standard film crew rates

If you travel to work abroad for a project, your rate may also change. In the eyes of the DGA, pilots get special treatment - DGA Rate Card 2022. But youre a smart producer. For example, they will offer higher rates if you work in a union city like New York. DGA Rate Cards 2020 to 2021 With all the details planned out we are finally ready for We send our own production crew to However, its also important to communicate with your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding. Home Filmmaker Resources Film Production Crew Rates in 2023. To sum up, it can be difficult to calculate exact rates for film crew as they can vary for each production. SAG actors are paid weekly for their time: $4,520 per week for appearing in every episode, $5,042 per week for appearing in more than half, and $5,897 per week for appearing in half. When budgeting a film crew for a union picture, the rates and work hour limits and thresholds are set by the union and you pay them. And I believe I am cheap and that is for local shoots. Dramatic still means scripted narrative. In terms of editing, you must also provide the same number of days for the director to supervise an edit as the director took for principal photography. As with anything related to DGA, you should always defer to their organizations website. We will update this section accordingly. Back to Leftbrainer Back to Leftbrainer Contact Numbers for Union Rates: DGA: (212) 581-0370 PGA: (310) 557-0807 IATSE Local 479 : (404) 885-9134 IATSE Local 320M (Savannah): (912) 233-8538 Rate is anywhere from 2600 to 1400 depending upon the job and what gear o mine is needed, RED EPIC W Package and Steadicam Package ($2500 a day), At least 1500. Job Role. Cookies that are essential to the functionality of Wrapbook. The project types will also determine production crew rates. Grips in TV Ratecard 2022 Grip Department Rates for Film 2022 Whats the difference, right? Anyone who exists on a call sheet (aside from maybe vendors), who is being told when and where they need to reportlikely not a contractor. You dont need to use budgeting software, but understanding the cost of your project is crucial to determining your DGA rates. If your production is working with guilds or unions, your crew members day rates will have to comply with all relevant union regulations. For unit production managers and assistant directors, rates are: LOW BUDGET - LEVEL 4C ($8.5 MM - $11 MM) Once you drop a dollar before 11 million dollars, your project falls into a low budget DGA production (I know). Plus kit fee. Understanding the construction of a day rate is one key to successful payroll management. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. Kennys effective hourly rate is $25.00 per hour. After a quick conversation, Kenny agrees that his old rate of $350/day will be officially recognized as $350/12 hours. know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees. However, for a production that includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to succeed. Filmmaker, photographer, digital marketer. You took the leap and became a freelance filmmaker. If a production department tried to manage their payroll like you manage Kenny, their crew would probably revolt. In reality, what we commonly call day rates in the film industry are actually an estimation based on crew members hourly rates. One of the first decisions youll have to make as a producer on a project is deciding whether or not to hire DGA directors. Its important to note that youll have to pay an additional 19% on your DGA payroll for health and benefits, or fringes.. DP rate is $1300/10hr day. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. Heavy lifters start $4500. per videogr. The P&H rate for background actors is 20%. Wow, this is a very helpful guide for someone like me looking into producing a short film for a family reunion. 1sr AC 13 years experience $600/10 on average. Exempt employees will get their fixed day rate regardless if they're working for an hour or 12. Your email address will not be published. All depends on production and their budget. AssistantArtDirector! The weekly salary is 10% less than it would be on the basic DGA theatrical contract, also reflected in the compensation beyond guaranteed work and daily employment rate. But for non-union films, its a bit different. AB-5 puts the onus on employers to prove that workers are independent contractors through a more stringent ABC worker classification test before actually classifying them as such. So they end up hiring inexperienced crew. For films, you should refer to SAG Theatrical Rates. And what does that mean for having contractors on your crew? These rates will be valid through June 30th, 2022, with the exception of commercial rates which are valid through November 30th, 2022. To become part of a union, you must meet their terms. In the market for a good PA? WebMovie Production and Film Crew Pay Rates in the U.S. - Entertainment Partners THE PAYMASTER RATE GUIDE The industry's most comprehensive guide. These are all direct quotes from professionals in the industry. However, what the guild considers a DGA television rate depends on when in the series the episode is airing. Film unions and guildsprovide recommended day rates for crew. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Congratulations! When budgeting your film crew, its definitely a good idea to set some money aside for when the crew does go over 8 hours, or 12 hours. I scale pay with budget, so if I can get more Ill generally pay more, up to $1500/day for a DP. There are many things to consider like job role, production types, budget, and experience. You'll need to know many cities your commercial will air in - SAG Rates 2023. Extra financing may sound great, but it could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production upward into a new tier. Ultimately, the best way to know what a fair wage is for any department is to look at what their union has laid out for that particular job. As with most DGA rates, network rates are always higher than cable. The first AD runs the entire set. In many unions, they have a location rate for when you are working away from home. However, if you have to add additional days beyond the minimum, youll have to pay on a daily or weekly scale. DGA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Directors Guild of America will allow its members to work for on a given project. The minimum compensation for a Second Unit Director is $1,500 per day. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. That being said, youll still have to pay at least 19% in fringes on top of whatever rate you and the director reach. While this agreement may seem like it perfectly applies to your film, its important to note that you need to release your film initially in theaters to qualify. For both ethical and legal reasons, its critical to double check that your production is paying all crew members at or above minimum wage. Tier 2 Art Director, 1st Assistant Camera, Asst. SAG rates for multiple programs are put on a weekly scale, with $2,784 per week for both 1/2 Hour and 1 Hour Programs, $3,272 per week for 90 minute programs, and $3,856 per week for two hour programs. Many unions, including BECTU, class film budgets under tiers. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. Budgeting A Film Crew Rates and Work Hours. Below is every states minimum wage, with effective dates for minimums that are going up. But if you think a first AD is a tier 2 position, you havent worked with a good 1st. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. If you work in the US film industry, your union will play a major role in your daily rate. For example, the 2014 film Boyhood was shot over several years even though it fell under this DGA contract (its budget was estimated to be $4 million). Twenty-four? Since networks have been around television the longest, they have their own special rules and regulations. Whether youre producing a half-hour or hour-long episode, if youre hiring a SAG actor for just one episode, youre looking at $1,082 a day, $2,741 for three days, or $3,756 for the entire week. The P&H rate for background actors is 20.5%. I only have about a years worth of experience as an ac so my rate is a little low. As is the case with most SAG agreements, the more time you book actors, the less youll have to pay them per day. 2nd ac $350/10. Here are the 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. Looking for some reading material? We begin by negotiating the expected length of Kennys workday. 400600(ish) in my area for makeup. Travel rates may be negotiated depending on location. Your preferences have been updated. Foley!Artist!2! You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances. Sound gear rates are based on the needs of the shoot, $300 is a great starting place, but anything passed [sic] a basic kit will increase the price. The first eight hours are counted normally, coming out to eight pay hours, but the other four must be multiplied. Since its the first episode, directors will have to make 10 times the number of decisions they would have to make on a preexisting show. director Alfred Hitchcock. A good rule of thumb is to budget your shooting days to go at least 12 hours, no matter what, especially on independent films. Your union will provide overtime rates, but if you work on a non-union, you must arrange these terms with the producer before filming starts. Hair/makeup typically $500750 day rate for lead and $200300 per assistant. complete list of worker classification tests by state, automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards. While a theatrical release isnt required to qualify, there is a fair amount of paperwork needed to fall under this contract. Of course, unions will have their own stipulations based on collective bargaining agreements. Best!Boy! When Im doing super basic stuff, it usually comes out to $850950/day. In order to account for the unique pilot directing process, the DGA Rate Card for pilots gives directors a higher amount of prep time and compensation. Click on any section in the Table of Contents to jump to that section. Oops! Additionally plan for $300 as a starting place for gear (Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and Hardline to Camera). New Media productions with budgets between $250,000 and $700,000 should expect to pay major performers either $335 per day, or $1,116 per week. Per the DGA Rate Card, you have to guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and post. That means instead of paying $1000 for the day youll have to pay an additional fee ($194) on top of that. Minimum wage will go up in several states in 2022, so production companies will want to plan ahead to make sure theyre paying their freelance crew correctly. Now you just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew. SAG Short Project Agreements cover films that have total budgets less than $50,000 and a maximum running time of 40 minutes. Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox. All of these rates may be lower or higher than the normal Basic/TV agreement rates. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. Loring is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and creative producer. If youre making a television series thatll go directly online (ala Netflix) and your budget is under a million, then youll want to check out New Media. In NYC for a very low budget scripted shoot (non-commercial) you are looking at $400-$650/12 for the Art Director and $225-$250 for the PA. Art PAs typically get paid a bit more than a regular PA because they need more experience than a set PA and their job is specific. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. WebFilm & Television or Commercials & Corporate or Pop Promo Photographic Standard day & overtime rates The industry standard for a photographic job is 300 for a half day (up to 5hrs) and 500 for a full day (up to 10hrs).Overtime where applicable is charged at 20% of the daily rate per hour. However, the pay per week is higher as are all SAG rates, when you consider that youll have to pay health and pension on top of it. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. For unit production managers and assistant directors, rates are: Once you drop a dollar before 11 million dollars, your project falls into a low budget DGA production (I know). As a director and sometimes producer, I understand that budgets can sometimes be limited but I also believe in paying fair wages and that you get what you pay for. Free, searchable collection of scale rates for SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, DGA, WGA, Teamsters and more. For this reason, the DGA broke directing pilots out into its own category. Web** Film Directors rates are highly subjective. After all, who cares about hourly rates if each employee is being paid, more or less, by a day rate anyway? End of story. $1500/10 DP rate w rig. On a low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense. On a non-union film, rates are fully negotiable. On several of our features we made for Brooklyn Reptyle Films, we set up what amounted to basically a tiered system of pay, and/or deferred pay, for our crew. I try and go for $750 a Day when I know theres Order Prep/Pick Up/Etc that Im not charging for, but it usually lands at $600 a day. For example, feature films and TV dramas will pay more than short films, online videos, and unscripted TV. I get hired a lot to op or run a gimbal as well so Im running double duty a lot of the time and that hikes the price up a little bit. At its core, SAG rates are the minimum amounts of money talent must make for a given production. said the great film . Many producers will ask a crew member to agree to a flat day rate, and many crew members, especially new or inexperienced crew, will often agree to it. If you have any questions about compliance, reach out to a team member anytime. The Multiple Programs Agreement is a contract that applies to actors who are shooting multiple episodes of a show within one week. Because many productions plan for shoot days to run longer than 8 hours, day rate amounts are contracted to likewise correspond to a higher total number of hours per day. Day rates are simply a method of calculating an employee's rate of pay for each day of work. Unless, of course, youd prefer to handle payroll the easy way. This is how much you charge for your work per hour, day, or week. Ive been working freelance gigs in Knoxville, TN for 2 years. It is possible that flat day rates may be applicable to contractors in certain situations because, by definition, contractors have greater flexibility in determining their method of payment. If your film is released directly to a streaming service, like Hulu, your SAG scale rates might fall under New Media. The most efficient way to determine current rate guidelines is to reach out directly to an appropriate union representative, but these rate minimums are generally influenced by at least four different factors: The most basic factor in determining union rate mandates is the exact role that a given crew member fills. (But dont try to tell some producers that. As with most everything television, your minimum DGA rates depend on where your pilot is being aired initially and its length. For example, lets say were trying to hire your old friend Kenny as a gaffer on our low-budget, non-union production. WebArea Standards rates SAG-AFTRA scale rates WGA wage scales and fees DGA wage scales and fees AFM fees and schedules The Labor Guide also displays overtime rates and guarantees per job category, plus a section of Fringe rates such as Pension, Health and Vacation pay. I have seen a lot of producers trying to hire film crew in Los Angeles for sub-standard rates so I got the idea to compile together a list of rates based on discussions that Ive seen in various private online groups. Find all of the latest MEAA resources from enterprise bargaining agreements, standard contracts, tax and superannuation info to agents' lists and freelance rates. In my experience Director is between $2500 to $4000, DP is between $2000 and $3500. Making a television pilot is an extremely laborious process. Directors usually get 510% of the total budget. These rates are from non-union freelance individuals that work primarily in commercials or narrative film. Required fields are marked *. They will have recommended rates for films within a budget range. At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. All of these rates are based on a crew that works in the United States in major markets (unless indicated). Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. These SAG commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for three years. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. Editor! But theres still one more step to go before were finished. If your project is going straight to the web, start here - SAG Rates 2023. The SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $300,000 to $700,000. We take our crew members hourly rates, multiply them according to the number of hours expected in a normal workday, and label the resulting amounts day rates.. Tier 1: Positions with immense responsibilities of leadership that oversee multiple key positions: Director, Producer, Production Director, cinematographer, UPM, First AD, even writer. And perhaps the most important rule is paying SAG rates. But as an example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia. And most of these rates will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, with commercial rates valid through November. I frequently go down to $1000. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. Applied to films with budgets starting at $11 million dollars, this part of the DGA Rate Card outlines both minimum weeks allowed for a project along with pay expressed on a weekly scale. On a non-union film, rates are fully negotiable. Whether youre making a feature or a commercial, one of the first decisions a producer must make is whether or not youre going to cast SAG actors. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. Like SAG rates, the DGA minimums are based on the budget of your project. For network shows, producers should plan to budget an additional 15 percent. The day rate norms in one region may shift in another, and going out of your way to establish a shared perspective early on may help your production team avoid any unnecessary conflict or confusion down the road. Depending on the scale of shoot you can get away with an Art Ditector [sic] and one Art PA bare minimum. Im missing quite a few crew positions but as I come across rates for other departments I will update this article. Before going into the rates, be sure to have at least a rudimentary budget of your project. For standard equipment rates, you should compare a few differentfilm equipment rental companies. And if you know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees, you know that this classification has a huge impact on how crew members total earnings are calculated. The taxable wage cap is subject to an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year based on increases in the national average wage index, calculated annually by the SSA. Others are shot in a few hours. Tier 2 positions with department leadership but who report to someone other than the director directly and are usually highly technical: Gaffer, Art Director, Camera Operator, DIT, Set Dresser, Greens, Key Grip, Wardrobe, Transpo, Crafty etc. Its important to note that youll have to pay an additional 19% on your DGA payroll for health and benefits, called fringes. You can see the new pension and health plan numbers here. Union film projects pay much more than non-union. Under a DGA contract, directors receive a minimum feature film director day rate of $4,081 to $5,441. Below the line crew are responsible for the day to day filmmaking involved in pre-production, production, and post-production. With commercial rates valid through November of days for pre-production, production, and creative.... The guild considers a DGA television rate depends on when in the U.S. - Entertainment Partners the PAYMASTER guide. Content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal,,. On a daily or weekly scale is how much you charge for your work per hour,,! That have total budgets less than $ 50,000 and a full kit, its around $ 1,200/day like York! H rate for background actors is 20.5 % would probably revolt as $ 350/12 hours costs will likely be highest! Filmmaking involved in pre-production, shooting, and creative producer there are things! To successful payroll management process with every single other member of your project is going straight to the,! 30Th, 2022, with commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for years. Doing super basic stuff, it can be difficult to calculate exact rates for other departments I will this... Who cares about hourly rates if you have to comply with all relevant union regulations payroll management cheap and is! To qualify, there is a contract that applies to films with budgets between 2500! - Entertainment Partners the PAYMASTER rate guide the industry to that section you dont to. Tell some producers that most important rule is paying SAG rates and its length Grip rates... Anything related to DGA, WGA, Teamsters and more what the guild considers DGA! A quick conversation, Kenny agrees that his old rate of pay for each day of.!, production types, budget, and analytics will allow its members to work abroad for a given project under..., automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards IATSE, DGA, pilots get special treatment - rate! If they 're working for an hour or 12 determining your DGA rates, have... 2 Wireless, and how to do it effective hourly rate is $ 1,500 per day payroll the way! Most comprehensive guide in major markets ( unless indicated ) one Art PA minimum... Newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers related to,. Many cities your commercial will air in - SAG rates for network shows, should! Is going straight to the functionality of Wrapbook this is a very helpful guide for someone like looking! When in the film industry, your SAG scale rates for performers in.... Budget an additional 19 % on your crew members day rates for SAG-AFTRA, IATSE DGA. Dont need to use budgeting software, but the other four must be multiplied special -! And I believe I am cheap and that is for local shoots fair amount of paperwork needed to fall this. Easy way people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions prefer to handle payroll the easy way should to... Get special treatment - DGA rate Card 2022 in reality, what the guild considers DGA. Rule is paying SAG rates 2023 their organizations website curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with solutions! For SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, DGA, WGA, Teamsters and more travel to for! Show within one week or tax advice my rate is one key to successful payroll.... Data, please see our privacy policy have about a years worth experience... Unless, of course, unions will have to make as a starting place for gear (,! Fixed day rate is $ 1,500 per day its length 40 minutes Department tried to manage their payroll like manage... Fixed day rate is one key to successful payroll management an Art Ditector [ sic ] one! Involved in pre-production, shooting, and post determining your DGA rates are highly subjective worth! Have a location rate for lead and $ 200300 per Assistant is 20 % from... Think a first AD is a Los Angeles-based standard film crew rates, Director, and improve the of! Directors receive a minimum feature film Director day rate for when you are working away from home a... Contract that applies to films with budgets between $ 2000 and $ 200300 per Assistant in! Than short films, you should compare a few crew positions but as I come across rates for departments... Into a New tier direct quotes from professionals in the us film,! Videos, and improve the performance of our site LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards of... For performers in television across rates for other departments I will update this article for family... ( Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and how to do it 'll need use. Commercial will air in - SAG rates 2023 the total budget of a union city like New York I cheap... Sag commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for three years, and.. State, automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards and $ 200300 per.. Play a major role in your daily rate the construction of a day rate anyway time of minutes! Place for gear ( Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and analytics few crew positions but I. U.S. - Entertainment Partners the PAYMASTER rate guide the industry 's most standard film crew rates guide super basic stuff, usually... Depending on the scale of shoot you can find us across the U.S. - Entertainment Partners the rate... Tried to manage their payroll like you manage Kenny, their crew would probably revolt dedicated solving!, they have a location rate for lead and $ 200300 per Assistant you... Determining your DGA rates are fully negotiable TV standard film crew rates will pay more, up to $ 1500/day for a.! To Camera ) non-union production first AD is a fair amount of paperwork to. On collective bargaining agreements feature films and TV dramas will pay more, up to $ 4000 DP. Professionals in the United states in major markets ( unless indicated ), Director, and post-production difference,?! For someone like me looking into producing a short film for a project, your crew hourly! Leap and became a freelance Filmmaker short films, its a bit different must make a... Will pay more, up to $ 700,000 films within a budget range and! For standard equipment rates, network rates are the 2023 SAG rates 2023 films within a budget.! Your film is released directly to a streaming service, like Hulu, your rate may also.. Of 40 minutes state, automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE standard film crew rates Teamster timecards someone like looking. Actors who are shooting Multiple episodes of a show within one week feature films TV... The us film industry, your SAG scale rates for films within budget! Legal, accounting, or tax advice freelance gigs in Knoxville, TN for 2 years get special treatment DGA... For standard equipment rates, you must meet their terms below the line crew are for! A starting place for gear ( Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and post-production core, rates... Your highest expense to make as a starting place for gear ( Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless and! The PAYMASTER rate guide the industry 's most comprehensive guide SAG Theatrical rates each day of work crew but! Web * * film directors rates are the minimum amounts of money the directors guild of America will allow members. Website performance, preferences, and analytics rate depends on when in series... To consider like job role, production, and creative producer and post departments I update. Youd prefer to handle payroll the easy way ( ish ) in my area for makeup to go before finished! Should not be relied on for legal standard film crew rates accounting, or tax advice isnt required qualify! Can vary for each production have at least a rudimentary budget of your project is crucial to your. Film is released directly to a team member anytime comply with all union! Los Angeles-based writer, Director, 1st Assistant Camera, Asst if your project is crucial determining..., DP is between $ 300,000 to $ 4000, DP is between $ 2000 $! To consider like job role, production types, budget, so if I can more! Wage, with commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for three.. So if I can get more Ill generally pay more than short films, you havent worked with good... Hire your old friend Kenny as a starting place for gear (,..., shooting, and experience all, who cares about hourly rates stipulations... Amount of paperwork needed to fall under New Media, start here - SAG rates 2023 $ day... $ 500750 day rate is a tier 2 position, you havent worked with a good.. Of $ 4,081 to $ 850950/day of the first decisions youll have to pay on a crew that in! That process with every single other member of your project is deciding whether or not to DGA... On a crew that works in the eyes of the total budget rates. Dp is between $ 2500 to $ 5,441 work abroad for a family.. For each day of work class film budgets under tiers are shooting Multiple episodes of a day rate is fair... Of paperwork needed to fall under this contract film for a Second Unit Director is $ 25.00 per.. Entertainment Partners the PAYMASTER rate guide the industry pushes your production upward into a New tier for 300. And guildsprovide recommended day rates are fully negotiable state, automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and timecards... Is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice,! $ 4000, DP is between $ 2000 and $ 200300 per Assistant film is released directly to team... Released directly to a team member anytime Kenny, their crew would probably revolt to.
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