VFX Producers & Supervisors
The 10x faster VFX bidding engine and ShotGrid successor!
A complete Google Workspace® add-on purpose-built to integrate with the new OpenCLAW agentic VFX workflows.
I find OpenBID Vendor to be a game-changer for streamlining the bidding process. Its integration with Google Sheets is easy to use. Shot templates, cash flow projections, and crew planning, plus ChatGPT and DALL-E. It is an essential tool for any vendor looking to do professional VFX bids.
At Lacus Post, we deal with different types of clients, and the bidding process can often become complex, especially when you have clients with various kinds of projects. We've tried OpenBID and found it tremendous and fast, creating an all-in-one environment. We have no regrets about adding it to our bidding workflow. Every Client-Side Supervisor or Vendor-Side Supervisor should try it out. OpenBID it's the best!
As a production side VFX Supervisor with over 20 years in the industry, I deal with the tedious nature of bidding all the time! OpenBID has truly revolutionized the process, making it faster and more intuitive than ever before. Being built on Google Sheets, which we all already use anyway, makes it incredibly easy and the addition of ChatGPT is just the cherry on top! Trust me, try it, your future self will thank you!
Huge thanks to all our amazing early OpenBID Toolkit testers!
Choose Your Template
Purpose-built tools for both sides of the VFX bidding process.
OpenBID Client
Turbocharge your VFX bidding workflow: tailored for production-side supervisors and producers.
Learn more →
OpenBID Vendor
Faster bids lead to more awards. Built for VFX studios, adaptable to any industry.
Learn more →OpenBID FAQ
Clear answers about OpenBID Client, OpenBID Vendor, Google Sheets workflows, ShotGrid exports, OpenAI features, and privacy for VFX bidding teams.
Getting Started
What is OpenBID Client?
OpenBID Client is a Google Sheets-based VFX bidding template for production-side supervisors and producers. It helps teams send bid breakdowns, compare vendor bids, create VFX tech memos, and manage NDAs.
How do I set up OpenBID Client?
Install the OpenBID Studio Google Sheets add-on first. Then use the information icons inside the spreadsheet to access setup videos and how-to guidance.
How do I start a new bidding round in OpenBID?
Use the Create new bid breakdowns menu item.
How do I get a vendor to send alternate bids from the same breakdown without creating a new bid breakdown for each one?
Send the vendor the main bid breakdown as usual, then make a manual copy of the spreadsheet you sent. Rename the copy so you can identify what it represents, then paste its URL below the other URLs in the Bid History list on the Overview tab.
What are the key tabs in the OpenBID Client spreadsheet?
The main tabs include Cover Sheet, Overview, Shot Bid Breakdown, Asset Bid Breakdown, Add Vendors, NDA Template, and Vendor Shot or Asset Bids.
How do I complete and send a bid breakdown?
Add your project details, enter shots and approximate assets, add vendor email addresses, send NDAs with our Google e-signature template, assign vendors to the relevant line items, and then use the Send Bid Breakdown menu item.
Can I customize the OpenBID spreadsheet?
Yes. You can customize the sheet, but avoid renaming tabs if you want full compatibility with the OpenBID add-on.
How do I get help or submit feedback?
You can vote on features here, submit FAQ questions here, mention help.group@vfx2.com in comments, or join the OpenBID Google Group.
Who created OpenBID?
OpenBID was created by Marcus LeVere, a VFX supervisor. You can connect through LinkedIn.
Templates and Vendor Workflows
What is OpenBID Vendor Portfolio?
OpenBID Vendor Portfolio is an extension for managing multiple OpenBID Vendor spreadsheets, crew planning, cash flow, and staffing visibility across bids.
How do I get started with Vendor Portfolio?
Name your Profit Plan, add your OpenBID URLs, group those bids into Profit Planner spreadsheets, set the project start date, and enter your initial department sizes.
What tabs are included in the OpenBID spreadsheet?
Common tabs include Summary, Grand Totals, Bid Rates, Asset Bid Breakdown, Shot Templates, Shot Breakdown, Totals, Payment Schedule and Cash Flow, Crew Plan, and OpenAI Integration.
What does the Summary tab do?
The Summary tab pulls data from Grand Totals to create a clean, client-ready overview of the bid.
How do I update Bid Rates?
Enter rates, overhead per day, default markup, and the client budget in the Bid Rates tab. You can also set department-specific values and on-set supervisor or data wrangler costs.
Can I create or import shot templates?
Yes. You can build shot templates directly in the sheet or import them from another spreadsheet.
How does the Asset Bid Breakdown work?
Add each asset with a thumbnail, description, type, and difficulty. OpenBID then helps you bid the asset and flags duplicate names or missing entries.
How does the Shot Breakdown tab work?
Enter shot IDs, apply templates, and complete the relevant bid data. The sheet can also flag duplicate shot names and support thumbnails and YouTube chapter references.
How can I share an OpenBID spreadsheet with clients?
Use OpenBID Studio to prepare the file for sharing and hide sensitive information, or export the spreadsheet as a PDF.
Advanced Bidding Setup
What does the compute field mean in Bid Rates?
The compute field is a flexible placeholder for costs such as rendering or other custom calculations.
Can I rename or separate department disciplines such as paint and roto?
Yes. You can rename department disciplines on the Bid Rates tab, and blank departments are allowed.
Can I add more departments to OpenBID?
The template supports up to 16 department slots. You can rename those slots, but adding more than 16 is not supported in the current setup.
Can OpenBID display totals in multiple currencies?
Yes. Add your own formulas in empty cells on Grand Totals or anywhere else you want to show additional currency conversions.
What is the best workflow for episodic projects?
The recommended workflow is one episode per spreadsheet, then a portfolio or profit planner sheet to combine all episodes.
How do I handle shared assets across multiple episodes?
Create a zero-cost asset in the later episode sheet and link the asset name back to the original spreadsheet, instead of duplicating the full cost.
How do I multiply one line item across multiple assumed shots?
Use the cuts column to scale a line item across multiple assumed shots.
How do I work in one sheet across multiple locations?
For shots, use hidden column CN to track locations and split the number of cuts across duplicate shot rows. For assets, use column BF and split work into sub-assets by location. If your setup becomes too complex, separate sheets are usually easier to manage.
Why do I see numbers in square brackets when exporting a PDF?
Those numbers usually come from spreadsheet notes. In the Google Sheets print sidebar, open Formatting and turn off notes.
Troubleshooting, AI, and Privacy
How do I run the OpenBID Google Sheets add-on after installing it?
Open any Google Sheet and launch OpenBID from the Extensions menu.
Why are my thumbnail images not visible?
The image folder must be shared as anyone with the link can view. This is a limitation of the HREF formula used in the spreadsheet.
Why are some formulas incorrect after I add rows?
Do not use the Google Sheets add rows button. Insert rows instead so named ranges continue to work correctly.
Why does Export to ShotGrid only show total columns?
Run Undo Prep for Client first to reveal all columns, then use Export to ShotGrid again.
Why do I see REF errors in ShotGrid CSV exports?
Check the hidden Export Shots and Export Assets tabs and repair the broken formulas before exporting again.
Why am I seeing a warning in v6 or v7 OpenBID files?
This is a newer Google warning related to the ChatGPT sheet. It is generally safe to ignore, or you can remove the ChatGPT tabs.
Why are my template bid numbers not appearing?
The template name is usually not being referenced correctly. Link the template cell to the correct Shot Templates cell, for example ='SHOT TEMPLATES'!$F$6.
What data is sent to OpenAI when I use GPT or DALL-E in OpenBID?
Only the content entered into the GPT() or DALLE() custom function is sent to OpenAI. OpenBID does not store or intercept spreadsheet content for those requests.
Can I use LLM providers other than OpenAI with OpenBID?
OpenAI was the first AI provider added to OpenBID. Other LLM providers are not currently built into the template.
What usage data does OpenBID track?
OpenBID tracks add-on menu usage and basic operational error logging. It does not read spreadsheet contents for general usage analytics. You can review the latest details in the Privacy Policy.
In the Press
