Business of Budgeting

ABOUT

The Business of Budgeting workshop is a two-day workshop that imparts beginner-to-intermediate level knowledge into the process of creating a production budget for content in the Canadian market. Through the use of instruction and exercises, key topics of focus include (but are not limited to): understanding the breakdown,understanding the account codes and line-by-line dissection of the necessary elements, accommodating for contingencies,c reating the cash flow and cost report documentation. Participants will also visit budget templates from a variety of funders (i.e. Ontario Creates, CMF, Bell Fund, IPF, etc.)

*NOTE: a basic knowledge of Excel is required for this program. You must bring your own laptop to the class to work the exercises.

DATES

The Business of Budgeting Workshop is a two-day workshop:

Friday May 12, 2023 (Session One)

Saturday May 13, 2023 (Session Two)

Deadline to register:  Wednesday May 3, 2023 (11:59pm EDT)

LOCATION

This workshop will be held at:

Centennial Story Arts Centre

951 Carlaw Ave (at Mortimer)

*This program is also offered via Zoom.

FEES

WIFT Toronto Members: $250 + hst

Non Members: $325 + hst

Two (2) bursaries will be available to cover program fees for one individual for this program and is made available through the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto.

Bursary application deadline: Wed April 26, 2023 (11:59pm EDT)

ELIGIBILITY

This workshop is targeted to:

1) Content creators who need to understand and perhaps perform the process of building a budget;

2) People with production accounting experience in lower level positions looking to move upwards.

Working knowledge of and experience in production accounting and a basic familiarity with budgeting is recommended. Knowledge of the Excel program will be required and those participating from home (virtually) will have to have access to Excel to partake. If you have previously enrolled in WIFT Toronto's Media Business Essentials program (as a whole) or completed the Production Accounting or Production Management module of that program, this workshop will be a good addition for you.

SESSIONS & INSTRUCTORS

Linda Stregger

Linda has more than 25 years’ experience in the television industry which includes consulting with PWC Canada in their media tax division; Producing for Domestic Broadcasters in live sports; animation films and tv series; live action tv series; and consulting with Cable channels during their start up years.

Linda combined her accounting training with a keen eye for story to lead teams that delivered the highest quality programs. As an Executive with Up Front Entertainment, she produced more than 600 hours of programing including 27 documentaries and 20 series for domestic and international broadcasters.

Linda is currently a consultant specializing in Production Financing, Canadian tax credits, Executive Producing and Strategic Planning in the Canadian Media Industry. Linda is a multiple Canadian Screen Award nominee, a recipient of several International Festival awards and the proud winner of a Gemini for Best Doc Series.

Linda created curriculums and has served as a lecturer for the following institutions: Humber College TV Arts & Media program in Toronto Banff Spark Executive Program Canada-wide WIFT Intermediate Production Accounting; WIFT Business Essentials; WIFT Business of Budgeting Executive Mentor at York University’s Schulich School of Business Arts, Media & Entertainment MBA Program Linda served on the Board of Directors as Chair for Women in Film & Television Toronto and as Treasurer for not-for-profit organizations: Horizons for Youth Shelter and Visual Arts Mississauga.

Kevin Lafferty

Kevin Lafferty is an Emmy-winning Toronto-based producer with a thirty-year background in the industry.  He has produced television series and movies for many major international distributors and broadcasters, most recently including “Wednesday”, “Umbrella Academy”, and “Locke & Key” for Netflix, the upcoming Jessie Buckley/Riz Ahmed feature “Fingernails” for Apple, the Phoebe Waller-Bridge series “Run” for HBO, and “Star Trek: Discovery” for CBS and Paramount. He has worked across Canada, having produced in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, and Fredericton, and internationally as well, in Bucharest, Puerto Rico, Budapest, and Cape Town.  He lives in the east end with his wife and three kids.