTS" quoting, and digital delivery requirements.