SOCIALBILITTY • FILM & TELEVISION INDUSTRY GLOSSARY

Below-the-Line

DEFINITION

Below-the-Line (BTL) is a production-budget classification traditionally used for many crew, equipment, construction, location, transportation, post-production, and other production costs that appear below the budget’s major creative or rights-related costs. The term describes a budgeting convention, not the value, skill, or importance of the people doing the work. Many below-the-line crafts are represented by unions such as IATSE.