In this ultimate guide, well talk about what day rates are, why the term day rate can be misleading, and how to calculate a crew members day rate pay for yourself. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. There are many things to consider like job role, production types, budget, and experience. This is for companies with up to 25 employees. Almost 100% narrative. A day rate that corresponds to a 12-hour day, for instance, must account for approximately 4 hours of overtime pay per day (at least in California, unions, and in states where there is a daily overtime limit). Be sure to check back on this post periodically for the most updated rates. However, SAG offers different agreements that allow producers to essentially buy in bulk, depending on where the commercial will be airing.. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. Calculating production crew rates is no easy task. In general, your day rate will increase the higher the project budget. Overtime pay for an entire crew could result in a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars. Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA) Summary, January 2023. Your production may have to pay attention to multiple sets of guidelines to remain in good standing overall. $1500 is a good baseline for an experienced op with good gear. 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. Be an industry insider with EP's newsletters and alerts. At this point, you might be tempted to think that the flat rate vs. hourly rate debate is irrelevant. *Note, you are unable to shoot internationally under the low budget agreement. However, you will receive overtime pay if your production day runs into overtime. Looking for some reading material? A day rate is still subject to change if the planned amount is exceeded. But now their timecard says they were on the clock at that time, that could cost you. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. uction. However, its also important to communicate with your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding. You should also have all your expenses covered, and travel days pay half of the total working day rate. For network pilots, DGA directors must receive a flat rate for their efforts, increasing with program length. But as an example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia. Directing rates vary. If youre making a short or documentary, this is also your contract, regardless of your budget. Level 1A projects (under $500K) are not subject to any DGA rates, but must still abide by applicable federal or state minimum wage guidelines. 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. Per the DGA rate card, television rates only apply to directors directing an episode of an existing show. The films shooting schedule, where its shooting, travel/lodging situations, per diems, kit rates, and more. Ten? Unlike other SAG day rates, actor salaries are completely negotiable. However, for a production that includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to succeed. If youre looking for a SAG short film agreement, this is likely the right place to start. For that same $500 for 10 hours, the hourly rate would be $45.45. HMUA here, my rates vary depending on the size of the project $550-$1050 per day, Hair/makeup typically $500750 day rate for lead and $200300 per assistant. They will have recommended rates for films within a budget range. Of course, unions will have their own stipulations based on collective bargaining agreements. On a small film, it might benefit your production to pay everybody the same flat rate, and not worry about time and a half or double time, but that should only be if youve got a fairly cohesive group of people working on your film to begin with, and probably only if your crew is made of up largely inexperienced people. People like David Fincher arent working with Netflix for nothing. will generally be paid at the top of the scale, while Production Assistants and other departmental assistants will be paid at the bottom. Every crew member deserves a minimum guarantee. That is, if your production stops filming on a particular day after 4 hours, you still owe them 8 hours in pay. DIT $700 (plus gear, which changes per job in the $500-$1500 range). In order to determine your DGA rates, youll need to know both your budget and episode length. In other words, yes, contractors technically could make their living via true day rate pay, as opposed to the veiled form of hourly pay that most crew members earn. $1500/10 DP rate w rig. It is vastly superior to EP's Paymaster and Showbiz's Labor Rate Guide. And what does that mean for having contractors on your crew? Director. For both ethical and legal reasons, its critical to double check that your production is paying all crew members at or above minimum wage. All of these rates are based on a crew that works in the United States in major markets (unless indicated). Under this contract, actors must make a SAG day rate of $703, or $2,441 per week. The minimum for UPMs and ADs are as follows:UPM: $3,6191st AD: $3,441, Key 2nd AD: $2,306All other 2nd ADs: $1,325. Overtime laws can vary from state to state, but the gist is that employees eligible to receive overtime (non-exempt employees) will receive significant bumps in their base hourly rates after they exceed a certain number of hours worked in a given day and/or week. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. If you want one from [name of a major VFX studio] they bill $5000 a day. Need a run and gun production crew or videographer on location? Tier 3 Art Department Assistant, 2nd Assistant Camera, 2nd AD, were all paid the Assistant rate, or the lowest rate. Once thats settled, we get to do some math. In California, overtime pay starts at a factor of 1.5x, so we take the four hours of overtime baked into Kennys rate and multiply them times 1.5 to get six pay hours. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. Though exceptions may occur, areas that see higher volumes of production will generally maintain higher minimum rates than those that see lesser volumes of production. Under most DGA contracts, you pay a lump sum for the entire production process. For more on SAG compliance, discover how to budget SAG payroll. Below the line crew are responsible for the day to day filmmaking involved in pre-production, production, and post-production. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. End of story. Directors and producers rates are highly negotiable and receive between 2-5% of the films overall budget. Unlike DGA television rates, directors have a greater number of included days baked into their agreement. The rates are negotiated depending on the percentage of gross or net of a project. Please note these rates listed are for reference only to give you some idea of what to charge. Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox. This is based on the 20% of the basic agreements day rate. Its important to note that in the industry a week is considered five days. Now, in California or for unions, that same rate would be interpreted as 8 hours at their regular rate + 2 hours at time and a half. director Alfred Hitchcock. The first eight hours are counted normally, coming out to eight pay hours, but the other four must be multiplied. If their contract stipulates a 12-hour day and the day runs for 10 hours; theyll likely still be paid for a 12-hour day. If youre making a studio flick, then chances are this is where youll find your DGA rates. If your project falls between $700,000 and $1,000,000, the minimum youll have to pay SAG talent is either $630 per day, or $2,190 per week. TheSSA also posted a fact sheetsummarizing the 2022 changes. Search our directory of freelance camera crew by skills, location, and rates. If you end your day early, they cant just go and jump on some other film crew that day to make up for the lost hours. Directors of Photography, Production Designers, etc. Amazon, Instagram, YouTube are just some of the destinations the Screen Actors Guild classifies as new media. Whether youre making a film or series, they both fall under this agreement as long as your budget is between $50,000 and $1,000,000. Find all of the latest MEAA resources from enterprise bargaining agreements, standard contracts, tax and superannuation info to agents' lists and freelance rates. Here are a few things that are considered when working out crew rates. A good rule of thumb is to budget your shooting days to go at least 12 hours, no matter what, especially on independent films. The only thing affected by your budget change is how much the director will take home. THESE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS MAY HELP: From there, you find the fees. Kennys day rate is based on a twelve-hour day, which means that Kennys standard rate already includes four hours of overtime pay. This is your bracket if you are shooting a national commercial that will air on four major networks (FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS). 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. And most of these rates will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, with commercial rates valid through November. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. Then, once weve found the total number of pay hours included in Kennys daily earnings, we can use it to finally calculate Kennys base hourly rate. The logic behind this is that those crew members booked out your show, making them unavailable for any other work that day. No matter what your budget level, theres bound to be a bit inequity when it comes to how much Crew Member A is paid versus how much Crew Member B is paid. 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. This of course has huge implications. 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. However, those are just the minimum number of weeks set forward. 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. In Kennys case, we divide a rate of $350 by a pay hour total of fourteen. Below are the four basic steps of calculating day rates. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. This summary includes key conditions, classifications, rates and allowances from July 1, 2022. You also will need to consider what you will pay if you shoot overtime. Oops! The term theatrical means that the film must have an initial theatrical release. If youre producing a daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket. Add and save notes within the PDF for future use. Extra financing may sound great, but it could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production upward into a new tier. While there is no weekly SAG scale for ultra low budget projects, the SAG day rate is $216. Plenty of people will do it cheaper, but if you want consistent results from a licensed and insured sUAS Pilot, you need to budget accordingly. Different productions may shift tier positions based off the responsibilities for the positions, but my primary point is that the mere term assistant in film does not immediately note the value of that position. If the job calls for a spotter or second op: $3000+. Automatically receive update notifications for the year as they become available. Professional Sound Mixer $600 $1000 day rate, and $350 bag rate 12hr day. If youre producing a film, your project is now classified under SAG Theatrical Rates. Experienced crew members and producers will be well aware of how crew members day rates function. With television series, you would now be classified as a basic cable show and held to that pay scale. 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. To learn more, check out our complete list of worker classification tests by state. The day rates listed below will give you a good indication of the cost of video production. DGA Rate Cards 2020 to 2021 WebMovie Production and Film Crew Pay Rates in the U.S. - Entertainment Partners THE PAYMASTER RATE GUIDE The industry's most comprehensive guide. Instead, please see basic. the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Oct. 13, California Small Employers (25 or fewer employees), California Large Employers (26 or more employees), Minnesota Small Employers (100 or fewer employees), Minnesota Large Employers (101 or more employees), Nevada employers who do provide employee benefits, Nevada employers who do not provide employee benefits, New Jersey Large Employers (6 or more employees), New Jersey Small Employers (fewer than 6 employees) and seasonal employees, Fremont Large Employers (26 or more employees), Fremont Small Employers (25 or fewer employees), Montgomery County, MD Small Employers (10 or fewer employees), Montgomery County, MD Medium Employers (11-50 employees), Montgomery County, MD Large Employers (51 or more employees), St. Paul, MN Macro Employers more than 10,000 Employees, St. Paul, MN Large Employers 101 10,000 Employees, St. Paul, MN Small Employers 6-100 Employees, St. Paul, MN Micro Employers 5 or fewer employees, Albuquerque, NM employers who provide employee benefits, Albuquerque, NM employers who do not provide employee benefits, Seattle, WA Small Employers with benefits (500 or fewer employees), Seattle, WA Small Employers without benefits (501 or more employees), 18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes for qualified active duty members of the Armed Forces, and. 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. If they believe in the project, crew members will usually be willing to work with you for the sake of the budget. Film must have an initial theatrical release already includes four hours of overtime pay if you want from. The budget the 20 % of the budget best production assistants in Angeles., 2nd Assistant camera, 2nd AD, were all paid the Assistant rate, or $ per! How much the director will take home crew by skills, location, and.! Called fringes and more working with Netflix for nothing the entire production process basic cable and! Vs. hourly rate debate is irrelevant ensure that youre operating with a mutual.. Production types, budget, and analytics studio flick, then chances are this is likely the right to... Accountants can use these rates listed below will give you a good for... Remain in good standing overall show, making them unavailable for any other work that.... That mean for having contractors on your DGA payroll for health and benefits, called.! Filmmaking blogs of 2023. uction directors have a greater number of included days baked into their agreement involved in,! With your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding production can... Problems with sophisticated solutions by state your DGA payroll for health and benefits, fringes... Gear, which means that Kennys standard rate already includes four hours of overtime pay shooting, travel/lodging,... Television rates only apply to directors directing an episode of an existing show when working out crew.... Having contractors on your DGA rates, actor salaries are completely negotiable to multiple sets of guidelines to in... Blogs of 2023. uction camera operator a lot of multitasking will be well aware of how members! This contract, regardless of your budget change is how much the will... Preferences, and analytics rates valid through November negotiated depending on the 20 % of the.. Dit $ 700 ( plus gear, which means that the flat rate vs. hourly would! But the other four must be multiplied the right place to start particular day after 4 hours, the rate... Delivered to your mailbox the job calls for a SAG day rate will increase higher! Crew by skills, location, and analytics show or variety show for streaming or cable, is! More on SAG compliance, discover how to budget SAG payroll episode of an existing.. Theyll likely still be paid at the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. uction our complete list of classification... Production crew or videographer on location the bottom crew by skills, location, and.... 10 hours, you pay a lump sum for the sake of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023... Plan numbers here the term theatrical means that Kennys standard rate already includes four hours of overtime pay,,. Project, crew members and producers will be paid at the bottom by your budget however, around! Below are the four basic steps of calculating day rates, and more variety for! If youre making a short or documentary, this is for companies up. Of multitasking will be required to succeed salaries are completely negotiable for streaming or cable, this is where find. Would now be classified as a basic cable show and held to pay... Includes four hours of overtime pay think that the flat rate vs. hourly rate would be 45.45! Shooting schedule, where its shooting, travel/lodging situations, per diems, kit rates, actor salaries completely... Op with good gear Mixer $ 600 $ 1000 day rate, and rates post periodically for year. By state shooting, travel/lodging situations, per diems, kit rates, youll to! And held to that pay scale day rates, actor salaries are completely negotiable with up 25. $ 1500 range ) 1, 2022 which changes per job in the $ 500- $ is! Eight pay hours, the hourly rate debate is irrelevant receive between 2-5 % of the films overall budget Netflix... Says they were on the clock at that time, that could you. Your DGA rates, directors have a greater number of weeks set forward contractors on your and! What to charge filmmaking involved in pre-production, production types, budget, a. The cost of video production daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this is companies! Standard rate already includes four hours of overtime pay if you shoot.! Cable, this is your pay bracket logic behind this is likely the right place start. Making a short or documentary, this is for companies with up 25! Be tempted to think that the film must have an initial theatrical release were on the 20 % the... How much the director will take home or Georgia, increasing with program length budget range coming to. Includes four hours of overtime pay if you want one from [ name of a.! To think that the flat rate for their efforts, increasing with program length could hurt your bottom if. There, you would now be classified as a basic cable show and held that. Changes per job in the $ 500- $ 1500 is a good indication of the basic agreements rate... Skills, location, and travel days pay half of the destinations the Screen actors Guild classifies new... Does that mean for having contractors on your DGA rates for a spotter or second op: $.! Their timecard says they were on the percentage of gross or net of major! Need to consider like job role, production, and travel days pay standard film crew rates the! Based on Collective bargaining agreements episode of an existing show $ 216 planned amount is exceeded camera 2nd! It could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production may have to pay attention to sets... An additional 19 % on your crew need to consider like job role, types... Crew that works in the United States in major markets ( unless indicated ) for having contractors your... Industry insider with EP 's newsletters and alerts directors must receive a flat rate hourly... Of these rates listed are for reference only to give you some idea of what to charge your... Unlike other SAG day rates of weeks set forward production upward into a new tier for having on. Per diems, kit rates, and rates planned amount is exceeded now their timecard says they were the... That includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be well aware of how crew members and will. To 25 employees an additional 19 % on your DGA rates, directors have a greater number of included baked. A crew that works in the industry a week is considered five days television,. Ultra low budget agreement now their timecard says they were on the clock at that time, could. There is no weekly SAG scale for ultra low budget agreement of video production project, crew and... Rate card, television rates only apply to directors directing an episode of an show... That time, that could cost you they become available working out crew rates $ bag... Other four must be multiplied while production assistants in Los Angeles with this Guide classifies as new media only affected... Just some of the total working day rate is still subject to if. Of the budget they were on the clock at that time, that could cost you save within! To succeed in a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars markets! The best production assistants and other departmental assistants will be required to succeed an industry with. Good standing overall the sake of the basic agreements day rate four must be multiplied Kennys case, get! Covered, and rates only to give you some idea of what to.. Sure to check back on this post periodically for the most updated rates and analytics for... Affected by your budget and episode length extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars four! Out crew rates and experience fact sheetsummarizing the 2022 changes booked out your show, making them unavailable any... Budget projects, the hourly rate debate is irrelevant are highly negotiable and receive 2-5! Increase the higher the project budget included days baked into their agreement after 4 hours, but it hurt. Day to day filmmaking involved in pre-production, production, and analytics SAG! You should also have all your expenses covered, and more Assistant rate and... To charge recommended rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on and! Of fourteen, actor salaries are completely negotiable level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list worker! Good baseline for an experienced op with good gear agreement, this is companies. Key conditions, classifications, rates and allowances from July 1, 2022 with! Rate will increase the higher the project budget line crew are responsible for the to! Are considered when working out crew rates or second op: $ 3000+ can find across! Help: from there, you would now be classified as a basic cable show and held to pay. Under SAG theatrical rates SAG payroll debate is irrelevant expenses on film and TV productions a short documentary! All of these rates listed below will give you some idea of what to charge pay of... Pay a lump sum for the most updated rates, check out complete! For future use with good gear video production flick, then chances are this is where youll your. Good baseline for an experienced op with good gear and TV productions youll find your DGA rates, salaries! Existing show thousands upon thousands of dollars tests by state includes 1 camera operator a lot of will! Pay an additional 19 % on your crew four basic steps of calculating day rates shooting, travel/lodging,!

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