This Guiding Principles of Departmental Budgeting course is designed to provide HETV and Film professionals the skills and confidence to prepare departmental budgets, so that productions have access to a highly skilled workforce.
Please note: this course is online with a mix of live sessions interspersed with on-demand learning.
If you answered yes to these questions and are an HETV or Film professional who:
- Has 3+ years’ experience in HETV or Film.
- Works in AD, Art, Costume, Hair & Make-up or Locations Department.
- Is a craft/technical co-ordinator, HOD or a 3rd AD.
- Lacks experience and/or confidence in budgeting.
- Would like to develop their skills and learn how to put together a departmental budget; that can be backed up with credible and consistent assumptions.
If this sounds like you, then book your place now on this free-to-attend ONLINE course.
This training is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions and by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions.
We welcome applications from all individuals. If you would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email training@mission.guru.
This course would normally cost participants £400, but thanks to funding from ScreenSkills, it is currently being offered to you free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.
This course is for HETV and Film professionals in:
AD department
- 3rd ADs with 3 or more years’ experience
Art Department
- HODs
- Craft/technical co-ordinators
- Professionals with 3 or more years’ experience in the department
Costume
- HODs
- Craft/technical co-ordinators
- Professionals with 3 or more years’ experience in the department
Hair and Make-up
- HODs
- Craft/technical co-ordinators
- Professionals with 3 or more years’ experience in the department
Locations
- HODs
- Craft/technical co-ordinators
- Professionals with 3 or more years’ experience in the department
We also welcome applications from those looking to return to work following a career break who have equivalent experience.
The training will be provided through a mixture of on-demand and live content sessions. The on-demand modules will be made available to participants as soon as they have been accepted onto the course.
COURSE OUTLINE
| MODULE | CONTENT |
|---|---|
|
MODULE 1 – Introduction to Budgeting Live ZOOM |
Live session facilitated by trainer, Addie Orfila – Introduction to course, aims and objectives, why departmental budgeting is important, and introduction to key elements on the course. |
|
MODULE 2 – On-demand The Guiding Principles of Departmental Budgeting On demand E-LEARNING |
This module is a series of on-demand lessons which guides participants through creating and tracking a departmental budget. It is divided into 4 lessons.
* There is AD Department specific budgeting content available. |
|
MODULE 3 – Everything you ever wanted to know about budgeting for your department. Live ZOOM |
These sessions are live and department specific (AD, Art, Costume, Hair and Make-up, Locations). The live class follows the completion of on-demand Module 2. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn first-hand from an experienced Head of Department, relevant to their department, about the specifics of budgeting for their department. This module will be hosted by the trainer, Addie Orfila, and includes a structured conversation with an HOD, using real life examples from productions. |
|
MODULE 4 – Everything you ever wanted to know about working with a Production Accountant. Live ZOOM |
These sessions are live and wrap up the course. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn first-hand from an experienced Production Accountant, about the specifics of working with accounts. This module will be hosted by the trainer, Addie Orfila, and includes a structured conversation with a Production Accountant. |
This course combines live Zoom sessions with on-demand e-learning. All participants begin with an introductory live session and on-demand training.
The final live session with a Production Accountant is open to all participants eligible for the live modules. This session provides valuable insight into what Production Accountants need from you and practical tips for effective communication.
Within 48 hours of acceptance onto the course, you will receive access details for the on-demand training.
You will select one of the following options for your Intro and Production Accountant session. Please ensure you are available for both dates before selecting.
Option 1: SOLD OUT
-
Intro: Tuesday 11th November 2025, 7:30pm–9:00pm– Sold outProduction Accountant: Wednesday 28th January 2026, 7:30pm–9:00pm– Sold out
Option 2
- Intro: Saturday 22nd November 2025, 9:30am–11:00am
- Production Accountant: Saturday 31st January 2026, 9:30am–11:00am
Option 3
- Intro: Thursday 27th November 2025, 7:30pm–9:00pm
- Production Accountant: Thursday 29th January 2026, 7:30pm–9:00pm
Option 4
- Intro: Saturday 6th December 2025, 9:30am–11:00am
- Production Accountant: Saturday 31st January 2026, 11:30am–1:00pm
Participants with 3+ years’ experience will then be invited to join a department-specific live session, offering the chance to learn directly from an experienced Head of Department.
Dates TBC
This course is delivered by Film and TV Industry Professionals and sector experts
Addie Orfila | Course Tutor – LIVE SESSIONS
Addie has extensive production experience spanning over 25 years including ITV, All3Media and BBC. Starting as a trainee, Addie worked her way up as 3rd AD, 1st AD, PM and Head of Production. She has worked on all four of the big UK serial dramas and was HoP at Hollyoaks and Production Manager at Coronation Street. Having worked on shows such as Heartbeat, Touch of Frost, Countdown, My Parents are Aliens, Emmerdale, Barking and Jinx, Addie has a wealth of experience to draw from. Addie is a mentor for Women in Film and Television, was a member of Channel 4’s Mentoring Diversity Network as well as trainer on the pan-industry Project Diamond Diversity monitoring scheme. Addie set up her own training company 7 years ago, delivering bespoke training nationally and internationally for production companies, broadcasters, studios, ScreenSkills, the Film and TV Charity, PACT, The Production Guild, Netflix, BBC, ITV, TRC, BECTU, Screen Yorkshire and others.
Caroline Ball | Course Tutor – ON DEMAND SESSIONS
Caroline Ball is a Line Producer, based in Northern Ireland, who is known for being the driving force behind productions and bringing editorial vision into practical reality. She holds a Masters Degree in Production Management and has over 20 years’ experience working in the production office. Caroline has worked across numerous genres in television, radio and online, most recently working in scripted tv and film. She has experience of designing and delivering training courses. As a Training Executive for eircom, she was responsible for training new and experienced staff in a range of skills, including communication, time management and dealing with others. In the BBC, Caroline planned and delivered workshops to staff with a view to improving ways of working and increasing collaboration among teams.
Department Specific sessions
- Art Department – Antonia Lowe
- Hair and Make Up – Emmy Beech
- AD – Stuart Jerome Learmonth
- Costume – TBC
- Locations – Andy Picheta
- Production Accountant – Theresa Mckay Roberts
BY THE END OF THIS TRAINING COURSE PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE LEARNED:
- Have confidence using spreadsheets
- Be able to troubleshoot spreadsheet problems
- Be confident in estimating materials
- Be confident in estimating labour
- Prepare consistent budgets based on information and tangible assumptions
- Be able to communicate their budget to LP, HOD, Prod Accountant
- Understand the impact of production changes on their budget
- Know how to revise and communicate budget impacts following changes in production
