Complete Short Film Toolkit
Complete Short Film Toolkit
- Edit your budget in Excel.
- Organise production and shoot planning.
- Track post-production and delivery.
3 workbooks · 3 PDFs · Email delivery
CAUSEWAY PICTURES / MANAGE THE WHOLE FILM
Plan from the first budget to final delivery.
Bring budget, production, post-production and festival planning into one working set.
£39 · 3 Excel workbooks · 3 PDFs · ZIP download
Download link sent by email after checkout. Microsoft Excel required for workbooks.
Includes 3 editable Excel workbooks, 3 PDFs and a Start Here file. Microsoft Excel is required for the workbooks. Your download link arrives by email after checkout. No physical item is shipped.
Look inside the workbooks
These excerpts show selected rows and columns from the included workbooks. The page layout is simplified for reading. Open the downloaded Excel files to edit inputs and use the calculations.
Preview the budget worksheet
| Cost | Qty | Rate (£) | Total (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writer / screenplay | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rights / option costs | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Principal cast | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Enter Quantity × Rate × Units for each cost. Review department totals and contingency on the Summary tab. The zero values shown are template inputs, rather than suggested production rates.
Preview shoot-day control
| Daily control item | Status |
|---|---|
| Call sheet issued | Not Started |
| Cast confirmed | Not Started |
| Crew confirmed | Not Started |
| Location access confirmed | Not Started |
| Media backed up | Not Started |
The workbook also includes owner, reference, issue/action and completion fields.
Created by Chris Patterson at Causeway Pictures, Belfast. Explore our production work or ask a product question.
What you will receive
- Complete Short Film Toolkit workbook (.xlsx): funding and finance, shoot-day control, post-production and festival strategy.
- Short Film Budget Template (.xlsx): budget, summary and guidance.
- Short Film Starter Pack (.xlsx): production checklist, schedule, crew and cast planners, locations planner and delivery checklist.
- Pack Usage Notes (PDF, 6 pages): file instructions, inputs, formulas and checks.
- Professional Guide to Filmmaking (PDF, 15 pages): Chris Patterson's guide from development through delivery.
- Product Licence and Disclaimer (PDF, 2 pages).
Choose the right short film pack
This £39 toolkit includes the Short Film Budget Template and Short Film Starter Pack workbooks listed above, plus the additional toolkit workbook and guides. You do not need to buy the Budget Template or Starter Pack separately for those included files.
- Start with the free Greenlight Checklist for a two-page planning PDF.
- Choose the £7 Budget Template if you only need the budget workbook.
- Choose the £19 Starter Pack for budgeting and practical production planning.
Who it is for
Film students, first-time producers and independent filmmakers planning a short film. Start with the budget, carry the same project through prep and shooting, then keep post-production and delivery in view.
Files and access
The September 2026 edition arrives as one ZIP containing 3 editable Excel workbooks, 3 PDFs totalling 23 pages, and a Start Here text file. Extract the ZIP, read the usage notes and licence, and save a dated working copy before entering your project details in Microsoft Excel. No physical item is supplied.
Current-rule check: The Professional Guide includes September 2026 UK HMRC and Irish Revenue incentive references. Verify current official HMRC and Revenue rules and scheme guidance before relying on them.
Common questions
- Is this a physical product? No. It is a digital download, so there is no shipping.
- What software do I need? Microsoft Excel for the workbooks and a PDF reader for the guides and licence.
- Is this legal, tax or investment advice? No. The files help organise production information; seek independent advice before relying on them for a project.
- Can I use the files for more than one project? Use is subject to the included product licence. Read the licence before starting work.
The files help organise production information. They do not replace project-specific legal, tax, accounting, investment or safety advice. Statutory consumer rights are unaffected.
Production experience behind these tools
Created by Chris Patterson, founder of Causeway Pictures, Belfast, with over 20 years in film and television. Chris produced Lie of the Land, winner of Best Irish First Feature at Galway Film Fleadh 2023, and Hostage to the Devil. He co-produced the UK section of Netflix’s Senna.
These resources focus on the practical decisions behind a production: what needs doing, who owns it and what it costs. Explore our credits and industry recognition.
Download help
Your download link is sent by email after checkout. If the email is missing, check your spam or junk folder. For help, email info@causewaypictures.com with your order number and the email address used for your order. Please do not place a second order to recover a missing download.