How We Are Creating a Premium Period-Drama Series for a Fraction of the Industry Cost
Total Series Budget: Under $3 Million CAD (Net After Credits)
Most 12-episode scripted series cost $20M–$60M+ to produce.
We are creating ours for under $3 million—not by sacrificing quality, but by building an entirely new model of filmmaking rooted in community, education, and efficiency.
Here’s how:
1. Top-Tier Student Talent: World-Class Performers Without Hollywood Costs
Actors from Elite Schools at Emerging-Artist Rates
Instead of hiring expensive established actors, we cast high-performing artists from leading institutions such as:
Juilliard School
Curtis Institute of Music
McGill University
University of Calgary & Edmonton
These students receive:
career-launching leading roles,
professional credits,
mentorship from industry veterans,
and visibility in a full mini-series.
This dramatically reduces acting costs while maintaining exceptional artistic performance.
Music Performed by the Best Young Classical Artists
Our original score is recorded live by top-tier student musicians from the same world-class schools.
This level of orchestral work would typically cost hundreds of thousands, but our educational partnerships reduce the cost to a fraction while delivering cinematic, emotionally rich music.
2. Makeup, Hair, and Costume Teams Built from Arts School Students
Period dramas normally require massive budgets for historically accurate:
costumes,
hair styling,
makeup,
and wardrobe teams.
By partnering with university theatre programs and student designers, we maintain high accuracy and creativity while reducing labour costs by 60–70%.
3. Community Partnership with Local Churches
Our production is supported by churches throughout Alberta and British Columbia, which provide:
Lodging for cast and crew
Meals during production
Set building and labour at minimum wage
Local venue access for filming
This community-driven support eliminates massive expenses on:
hotels,
commercial kitchens,
transportation, and
labour wages.
This alone saves the production an estimated $300,000–$500,000 compared to a conventional shoot.
4. Executive-Level Talent Working in a Consulting + Virtual Model
Instead of carrying a full-time studio staff, we use a hybrid system:
Executives in:
cinematography,
writing/story development,
post-production sound,
financial oversight,
and production management
serve as part-time consultants while Virtual Assistants (VAs) handle:
scheduling,
logistics,
communications,
document prep,
research, and
administrative work.
This structure reduces staffing costs by more than 50% while maintaining industry expertise in every department.
5. Local Videographers and Regional Film Teams
Instead of flying in large, expensive crews, we hire local videographers in Alberta and BC.
They know their environments, landscapes, and communities—and they work efficiently for regional rates.
An Executive Cinematographer oversees consistency across all episodes, ensuring the series maintains a seamless professional aesthetic.
This model saves another $150,000–$200,000 in travel, accommodation, and full-crew salaries.
6. Rural Alberta & BC Natural Scenery Replaces Set Construction
Period dramas typically require expensive sets to hide modern elements.
However, Canada’s rural regions—old towns, farmhouses, churches, countryside—provide naturally authentic period-appropriate backdrops.
This reduces set-building and art-department budgets by up to 40%.
7. Equipment Rentals and Post-Production Done Locally
Using local rental houses in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver Island, and interior BC significantly reduces:
freight charges,
accommodation for technical crew,
and transportation logistics.
Local editors, sound engineers, and colorists keep post-production costs lean while supporting regional talent.
8. Massive Canadian Tax Credits Reduce Cost by Nearly $700,000
By filming in Alberta and British Columbia, the production qualifies for:
Alberta Film & Television Tax Credit (up to 30%)
Because a large portion of our labour and spending occurs in Alberta, we qualify for the full 30% credit on eligible expenditures.
BC Film Incentive (up to 41% on labour)
Filming outside major metro areas gives us the extra regional bonus, increasing our effective rebate on BC labour.
Total Tax Credits Returned to Production:
$694,500 CAD
This reduces our actual cash cost from $3.4M to:
$2.72 Million CAD Total Net Spend
In today’s film industry, this is unprecedented for a 12-episode period series.
THE RESULT:
A Premium Period Drama Series at
Less Than 10% of Industry Cost**
This is not “low-budget filmmaking.”
This is smart, community-based, education-integrated, tax-efficient production.