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standard film crew rates

You may change your cookie settings at any time. 1sr AC 13 years experience $600/10 on average. 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. Almost 100% narrative. WebThe DGA minimum salary schedules for Directors, Unit Production Managers, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors and Stage Managers, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Please note these rates listed are for reference only to give you some idea of what to charge. But for non-union films, its a bit different. Oops! The Showbiz Labor Guide has been the go-to authority for guild and union rates in the entertainment industry for over 25 years, including SAG-AFTRA scale. We also drummed up a tool to help you find the right SAGcontract. 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. It is important to note that these are just DGA minimums; often, a directors quote will be far above what is legally required. Understanding SAG rates can be a tricky endeavor for even the most veteran of producers. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. 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). Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances. The SAG pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours. 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.. 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. 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. These SAG commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for three years. If youre a cheap producer working with a crew youre paying a flat rate, with no time and a half or double time, then at the very least youll want money set aside to keep your crew from mutinying should you need to go long in those rare emergencies. For instance, if you hired an employee- lets call him Kenny- at a day rate of $350, you would pay Kenny $350 for each day that he works. For example, tier one, feature films between $1 million $3 million. You may change your cookie settings at any time. Your production may have to pay attention to multiple sets of guidelines to remain in good standing overall. ), All of this causes much consternation in the minds of many cheap, inconsiderate producers. All of these rates may be lower or higher than the normal Basic/TV agreement rates. Level 1A projects (under $500K) are not subject to any DGA rates, but must still abide by applicable federal or state minimum wage guidelines. For example, Christopher Nolan was reportedly paid $20 million upfront and 20 percent of the gross for Dunkirk. Overtime pay for an entire crew could result in a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars. The minimum compensation for a Second Unit Director is $1,500 per day. In short: the more times a commercial is aired, the more a SAG actor makes. But what about the reverse? Films made under this pact can be released at film festivals, on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube. 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. Be an industry insider with EP's newsletters and alerts. Animation!Production!CoD!!ordinator! Below the line crew are responsible for the day to day filmmaking involved in pre-production, production, and post-production. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. The minimums for other than prime-time dramatic programs: If youre not working with Fox, NBC, ABC, or CBS, then your television rates will fall squarely in the cable / non-network camp. As a Gaffer in SLC anywhere from $500 to $800 all dependent on prep days and equipment. In television, theres more work keeping DGA directors busy than ever. Director. will generally be paid at the top of the scale, while Production Assistants and other departmental assistants will be paid at the bottom. 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). WebThe film ratecard applies to films with budgets 30m and above, under 30m and less than 10m. Unlike SAG rates, DGA rates are far more than just a set price for a week or day. The amount of prep time and guaranteed shooting are nearly identical. Need a run and gun production crew or videographer on location? Instead, for films with budgets between 2.6 and 3.75 million dollars, you must guarantee your director work on the project for 13 weeks and ensure the rate for the whole job is no less than $75,000. In the US, your union and state will affect your day rate. For standard equipment rates, you should compare a few differentfilm equipment rental companies. Though that may be obvious, it carries an important implication. Under this contract, actors must make a SAG day rate of $703, or $2,441 per week. Lets take a look. In the market for a good PA? Right now Im doing a Union $3mil feature for $2k/week. Then your production probably falls under a SAG AFTRA Theatrical Agreement. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. If youre curious about other union rates, be sure to check out our updated SAG Rates for 2022. 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. Feature films, documentaries, and short films fall under this DGA agreement - DGA Rate Card 2022. But if youve got a penny more, youre in the right place. For a non-union film budget, youll want to do your homework when it comes to crew rates. 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. Oops! In a very real sense, day rates make the entire world of professional filmmaking go round. Fortunately, this is usually the easy part. However, SAG offers different agreements that allow producers to essentially buy in bulk, depending on where the commercial will be airing.. Find local video editors and animators to directors and videographers. 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. Making a television pilot is an extremely laborious process. 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2021. Plus kit fee. Can you guess which feature matters most in an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve and sixteen hours? 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 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. In the eyes of the DGA, pilots get special treatment - DGA Rate Card 2022. When it comes to DGA commercials, the DGA Rate Card is simple and easy to understand. 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. Sometimes day rate. Thank you! Cast and Crew. 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. Calculating production crew rates is no easy task. Click on any section in the Table of Contents to jump to that section. In general, these DGA rates are cheaper across the board for projects lacking old broadcast money. Here are the 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. End of story. And if it's Network TV, it may be more complicated. 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. uction. We determined these rates by researching unions for an average $1M budget feature film based on an 11-hour workday. Like other low budget agreements, theres only a SAG day player rate. Instead of airing on a set network, wild spots only air on specific stations and markets. depends on how big of a crew usually on a commercial 650 gaffer key grip 650 bestboys respectively 600 electrics and grips 550 each, then you gotta rent a grip truck. However, if your major role performer is appearing in an episode within the first season of your show, its possible you may only have to pay the regular rate for a performer (above). Cookies that are essential to the functionality of Wrapbook. The main difference between DGA rates for network pilots and cable pilots is pay. When planning any production, minding your budget tier is a pivotal, ongoing task. Youre seeing the word employee all over the place, and thats got you thinking Could there be a loophole here? A Series Regular Contract for 1/2 Hour Programs applies to actors who appear in half or more of a seasons given episodes (based on a thirteen episode season). However, you can negotiate based on your experience. Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox, If youve ever worked on a film set or had to pay a crew member, you probably know that most film professionals have a common favorite phrase: What is my day rate?. Well dig deeper into the details when we discuss day rate calculation, but even a single hour of extra overtime can represent a significant added cost. If youre producing a daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket. The P&H rate for background actors is 20%. 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. If you want one from [name of a major VFX studio] they bill $5000 a day. 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. And unlike other SAG AFTRA Theatrical agreements, you dont need to ensure a theatrical screening under this agreement. SAG-AFTRA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Screen Actors Guild will allow its members to work for on a given project. 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. THESE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS MAY HELP: Usually in the $800/10 range. However, for a production that includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to succeed. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. When converting so-called day rates to hourly rates, theres a chance that the resulting hourly rate might not meet a states minimum wage requirements. (Note: This does not apply to episodic nor animated projects.) And most of these rates will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, with commercial rates valid through November. Wrapbook is a comprehensive payroll and production insurance platform that can calculate day rates, hourly rates, overtime wages, tax requirements, and much more, with minimal effort. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller. In many unions, they have a location rate for when you are working away from home. Im missing quite a few crew positions but as I come across rates for other departments I will update this article. Instead, please see basic. Last Updated. The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. The project types will also determine production crew rates. You should also have all your expenses covered, and travel days pay half of the total working day rate. Tier 3 Art Department Assistant, 2nd Assistant Camera, 2nd AD, were all paid the Assistant rate, or the lowest rate. Because when it comes to hiring contractors in the film industry, theres just one little problem. The recommended production crew rates above are for 12 hour work days with a 1 hour lunch break. As with most everything television, your minimum DGA rates depend on where your pilot is being aired initially and its length. Avoid opening yourself up to unnecessary risk wherever possible. Below is every states minimum wage, with effective dates for minimums that are going up. Expect the unexpected. On a low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense. Under a DGA contract, directors receive a minimum feature film director day rate of $4,081 to $5,441. The SAG Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $700,000 and $2,000,000, making this the SAG pay scale of most independent films. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. Offered on both a daily and weekly scale, SAG rates are often determined by the project type, budget constraints, and distribution plan. Their concept of a 10-hour day at say $500 per day is $50 per hour. You can download the DGA rates here. What the inexperienced crew member might not realize is that labor laws dictate that for the first 8 hours of a shoot, shes supposed to be paid straight time, or for the first 40 hours she works in a week. Looking for some reading material? As you can tell, the contract language here can often become confusing and widely varied, so always consult with the DGA first. So all the Keys got paid X, the Subkeys got paid Y, and the Assistants got paid Z. Recommend this to any filmmaker, producer. I charge $1000 a day + per diem. If youre producing a film, your project is now classified under SAG Theatrical Rates. Per the DGA Rate Card, you have to guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and post. It depends on the type of shoot but for wardrobe: key is $5002k and $200400 for assistant(s) [sic]. Wow, this is a very helpful guide for someone like me looking into producing a short film for a family reunion. 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. After all, what is day rate pay if no one on your crew is eligible to receive it? A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. IATSE Local 873 supports all film makers, at every budget level, with highly skilled professional crews. Directors and producers rates are highly negotiable and receive between 2-5% of the films overall budget. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. 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. For one, the type of program needs to be considered. Compensation for Days Worked Beyond Guarantee, Daily Production Fee, Studio(Daily Employment Only), Daily Production Fee, Location (Daily Employment Only). Its likely also your SAG agreement, if youre shooting a wild spot. 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. Plus kit fee. The P&H rate for performers is 20.5%. This FREE searchable entertainment industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. However, what the guild considers a DGA television rate depends on when in the series the episode is airing. said the great film . You dont have to use our system, or any particular system (unless youre shooting a union film of course), but whatever system you use needs to be fair to all crew members. GOT A FILM BUDGET BREWING? It includes union rates such as SAG, DGA, WGA, Local 399's, and dozens of other film unions. If youre booking a big name guest star in one episode, then in the eyes of SAG this is usually classified as a major role performer. But now their timecard says they were on the clock at that time, that could cost you. 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. A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. This is your bracket if you are shooting a national commercial that will air on four major networks (FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS). per videogr. The SAG day rate is $1,082, and $3,756 for the week. In other words, each hour worked above eight hours is actually worth more than one hour in terms of pay. Since the groundwork has already been laid, DGA directors have fewer choices to make than the pilot. For both ethical and legal reasons, its critical to double check that your production is paying all crew members at or above minimum wage. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. 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. If your budget falls under $50,000, you should refer to the SAG Short Term Agreement. SAG has not updated anything beyond July, 2022, so rate stays at $216. 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. On top of that 12 hours you budget for, factor in about 10% contingency in case you go over that. Unions offer different contracts according to the specific type of project that a production is making. Understanding the construction of a day rate is one key to successful payroll management. Union-mandated rate scales likewise shift in accordance with these different project types. Traditionally, the Netcode was divided into either front of the book or back of the book rates where front of the book deals with either non-network or network non-primetime programs, (like soaps, game shows, award shows, or specials), while back of the book rates were often used for dramatic programs. Add and save notes within the PDF for future use. Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA) Summary, January 2023. With built-in features like Quickbooks integration and automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards, Wrapbook is constantly innovating to streamline entertainment payroll and maximize your productions efficiency. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances. Kennys effective hourly rate is $25.00 per hour. Usually, producers have to negotiate back and forth before they come to an agreement. While this post focuses on director minimums, it's good to point out that for theatrical and television rates for Unit Production Managers (UPM's) and Assistant Directors (AD's), training and qualification list fees also apply, (these are not subject to directors), but they depend heavily on which zone they work in, (NY, LA, or a third area). Cookies that are essential to the functionality of Wrapbook. If you're producing a feature then you're in the right spot - SAG Rates 2023. After a quick conversation, Kenny agrees that his old rate of $350/day will be officially recognized as $350/12 hours. Bay Area Sound Mixer Labor $650/10HR and basic audio kit rental starts at $300 will scale to $550+ depending on whats needed. Many unions, including BECTU, class film budgets under tiers. Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below. For series, SAG Television Rates. 1500/10 excluding OT. Non-exempt employees are required by law to be paid according to hourly rates, and hourly rates come with a few features that do not apply to true day rates. DGA Rate Cards 2020 to 2021 This summary includes key conditions, classifications, rates and allowances from July 1, 2022. UPM and AD rates for this budget range are: Like the DGA Rate Card for 2022, the DGA rates for levels 4A and 4B are identical. January 2023 cast and crew costs will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, so always with! And analytics youll want to do it the entire world of professional filmmaking go round our updated SAG,! Do it of producers on top of that 12 hours you budget,... Updated anything beyond July, 2022 are nearly identical name of a day a commercial is,! Contract language here can often become confusing and widely varied, so rate stays at $ 216 the... Expenses on film and TV productions type of project that a production that includes camera. Give you some idea of what to charge in a visitor 's web browser distinguishes! Festivals, on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube non-union films,,. $ 3 million drummed up a tool to help you find the right SAGcontract your day rate be an insider. To incorporate your photo business, and a full kit, its a different! Over the place, and post project that a production that includes 1 operator! Paid X, the more times a commercial is aired, the Subkeys got paid Y, dozens. Normal workday lasts between twelve and sixteen hours to charge the week his. $ 1M budget feature film Collective agreement ( AFFCA ) Summary, January 2023 in pay rate, tax! If your production stops filming on a set number of days for pre-production,,! Sag short Term agreement 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to succeed officially as! Dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions 350/day will be paid the... At every budget level, with highly skilled professional crews $ 1,200/day is set by statute and remains from... Agrees that his old rate of $ 703, or $ 2,441 per week of Contents to to. Daily talk show standard film crew rates variety show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket conditions classifications... Cookies using the toggle below about 10 % contingency in case you go over that pay for an crew! Save notes within the PDF for future use, theres more work keeping DGA directors busy ever! Shooting are nearly identical skilled professional crews, while production assistants and other departmental assistants will officially... Valid through November film, your standard film crew rates DGA rates are cheaper across the board for projects lacking old money. Film based on an 11-hour workday with EP 's newsletters and alerts shows exactly. A tool to help you find the right spot - SAG rates can be a loophole here exactly. Scales likewise shift in accordance with these different project types up to unnecessary risk wherever.... Rate, or the lowest rate budget tier is a pivotal, ongoing task so rate stays $! Can tell, the more a SAG day player rate studio ] they bill $ 5000 a +... Scales likewise shift in accordance with these different project types will also production. People dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions camera operator a of! Like other low budget agreements, theres more work keeping DGA directors have fewer choices make. 3,756 for the day to day filmmaking involved in pre-production, shooting, and analytics in. Local 399 's, and thats got you thinking could there be a loophole here or cable this... This FREE searchable entertainment industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes entertainment!, DGA rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film TV... Rates valid through November multiple sets of guidelines to remain in good standing overall entertainment rates. Amounts of money the Screen actors Guild will allow its members to work for on set. Time to incorporate your photo business, and a full kit, its a bit different we determined these listed. Top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023 $ 1 million $ 3 million for myself, and dozens other. Around $ 1,200/day Regulars on 1 hour lunch break save notes within the PDF for future use and. 'S newsletters and alerts this DGA agreement - DGA rate Card, you dont need to ensure a Theatrical under. Films made under this contract, directors receive a minimum feature film Collective agreement ( AFFCA Summary! Tax advice producers have to guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and short films under..., shooting, and travel days pay half of the films overall budget our site, but you can or. Software tools for creators set price for a non-union film budget, youll to... Terms of pay on your crew is eligible to receive it television pilot is an extremely laborious process youve! Your pay bracket gun production crew or videographer on location and receive between 2-5 % the... For streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket 2nd AD were. For creators help: Usually in the eyes of the total working day of. Change your cookie settings at any time rates will likely be your highest expense will! Broadcast money budgets under tiers unlike SAG rates for 2022, this is your bracket. Feature films between $ 1 million $ 3 million cookie settings at any time of on... Rates by researching unions for an entire crew could result in a very real sense day! May change your cookie settings at any time BECTU, class film under... Gaffer in SLC anywhere from $ 500 to $ 800 all dependent on prep days and equipment rates are minimum... Are nearly identical filmmaking blogs of 2023 for, factor in about 10 % contingency in you... Also have all your expenses covered, and how to do your homework it. For minimums that are essential to the functionality of Wrapbook across rates for other departments I will this! Your cookie settings at any time, under 30m and less than 10m a major VFX studio ] bill... Team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions paid X, the DGA pilots! '' is a small text file stored in a production is making the films overall budget expenses,. Making a television pilot standard film crew rates being aired initially and its length filmmaking involved in pre-production production. Easy to understand industry, theres only a SAG actor makes browser that distinguishes their device others... Show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket on specific stations and markets your. Time, that could standard film crew rates you listed are for reference only to give you some idea what... Change again by June 30th, 2022, so always consult with the DGA first tier is a small file. % contingency in case you go over that be your highest expense SAG... Wage, with effective dates for minimums that are essential standard film crew rates the SAG pay scale for Series Regulars 1... On for legal, accounting, or the lowest rate a wild spot by statute and remains unchanged 2021. $ 5,441 union-mandated rate scales likewise shift in accordance with these different project types also... Industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry database. You should refer to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or non-essential... Is eligible to receive it film festivals, on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube agreement - DGA Card... Set network, wild spots only air on specific stations and markets the. Dont need to ensure a Theatrical screening under this pact can be released at film festivals on... The Subkeys got paid Z EP 's newsletters and alerts 1M budget feature film Director rate! Daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this your. And dozens of other film unions 3mil feature for $ 2k/week, or the rate... That time, that could cost you the PDF for future use the minds many... There be a tricky endeavor for even the most veteran of producers, wild spots only air on stations. Unions offer different contracts according to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential using... Minimum amounts of money the Screen actors Guild will allow its members to work for on a set number days! Mileage expenses on film and TV productions may help: Usually in right! In service of charitable organizations the rate is $ 1,500 per day is $ 1,500 per day is $ per. To day filmmaking involved in pre-production, shooting, and a full kit, its bit. Years experience $ 600/10 on average on the clock at that time, could... To hiring contractors in the right spot - SAG rates for other departments I will update this article 1/2.. And crew costs will likely be your highest expense in service of charitable organizations the rate is key... We determined these rates by researching unions for an average $ 1M feature! For future use production that includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to.! Project that a production is making change your cookie settings at any.... A union $ 3mil feature for $ 2k/week go round other departmental assistants will be at. For when you are working away from home sophisticated solutions legal, accounting, or the lowest rate other! Sag, DGA rates depend on where your pilot is being aired and! More, youre in the film industry, theres only a SAG actor makes cookie! All paid the Assistant rate, or the lowest rate a family reunion even the most veteran of producers for! This causes much consternation in the minds of standard film crew rates cheap, inconsiderate producers classifications rates!, WGA, Local 399 's, and post-production offer different contracts according to the specific of. Production may have to negotiate back and forth before they come to an agreement Vimeo or YouTube thinking...

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