In a film budget, what does the 'fringes' category mean, and what do the 'fringes' include?

Answer 1

You know the tiny rectangles where the sprocket goes? Well, sometimes the projector or camera stall and they rip the film leaving only fringes.


PS: The answer bellow is probably in the right direction. I read (about 10+ years ago, i.e. before Enron and SOX) that film accounting was full of loop holes and that studios execs would write off a lot of personal expenses as costs, e.g. lunches, trips, cars etc. Maybe "fringes" is really a way to get away with that.

Answer 2

This could include absolutely anything, from ice cream cones for a scene to carpeting for a set. Think of the items that crop up at the last second, i.e., "miscellaneous" things that occur in the making of the movie that usually wind up as surprises you weren't expecting.