Costs and deals
The plan for a production, the same figure on every screen, and each person's deal read from it.
cinethreadThe same figure on every screen.
Costs is the plan for a production: the roster at the rates you expect, the other costs, a fee and a target. The same figure shows on Costs, Deals, Home and the client's approval page.
- Part 1 is production, Part 2 is post. Each part is billed on its own estimate, and the production fee is worked out for each part. The target is compared with the whole plan, all in: both parts and their fees.
- A deal sent, or a signed agreement that states money, replaces the plan's figure on its row.
- A signed agreement with no amounts keeps the plan's figure and says why: “Signed · paid in full” or “Signed · no amounts”.
- Each row saves on its own, so two people editing different rows never collide.
From the plan to an estimate, and back again.
Make an estimate from the plan. It is a new draft, linked to the plan, with its number given by the server.
- When the plan changes, Costs and Invoicing both say so and list what changed.
- Update from the plan replaces a draft's lines; Keep as is leaves them.
- An estimate that was sent, viewed or approved is never changed. Make a revised estimate instead.
- Key grip: unfilled → Jonah Feld, $750 × 3 days
- Part 2 · post: edit days 4 → 5
Each person's deal, from the plan.
Deals are built in Agreements and shown on the production's Deals tab, beside the plan they came from.
- The crew member accepts on their own link, with no account.
- Expenses come with a receipt photo; after the shoot they send their wrap.
- A W-9 can be uploaded on the same link.
- Record the payment when it goes out.
Your first plan
- Open the production's Costs tab and add the roster at the rates you expect, then the other costs.
- Set the target and the fee. Mark which lines are post (Part 2).
- Share with the client if they approve the plan; they approve the revision they see.
- Make the deals in Agreements, and an estimate from the plan in Invoicing.
Worth knowing
One number
Costs, Deals, Home and the client's page show the same costing.
Drift is shown
An estimate made from the plan says when the plan moved.
Sent stays sent
An estimate the client has seen is never rewritten.
On a phone
Costs keeps its computer layout, with a note that bigger changes are easier on a laptop.
Common questions
What does the client see?
A page with the plan's parts, the fee and the total for the revision you shared. Their approval is tied to that revision.
A signed agreement says paid in full. What happens to the row?
It keeps the plan's figure and says “Signed · paid in full”. Only an agreement that states money replaces a row.
Can I change an estimate after the client opened it?
No. A sent, viewed or approved estimate is never changed; make a revised estimate.
Where are the deals made?
In Agreements. The Deals tab shows each one beside the plan.
Related guides
Plan it once,
see it everywhere.
Request access for your team, or log in if your team already runs on Cinethread.