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CSI MIAMI 08 Budget x EPISODE???

Ketch Rossi

Ketch Rossi

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Hi guys,

trying to get an idea of the current budget per episode of the seventh season of CSI MIAMI, as I'm currently involved in presenting a similar series based in Dubai, but with the central story based on a Photography LAB instead of a crime Lab and the central character is a Photographer, and not a crime scene investigator.

Shooting style and location scenery have various similarities to the show, tone of gorgeous ladies and such, FX are will be different and not as many, also mostly done during the shooting rater then in post.

Thanks for sharing.

Ciao
 
Ketch, the budget for that show mostly goes to talents, and staff now.

You can not compare a long running hit like that to a new one.

You need a line producer to do a real productions budget.

Tek

P. S. I think they also own their gears like color bays, and other equips.
 
I would think around 10 million + an episode
 
tekcin said:
Ketch, the budget for that show mostly goes to talents, and staff now.

You can not compare a long running hit like that to a new one.

You need a line producer to do a real productions budget.

Tek

P. S. I think they also own their gears like color bays, and other equips.
Click to expand...

Tek, you are correct, and I'm not trying to get the info as to make any direct comparisons, this is mostly as for personal reference and curiosity, not only because I do love the show, but because we came to this questioning during my presentation and comparison to the show it self, I already have a budget for the first run of the Mini series and it is far superior to any TV show ever filmed, as each episode, will be shot as a feature film, and it will have the highest number of celebrity cameos ever to be in any show in TV history.

This come to question as they say it probably was double the budget of CSI Miami, and I just had no clue as to the actual budget it self, for the 08 season that is.

Obviously nothing is done till is done, but the prospects are great.

Thanks for the replay.

Hope that some one does know the exact number, I to, Finner was told that the budget was in the ten mil, but that has not been confirmed, and I just would like to know.

I know that I could just have the Executive producer call it in , but didn't fill like waiting till morning.

Ciao
 
CSI Film Transfer?

CSI Film Transfer?

Does anyone know what CSI Miami is shot with? Is it shot on Film or HD?

It happens to be my favorite HD show in terms of style, color and etc. I'm amazed at how much saturation and color they are able to pull off without screwing up the flesh tones and neutrals. No way they are rotoscoping all flesh tones and grays.

I honestly think it will take more than money to achieve a similar look. The entire production staff, props, lighting, camera, grips, direction and talent is an ensemble that comes together once in a blue moon. West Wing had it. LOST used to have it. Even if they spend $5 Million on production, it would probably take anyone else $10 million to match it with the handicap of time and experience. Sure, someone could get close but CSI Miami is truly a work of art and nothing is worse than an insufficient immatation.

Please do not take any offense here. This post is meant to give the CSI crew the credit they deserve not to take away from what your team may be capable of. I can assure you though that it will cost you double to do the same, at least the first year till you assemble the same quality team and work out the bugs.

Sincerely,

-shooter
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
Hope that some one those know the exact number, I to, Finner was told that the budget was in the ten mil, but that has not been confirmed, and I just would like to know.
Ciao
Click to expand...

Hi Ketch

I am just doing a rough estimate at the 10 mil. Even though David Carusso has to be the worst, most cheezy actors of all time the show is still in the top 5 for drammas. Just add a few #'s Carruso probably gets 1-2 mil an episode and then there is all the rest of the cast to pay. Then all the producers double dip as exec prod's getting profit percentage and producers getting a wage. I would think the show could quite easily tip the 10 mil an episode mark. This has very little to do with how much the show actually costs to make though as the #'s sky rocket as a show moves up the ratings and "above the line" people end up digging deeper into the cookie jar.
 
Shooter, I agree with you 100%, and it is probably my accent that makes people miss understand my point some times.

I intend not to replicate any ones work, not ever, I'm an original creator, and it is because of it that I haven't gone as far and high as I could already have.

I say similar as in the content of the water locations of Miami (well in reality mostly California), vs. the water fronts of new Dubai, the similarity of the younger and more selected models like actors that mostly we see on the series of CSI Miami.

Similar in that of which they mostly play great music, and in surround 5.1.

Similar in that of keeping the series hip, and they always show the glory of the surroundings, as it is one of the main purposes of the show, that of give do glory to Dubai settings.

But I do agree that any imitation of anything in life, even if turns out to be better then the original, will always remain a copy.

ciao
 
Finner said:
Hi Ketch

I am just doing a rough estimate at the 10 mil. Even though David Carusso has to be the worst, most cheezy actors of all time the show is still in the top 5 for drammas. Just add a few #'s Carruso probably gets 1-2 mil an episode and then there is all the rest of the cast to pay. Then all the producers double dip as exec prod's getting profit percentage and producers getting a wage. I would think the show could quite easily tip the 10 mil an episode mark. This has very little to do with how much the show actually costs to make though as the #'s sky rocket as a show moves up the ratings and "above the line" people end up digging deeper into the cookie jar.
Click to expand...

Totally true, Finner, the more money comes in the more money every one wants, this goes no different in any Photo shoot as well, when the same Models are used in repeats.

Also is one of the reasons why I'm trying to get the first part of my Chronicles, to be shot three movies at ones, as of course to keep continuity of the story, and not be left to have to replace a prior character with a different actor, but the main cause is just that, make a deal upfront, as to not let the budget go sky high as soon as the first film makes some money, and many times the Movie might make a big splash, but make no money, and still a sequel will cost a fortune as every one will want more money.

ciao
 
shooter said:
Does anyone know what CSI Miami is shot with? Is it shot on Film or HD?

It happens to be my favorite HD show in terms of style, color and etc. I'm amazed at how much saturation and color they are able to pull off without screwing up the flesh tones and neutrals. No way they are rotoscoping all flesh tones and grays.
Click to expand...

Its shot on 35mm - how is it one of your fav HD shows if its shot on film?
 
shooter said:
Does anyone know what CSI Miami is shot with? Is it shot on Film or HD?

It happens to be my favorite HD show in terms of style, color and etc. I'm amazed at how much saturation and color they are able to pull off without screwing up the flesh tones and neutrals. No way they are rotoscoping all flesh tones and grays.
Click to expand...

It is shot on 35mm film in 3 perf format, same as about 85% of all network dramas. The look is achieved through a combination of creative production design and cinematography, and the skills of a very talented colorist, Mark Wilkins at Technicolor Hollywood.

The budget for an "average" single camera network drama today is somewhere between $2.5 and $3.5 million per episode. I would guess that CSI Miami is a little north of that, probably somewhere between $3 and $4 million, possibly a bit higher but not by much. The cost of a show is driven largely by above the line (actors, producers, directors) costs, construction, locations, and perhaps most of all, whether production can make their schedule. Additional days are very expensive, hence why a show like "X-Files" was notorious for going way over budget by shooting additional days beyond the 8 usually scheduled. There is, by the way, often a difference between a show's "budget" and its "pattern." The budget is what is designated as the cost of creating an episode based on studio averages and estimates of the specific needs of a particular production. The pattern is what the shows actually wind up costing, and it's almost always higher (sometimes considerably higher) than the budget, as it includes actual costs of locations, guest actors, second unit work, and the like. Most episodes of network dramas wind up coming in over budget, but under pattern, provided the producers are sharp and the writers don't get overly ambitious. As reference, the cost of drama pilots (almost always more expensive than the series episodes) today hovers around $5 million. The show generally acknowledged to be the most expensive pilot ever - the pilot for "Lost" - cost a bit over $10 million, but was a two hour show.
 
mmost said:
The budget for an "average" single camera network drama today is somewhere between $2.5 and $3.5 million per episode. I would guess that CSI Miami is a little north of that, probably somewhere between $3 and $4 million, possibly a bit higher but not by much. The cost of a show is driven largely by above the line (actors, producers, directors) costs, construction, locations, and perhaps most of all, whether production can make their schedule. Additional days are very expensive, hence why a show like "X-Files" was notorious for going way over budget by shooting additional days beyond the 8 usually scheduled.
Click to expand...

I worked 2 years on X-files and the show ran 3.5-4.5 mil US an episode in Vancouver with Canadian crew when the Canadian dollar costed .64 cent's US and that was 10 years ago. Heck the last year of friends had each member of the cast earning 1-million an episode and that was a half hour sitcom.

mmost said:
There is, by the way, often a difference between a show's "budget" and its "pattern." The budget is what is designated as the cost of creating an episode based on studio averages and estimates of the specific needs of a particular production. The pattern is what the shows actually wind up costing, and it's almost always higher (sometimes considerably higher) than the budget, as it includes actual costs of locations, guest actors, second unit work, and the like. Most episodes of network dramas wind up coming in over budget, but under pattern, provided the producers are sharp and the writers don't get overly ambitious. As reference, the cost of drama pilots (almost always more expensive than the series episodes) today hovers around $5 million. The show generally acknowledged to be the most expensive pilot ever - the pilot for "Lost" - cost a bit over $10 million, but was a two hour show.
Click to expand...

Pilot's are expensive compared to following episodes of the first season of a series. After the first season though if a show has taken off the price per episode rises dramatically as the show pushes limits resulting in higher production costs, actors wages jump way up, bigger more expensive directors are brought in and other "above the line" people on the show pull down way more money. I admited my 10mil was a rough guess and probably more in the 7-10 zone but your numbers mmost are way to low and not accurate.
 
CSI Miami Shoots every other day somewhere in Downtown Long Beach, 100% 35mm.
 
Anyone know someone high-up on CSI-Miami production staff? PM me if you do. I'd like to offer to them free use of my Red One for a week as long as I can hang around on set and help with technical issues and file management. Would give them a chance to compare to 35mm without cost or learning curve.

-shooter
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
as I'm currently involved in presenting a similar series based in Dubai,
Click to expand...


If i understand KETCH very will .he is presenting for some Arabic series

Which will be shot in Dubai , am i correct ?

if that is a true , i think most of all calculations has been posted had

Very big Budgets for Arabic series .. it will never coast more than 25 %

of The Lowest Numbers has been posted above .

Iknow them .. They will never pay so much high ..:sad:
 
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