ReelCostTrack a productionBudgeted
The approved working amount assigned to a department, account, or line item.
Actuals, accruals, commitments, and forecast
A film production cost tracker that explains the whole number
ReelCost connects the approved budget with daily activity, receipts, cast and crew earnings, payments, commitments, remaining estimates, and the projected final cost.
A clearer cost chain
Separate the financial states producers need to understand
One “spent” total cannot explain whether work was performed, invoiced, paid, committed, or merely estimated. ReelCost keeps those states visible while rolling them into the production forecast.
Committed
An obligation the production has agreed to, including costs that may not yet have been incurred or paid.
Accrued
Value earned or incurred through the selected date, including scheduled cast and crew work.
Paid
Confirmed disbursements entered by the user, distinct from automatic accrual calculations.
Still owed
The unpaid balance between recorded compensation or cost and confirmed payments.
Estimate to complete
The remaining amount expected to finish, used with current costs and commitments to forecast the projected final cost.
Daily production control
Find variance while there is still time to act
Compare each production day’s actual cost with its allowance, review scheduled personnel, record new expenses, and keep supporting receipts attached to the selected project.
The purpose is not simply to report an overage after wrap. It is to make the change visible early enough for the production team to respond.
Finish-the-film forecast
Connect current costs to the final outcome
ReelCost brings working budget, accrued-to-date, paid amounts, commitments, estimate to complete, contingency, projected final cost, and funding headroom into one production view.
Explore all budgeting featuresCost tracking questions
What production teams need to know
Does accrued automatically mean paid?
No. Accrual reflects work performed or cost incurred. ReelCost only marks an amount paid when the user confirms the payment, helping preserve an accurate unpaid balance.
Can ReelCost track flat-rate and day-rate crew?
Yes. Day-rate entries can accrue across working dates, while flat-rate entries can record partial or full payment and show the remaining balance.
What is projected final cost?
Projected final cost estimates where the production will finish based on current recorded costs, commitments, and remaining estimates. It should be reviewed whenever assumptions or production conditions change.
Does ReelCost replace production accounting?
No. ReelCost supports budgeting, cost control, and forecasting. It does not replace qualified accounting, payroll, tax, legal, union, insurance, or audit professionals and systems.
Know where the production stands