Production Tracker and estimator

🎬 Ardra Studios: Production Estimator Excel Template

A complete project estimation toolkit built for Indie/Small team studios.

Whether you're budgeting a short film, tracking a web series, or managing a large-scale feature, this production estimator helps you calculate effort, cost, schedule, with dashboard to keep data and things handy, and invoicing in one streamlined workbook.

✅ What’s Included

• 📌 Landing Page Overview – Quick summary of all sheets and how to use them.
• 📋 Dashboard Page – Get a quick visual summary of project cost, task complexity, and timelines all in one view.
• 🗂 Project Tracker – Organize multiple projects with built-in complexity and shot planning fields.
• 📅 Schedule Generator – Auto-calculates your production schedule based on effort estimates.
• 📊 Effort Matrix (Animation & Post) – Customize days needed per shot type and complexity.
• 🎨 Effort Matrix (Assets) – Asset creation effort by category and complexity.
• 🧾 Invoice Template – Draft clean invoices for internal or external use.

🔧 Customization-Ready

• Clean formulas and logic
• Pre-filled with sample project data for reference
• Designed for remote/indie production workflows

💡 Who This Is For:

• Indie studios and freelance producers
• Project managers and coordinators
• Production heads estimating for clients or internal pipelines

📝 Format

• Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)
• Fully editable
• Compatible with Google Sheets (some formatting may vary)

📌 Usage Tips

• Begin in the Landing Page to understand the structure.
• Use dropdowns and complexity fields in ProjectTracker to guide schedule and cost.
• Update Effort Matrices based on your studio’s production speed.
• Export or link Invoice tab for billing clients directly.