RivetAI

Budgeting

Budgets that follow the script

AI top-sheet budgets with guild rates, tax incentives, fringes, and scenario planning. When the screenplay or schedule changes, finance and production see the same live numbers.

Get started
Budget$4,850,000
Grand total$4.85M
Cost / shoot day$162K
Contingency10%

The Warehouse

CategoryEst.
Above-the-line & cast$1,350,000
Production (camera & grip)$1,180,000
Locations & stages$985,000
VFX & atmosphere$340,000
GA30%
NM25%
CA20%
NY18%
Net after incentives$4,620,000

12

Supported currencies

Budget in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, JPY, CHF, CNY, MXN, INR, and ARS for international productions.

5

Guild rate sources

DGA, WGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, and Teamsters assumptions built into budget topsheets from your tagged breakdown.

4

Export formats

PDF, CSV, Excel, and RivetAI Budget XML for finance handoffs and re-import into RivetAI.

Key capabilities

Budget$4,785,000

The Warehouse

Top sheet from script tags and stripboard

CategoryEst.
Above-the-line & cast$1,350,000
Production (camera & grip)$1,180,000
Locations & stages$985,000
VFX & atmosphere$340,000

Budget topsheets

Above- and below-the-line estimates generated from screenplay scope. Drill from category to line items with estimate, actual, and variance on every row.

Start from template4 templates
NetflixAbove the Line, Production, Post, Other
Selected
DisneyATL, Production, Editorial, Visual Effects
Use
HBOAbove the Line, Below the Line, Post, Contingency
Use
BBCTalent, Production, Facilities, Completion
Use

Studio budget templates

Start from industry-standard account structures for Netflix, Disney, HBO, BBC, Marvel, CBS, and more. Apply a template to set categories and line items before AI fills estimates.

Budget health$4,850,000
Grand total$4.85M
Cost / shoot day$162K
Contingency10%
ATL / BTL32 / 68
Committed41%
Variance+$12K

Budget health at a glance

Grand total, cost per shoot day, contingency, ATL/BTL split, committed spend, and variance in one KPI row. Spot overages before they spread.

Tax incentivesGA suggested
GA30%
NM25%
CA20%
NY18%
TX0%
IL30%
Effective rate26.4%
Gross $4,850,000Net credit −$230KNet $4,620,000

Tax incentive intelligence

Interactive US map, searchable catalog, and side-by-side jurisdiction compare. Model effective rates and net budget after credits from stripboard locations.

BenchmarksFeature · Drama
CategoryTyp.Act.Status
Above the line32%34%atypical
Locations12%11%typical
Camera8%9%atypical

Industry benchmarks

Compare spend to industry and peer production-type benchmarks. See which categories are typical or atypical before you lock the budget.

ScenariosCompare versions
Base caseActive
$4,850,000
Extended shoot
$5,120,000
GA incentive
$4,620,000

Scenario planning

Save named budget versions and compare totals side by side. What-if shoot days and assumption changes without duplicating spreadsheets.

Fringes$518K est.
NameRateEst.
Payroll tax7.65%$142K
Workers comp3.2%$58K
Pension / health17.5%$318K

Fringe and payroll tracking

Payroll and benefit fringes at line, category, and budget-wide levels. Rate, unit, ceiling, estimate, actual, and variance in one rollup.

Script breakdown

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

12.

A cavernous space. Rows of crates disappear into shadow. Rain hammers the corrugated roof.

Water drips through rusted skylights. Marcus sweeps his flashlight across stacked pallets and faded shipping labels.

Marcus moves between stacks, flashlight low. He freezes, FOOTSTEPS echo from the loading bay.

He kills the light. Listens. Somewhere above, metal groans, old CATWALK rigging shifting under weight.

MARCUS

(under his breath)

We shouldn't be here.

Nothing. Then a red laser dot settles on his chest. He slowly raises his hands.

ELENA (O.S.)

(from the catwalk)

Marcus. Don't move.

Marcus whips around. On the catwalk, Elena lowers into view, handgun drawn.

MARCUS

We need to move. Now.

Linked to the screenplay

Script revisions trigger staleness prompts so budget and schedule stay current. Targeted AI rebudget refreshes only the categories you choose.

Import & export

Move work in and out with industry-standard formats. Availability may vary by license tier.

3import formats4export deliverables4export formats

Bring in

Budget import

3 formats
  • RivetAI Budget XML
  • JSON
  • Movie Magic (.mmbx/.mbd)

Send out

Full budget

4 formats
  • PDF
  • CSV
  • Excel (.xlsx)
  • RivetAI Budget XML

Top sheet

2 formats
  • PDF
  • Excel (.xlsx)

Actuals

2 formats
  • Excel (.xlsx)
  • CSV

Fringes

2 formats
  • Excel (.xlsx)
  • CSV

How it works

Step 1

Complete the breakdown

Budgeting pulls from cast, locations, elements, and scene metadata already in RivetAI.

Step 2

Generate topsheet and line items

AI drafts a top-sheet with guild rates and standard line items. Apply studio templates or refine detail before sharing with finance.

Step 3

Share with finance and production

Lock approved budgets, track actuals, and export to PDF, Excel, or RivetAI XML when department heads need their own copy.

Your script stays yours

AES-256 encrypted cloud infrastructure, scoped share links, and zero use of your screenplay to train AI models.

Review security

Related modules

Shoot plans from script and scene tagsWrite, tag, and revise in one editor
Budgets that follow the script | RivetAI · RivetAI