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Film glossary

Below the Line

Below the line refers to the technical crew and operational costs of actually making a film.

Below the line covers camera, lighting, sound, locations, production design, and post-production, among many other departments. It is where most day to day cost control happens during a shoot.

The term sits opposite above the line, which covers creative leadership. A budget top sheet separates the two, and a well managed production keeps a contingency reserve so a single surprise below the line does not derail the schedule.

Go deeper

Film Production Management guideFilm production management is the discipline of planning, budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating everything that turns a greenlit project into a finished film. It spans development, pre-production, production, and post, and it keeps cast, crew, vendors, budget, and deliverables aligned so a film is completed on schedule and ready to deliver.

Related terms

Keep reading the glossary

Above the LineAbove the line refers to the creative leadership costs of a film, usually negotiated before production begins.ContingencyA contingency is a reserve built into a film budget to cover unexpected costs during production.Completion BondA completion bond is a guarantee from a bond company that a film will be finished and delivered on schedule and on budget, or that the financier will be repaid.Bond CompanyA bond company, or completion guarantor, is the party that issues a completion bond guaranteeing a film will be finished and delivered.

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This definition is educational and does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult your own licensed advisors before acting. FILM.FUND is a software and workflow platform, not a broker-dealer. It never handles money, never holds securities, never takes a percentage of any raise or sale, and never predicts returns.