During what phase is a detailed budget for a film typically prepared?

A detailed budget for a film is primarily prepared during the budgeting phase, which is a critical stage in the pre-production process. During this phase, financial projections are made based on various factors including the script, location, cast and crew salaries, equipment costs, set design, and other production elements.

This phase is essential because it determines the overall financial viability of the film project and sets the limits within which the production team must operate. A thorough budget allows filmmakers to allocate resources efficiently, manage expenditures, and avoid overspending, which is crucial to keeping the project on track financially.

While script breakdowns and production schedules are important components of the planning process, they serve more to inform the budgeting phase rather than being the stage where the detailed budget itself is created. Post-production also involves expenditures, but it occurs after filming has been completed and is therefore outside the scope of budget preparation.