
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, creating 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.
IMPORTANT DATES
The Business of Budgeting Workshop is a two-day workshop:
Friday & Saturday, October 4 - 5, 2024
(9:30am - 4:30pm)
Opening for Registration (Members only): Monday August 19, 2024
Opening for Scholarship Applications: Monday August 19, 2024
Opening for Registration (public): Monday August 26, 2024
Deadline for Scholarship Applications: Sunday September 22, 2024
Deadline for Registration: Sunday September 29, 2024
LOCATION
Location for this workshop is currently TBA.
2024 Registration Fees
WIFT Toronto Members: $250 + hst
Non Members: $325 + hst
Two (2) scholarships will be available to cover program fees for individuals for this program and are made available through the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto.
*** 2025 Fees TBA ***
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.
Colin Brunton
Colin Brunton (born 1955) is a Canadian producer and director. Brunton was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After creating the short films The Last Pogo (1978), (1988) and The Mysterious Moon Men of Canada (1989), Genie Award winner for Best Live Action Short), Brunton produced the feature films Roadkill (1989) and Highway 61 (1990) with director Bruce McDonald. Brunton then went on to become the first executive director of , an initiative of Norman Jewison's Canadian Film Centre. Encouraging filmmakers to take risks, and giving them complete artistic freedom, from 1991 to 1995 he developed and then executive produced five feature films by first-time directors, producers and writers: Blood & Donuts, Cube, Rude, Shoemaker, and House. While faring poorly at the box office, they garnered generally favorable critical praise, and in two cases launched the healthy careers of two new directors: Clement Virgo with Rude and Vincenzo Natali with Cube. After leaving the Feature Film Project, Brunton became a hired-gun, working as a line producer, producer, and production manager on a variety of feature films and television series including the features Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Safety of Objects and Foolproof, as well as the television series The Newsroom, Our Hero, Schitt's Creek and Puppets Who Kill. Brunton continues working at a steady pace, most recently producing the TV series Little Mosque on the Prairie, Spun Out and Schitt's Creek. In 2007 he completed the concert DVD featuring mysterious musician Jandek, and in 2013 he released the feature-length documentary The Last Pogo Jumps Again in collaboration with Kire Paputts. He was also in the 2007 movie How She Move. He was line producer on Empire of Dirt, a film that was nominated in 2013 for Best Picture at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards. (en)