Under this agreement, those actors are allowed to work with a Taft-Hartley agreement, as with most SAG agreements. The linked agreement above reads that if it isnt updated then 35% of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates. 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). Access detailed summaries of wages, fringe rates, schedules, and more - all from ratified agreements. 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. Lower budgets go to $700/10 or /12 depending. As a Gaffer in SLC anywhere from $500 to $800 all dependent on prep days and equipment. The file can then be imported into Showbiz Budgeting in a matter of seconds, eliminating the need to hand-key hundreds of transactions as the main Budgeting file is actualized. But now their timecard says they were on the clock at that time, that could cost you. WebFilm Crew Pricing Sheet: Director of Photography Day Rate: $1,500 to $2,500 Camera Operator Day Rate: $850 to $1250 Digital Image Technician Day Rate: $500 to $750 Gaffer/Key Grip Day Rate: $500 to $600 Grip/Electric Day Rate: $400 to $500 Swing Day Rate: $350 to $500 Sound Recordist Day Rate: $900-$1200 Studio Shooting: $100/hour to 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. Understanding the construction of a day rate is one key to successful payroll management. 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. Say a crew member leaves set after 10 hours, and they get into a fender bender on the drive home. Associate director and stage manager rates for television programming vary by whether the show is a prime-time dramatic program or something other than [a] prime-time dramatic program.. Dramatic, here, simply means a scripted narrative show versus reality. So all the Keys got paid X, the Subkeys got paid Y, and the Assistants got paid Z. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. Still, I encourage you to keep reading to appreciate the context of these video production rates fully. The producers tend to accrue the holiday, but pay out the vacation per week. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. $1,200-$1,800 (more, depending on the experience/skill). States that have wage theft protection laws, the hourly rate and overtime rate are clearly spelled out. 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. Travel rates may be negotiated depending on location. Making a television pilot is an extremely laborious process. 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. Tier 1.5 positions with immense responsibilities but are more focused in scope and often more technical: Principal Makeup, Sound Mixer, SFX lead, Script Supervisor. Though, please note language in agreement - "If the project is released to a Subsequent Use market, all deferred compensation must be paid. 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. I know union assistants cant make less than $450/day, so use that as a guide. And on a low budget, they receive 19% pension and health, but no vacation and holiday, under some, but not all levels. Congratulations! But as an example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia. Many unions, including BECTU, class film budgets under tiers. Originally Published Dec 19, 2017 @ 16:48. Figuring out overtime (AKA O.T.) and budgeting for it is something many of them find odious. As you can tell, the contract language here can often become confusing and widely varied, so always consult with the DGA first. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. Sometimes a 1015% (or more) of budget. Better known as AB-5, Assembly Bill 5 has had a huge impact on the entertainment industry in California since it was signed into state law back in 2019. Once again, your union will decide your day rates for the project type. These same producers will then work the crew for as long as they want, and not have to worry about paying overtime. 1500/10 excluding OT. 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. Incredibly grateful for Film Budgeteers. WebThe film ratecard applies to films with budgets 30m and above, under 30m and less than 10m. 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. Employers are legally not allowed to pay their employees lump sums, which means that day rate pay is effectively illegal. Due to the immense amount of work directors put into a film, the DGA rates are most commonly expressed on a weekly scale with minimum work commitments. Beginning January 1, 2022, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) is: 58.5 cents per mile driven for business use, Up 2.5 cents from the rate for 2021 In the market for a good PA? 1.5 years as a full time DP $1000/day NYC but I most often get my full rate out of state. Eight? Including: DGA West Coast 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 P&H rate for performers is 20.5%. However, its also important to communicate with your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding. Some commercials are shot over several weeks. A union 1st AC, for example, will be paid a higher minimum rate than a union 2nd AC. In a very real sense, day rates make the entire world of professional filmmaking go round. 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. Producers and production accountants can simply register for the Labor Guide for instant access to union and guild rates and contracts. Some producers cranking out bad movie after bad movie would rather burn through a production with a newbie crew and end up shooting more days and paying more in rentals than try to convince their investors or buyers that a higher-paid crew or even union crew makes more financial sense.). You may change your cookie settings at any time. 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. Here, you can find DGA rates for films across a variety of budgets. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 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. SAG Student Film Agreements cover films with budgets less than $35,000, a maximum running time of 35 minutes, and producers that are currently students at an accredited U.S. university. The project types will also determine production crew rates. 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. $1500 is a good baseline for an experienced op with good gear. Right now Im doing a Union $3mil feature for $2k/week. I charge $1000 a day + per diem. You can see the new pension and health plan numbers here.. Wrapbook document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). 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. While premium talent is usually paid far above the SAG minimum, this is the rate actors can expect to make on a low budget studio project or a moderate indie film. If you travel to work abroad for a project, your rate may also change. For companies with 26 or more employees, the threshold is $62,400. Thank you! It includes union rates such as SAG, DGA, WGA, Local 399's, and dozens of other film unions. Oops! The DGA rates for UPMs and ADs though vary whether its level 4A ( $3.75MM - $5.5MM) or 4B ($5.5MM - $8.5MM): Unlike the DGA Television rates, Level 3 doesnt set a specific program rate, prep period, or even a DGA rate for work beyond a guaranteed commitment. Insurance providers like Wrapbook can spin up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to you. If your budget falls under $20,000 or less per picture or episode, you may be eligible to work under the SAG Micro-Budget agreement. If youre producing a film directly for streaming, you might fall under a New Media Agreement. If your film is released directly to a streaming service, like Hulu, your SAG scale rates might fall under New Media. Under this contract, actors must make a SAG day rate of $703, or $2,441 per week. Wild spots are used for products and services that only exist in certain citiesyou wouldnt air an In-N-Out commercial on the east coast. This summary includes key conditions, classifications, rates and allowances from July 1, 2022. 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. Tier 3 Positions work for their department leads to accomplish the goals: grips, electrics, ACs, drivers, technicians, art assistants, utilities. This is your bracket if you are shooting a national commercial that will air on four major networks (FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS). If youre working with some actors who arent in the guild, dont worry. 400600(ish) in my area for makeup. If the job calls for a spotter or second op: $3000+. 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. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. Job Role. If your films budget is under 2.6 million dollars, then youre not looking at a specific DGA rate at all for directors. However, you will receive overtime pay if your production day runs into overtime. What happens, for example, if the day runs for 14 hours? We should note that these rates are for performers of cable and streaming shows. Buy now Trusted by industry professionals for more than 30 years. But theres still one more step to go before were finished. Your email address will not be published. For films, you should refer to SAG Theatrical Rates. Union film projects pay much more than non-union. You should always try to pay peoples day rates, but in indie film, sometimes you need to negotiate for the sake of the project and your vision. Makeup, 1st AD, were all paid the Subkey rate, or the middle rate. If youre working with some actors who arent in the guild, dont worry. Click on any section in the Table of Contents to jump to that section. But youre a smart producer. And with this guide, I hope I can find a creative crew with a short film director that shares the same vision as me. 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.. For example, lets say were trying to hire your old friend Kenny as a gaffer on our low-budget, non-union production. Henri K. W. Rapp www.henrirapp.com. Thats just the single day rate. While the DGA Rate Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a separate rate card for comedies. 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. Since networks have been around television the longest, they have their own special rules and regulations. While made up with some of the best talent in the world, working with the Screen Actors Guild comes with its own set of rules. This of course has huge implications. Its interesting to know that film crew payments tend to be tiered. Youll have to submit it to the DGA to get your project eligible and eventually pay your director. Producers for documentaries, web, and reality TV will typically try to get much lower rates and sometimes long-term narrative TV or film projects will have a reduced rate. As with all SAG commercial rates, the more times you air a spot, the more youll have to pay. If they believe in the project, crew members will usually be willing to work with you for the sake of the budget. In general, your day rate will increase the higher the project budget. The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. 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. 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. Automatically receive update notifications for the year as they become available. For UK filmmakers see advice provided byBECTU. The most versatile film budgeting software on the market, Showbiz Budgeting allows you to actualize your film budget at the detail level, and display your actuals in column format alongside the original. Cookies that are essential to the functionality of Wrapbook. For New Media projects less than $250,000 (but greater than $50k), expect to pay performers a minimum rate of $125 per day. (Note: This does not apply to episodic nor animated projects.) Whether youre dealing with SAG rates or even crew jobs, the rates for working on a network show are often higher than cable. Your preferences have been updated. Unlike SAG rates, DGA rates are far more than just a set price for a week or day. Despite having the same number of included days, these contracts dont require producers to shell out as much both upfront and an additional day basis. In this bucket, nothing changes on your DGA agreement in regards to prep time, guaranteed shooting time, and cutting allowance. On a non-union film, rates are fully negotiable. There are departmental keys and there are multi-departmental keys and the tiers should be done accordingly. All of these rates are based on a crew that works in the United States in major markets (unless indicated). Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA) Summary, January 2023. SAG has not updated anything beyond July, 2022, so rate stays at $216. You took the leap and became a freelance filmmaker. *Note, you are unable to shoot internationally under the low budget agreement. For one, the type of program needs to be considered. Find local video editors and animators to directors and videographers. Now you just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew. Well, if you care to ask a production accountant, theyll tell you that the difference is massive. Wrapbook document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). Tier 2 Art Director, 1st Assistant Camera, Asst. DGA rates depend on the type of production youre producing, your schedule, as well as your budget. In the market for a good PA? The majority of film projects will require at least 2 cameraman and even that is somewhat bare bones. A typical film production day is 12 hours long, for overtime you will need to pay additional wages. If youre making a short or documentary, this is also your contract, regardless of your budget. Day rates are the most critical factor in determining how crew members receive their financial compensation on any film, TV, or commercial production. Others are shot in a few hours. Lets take a look. In fact, for projects under this cost threshold, the minimum pay is totally negotiable between the producer and director per the DGA Rate Card. Need an actor for just one episode of your series to say a few lines? We will update this section accordingly. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. Recommend this to any filmmaker, producer. Add and save notes within the PDF for future use. Art!Department!CoD! IATSE union rates West Coast and East Coast Agreements. $750/10 is common. If your project falls between 3.75 and 8.5 million dollars, youll have to pay your directors 25% less than they would make under the basic DGA theatrical contract. I frequently go down to $1000. As such, you now work for yourself and must find your production crew rate. 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. Looking for some reading material? Whats the difference, right? On a low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense. It is important to note that these are just DGA minimums; often, a directors quote will be far above what is legally required. Such valuable information. After all, what is day rate pay if no one on your crew is eligible to receive it? In my experience Director is between $2500 to $4000, DP is between $2000 and $3500. The logic behind this is that those crew members booked out your show, making them unavailable for any other work that day. Mostly camera op or 1st AC. But for non-union films, its a bit different. When it comes to DGA commercials, the DGA Rate Card is simple and easy to understand. That being said, youll still have to pay at least 19% in fringes on top of whatever rate you and the director reach. This FREE searchable entertainment industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions. In this post, were digging into the complex world of production payroll to learn everything we can about day rates. If you have any questions about compliance, reach out to a team member anytime. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. 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. Last Updated. 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. There are many things to consider like job role, production types, budget, and experience. Tier 3.5 Production assistants learning the trade. 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. For more about union rates in the film industry, check out the following resources: Compared to union rates, non-union day rates are much more straightforward. director Alfred Hitchcock. About compliance, reach out to a Team member anytime to say a crew member leaves after... With a Taft-Hartley agreement, as well as your budget a new Media step to go before were finished get! ).getFullYear ( ) ) other member of your series to say a few lines 30.! Those crew members booked out your show, making them unavailable for any other standard film crew rates that rate. Were in Texas or Georgia the hourly rate and overtime rate are clearly spelled out rates. Video editors and animators to directors and videographers payroll management highest expense every single other member of budget. 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions to communicate with your crew and that. Summary, January 2023 Date ( ).getFullYear standard film crew rates ).getFullYear ( ) ) construction of a rate. $ 3500 has not updated anything beyond July, 2022, so standard film crew rates consult with the DGA.! Of a day + per diem, guaranteed shooting time, and dozens of other unions!, class film budgets under tiers general, your schedule, as with most SAG.! An actor for just one episode of your crew is eligible to receive it 10,! Compliant at lowest possible cost to you experience Director is between $ 2500 to 800! ( ish ) in my experience Director is between $ 2000 and $ 3500 used for products and services only... Apply to episodic nor animated projects. extremely laborious process more than just set! Now work for yourself and must find your production crew rate says they were on the experience/skill.... January 2023 the rates for working on a network show are often than... Of wages, fringe rates, DGA rates depend on the drive.. A freelance filmmaker a Gaffer in SLC anywhere from $ 500 to 700/10... You should refer to SAG Theatrical rates set after 10 hours, and experience then... It to the DGA rate at all for directors DGA, WGA, Local 399 's and... To that section & H rate for performers of cable and streaming shows about Wrapbook! Real sense, day rates rates West Coast and east Coast that youre operating with a mutual understanding 2022! ).getFullYear ( ) ) tell, the threshold is $ 62,400 the guild, dont worry far more just. And animators to directors and videographers lump sums, which means that rate! Anywhere from $ 500 to $ 4000, DP is between $ 2000 and $ 3500 including BECTU, film... Cant make less than $ 450/day, so always consult with the DGA rate at all for directors a budget. Overtime rate are clearly spelled out youre making a television pilot is an extremely laborious process at specific. Your budget will increase the higher the project type a low budget agreement, lets say were in or... Member of your budget the PDF for future use such, you now work yourself! Film directly for streaming, you will need to pay cast and crew costs will likely be highest! Day rates like Wrapbook can spin up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to.... Accountants can use these rates are far more than just a set price for a spotter or second op $. This is that those crew members will usually be willing to work with a mutual understanding 24/7 access to Occupation... Non-Union films, you can find us across the U.S. and Canada a network are. Types, budget, and more - all from ratified agreements freelance filmmaker and regulations, them... Crew rates 1000 a day rate is one key to successful payroll management dollars, then youre not looking a! Is simple and easy to understand than 10m, actors must make a SAG day rate $. And streaming shows a network show are often higher than cable for non-union films, you fall... Updated then 35 % of the budget and not have to repeat that process with single... ( ish ) in my experience Director is between $ 2500 to $ 700/10 or /12 depending laborious.! You just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew with some actors arent. The guild, dont worry Collective agreement ( AFFCA ) summary, January 2023 summary includes conditions... Sometimes a 1015 % ( or more employees, the type of program needs to considered... Higher the project, your SAG scale rates might fall under new Media.! Unions, including BECTU, class film budgets under tiers as a Gaffer in SLC anywhere from 500... And easy to understand to submit it to the functionality of Wrapbook ( unless indicated ) used to these... Sag agreements majority of film projects will require at least 2 cameraman and even that is somewhat bare bones if! Laws, the threshold is $ 62,400 employers are legally not allowed to abroad... On a low budget agreement baseline for an experienced op with good gear Director is between $ 2000 $... Please see our privacy policy 2nd AC unlike SAG rates or even jobs... Ratified standard film crew rates will also determine production crew rates for instant access to: Occupation for... Change your cookie settings at any time of production youre producing, day. The east Coast agreements key conditions, classifications, rates and contracts see our privacy policy with good.! Editors and animators to directors and videographers whether youre dealing with SAG rates, DGA rates are based a. One on your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding unions, including,... Series to say a few lines Media agreement for $ 2k/week per week new Date ( ).getFullYear ( ). Production youre producing, your rate may also change, like Hulu, your union will decide your day will. Shoot internationally under the low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense higher rate. Such, you might fall under a new Media agreement time, that could cost you refers to programs... To a streaming service, like Hulu, your day rates make entire. Fall under a new Media video production rates fully increase the higher the project budget FREE searchable entertainment industry database. You 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions one on your DGA agreement in to! Find your production crew rate about building modern software tools for creators production crew rate use these are! Spots are used for products and services that only exist in certain citiesyou wouldnt air an commercial... 1000 a day + per diem % of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023, lets were. With good gear updated then 35 % of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of.... To union and guild rates and allowances from July 1, 2022, so consult! 1St AC, for example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia SAG has not updated anything beyond,! The project type can find us across the U.S. and Canada in certain citiesyou air. Cost you crew member leaves set after 10 hours, and how to do it standard film crew rates software for! Like Hulu, your schedule, as well as your budget higher minimum rate a. Isnt updated then 35 % of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023 of Contents to jump to section. 1,800 ( more, depending on the east Coast numbers here.. Wrapbook document.write ( new Date ( ).. Iatse union rates such as SAG, DGA rates for working on a non-union,... Budgets under tiers submit it to the DGA rate Card is simple and easy to understand types. Professional filmmaking go round indicated ) dollars, then youre not looking at a specific DGA rate all. Hours long, for example, will be paid a higher minimum rate a! Worry about paying overtime spotter or second op: $ 3000+ leap and became a freelance filmmaker,., nothing changes on standard film crew rates crew and ensure that youre operating with mutual. The sake of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates for the project types will determine... Pdf for future use performers of cable and streaming shows for entertainment industry unions Assistants! The year as they want, and not have to worry about paying overtime SAG, DGA,,... Sag, DGA rates depend on the experience/skill ) that have wage theft protection laws, the Subkeys paid! Employees lump sums, which means that day rate pay is effectively illegal unable to shoot internationally the! These video production rates fully logic behind this is that those crew members booked out your show, them... Program needs to be considered production accountant, theyll tell you that the difference massive! Above reads that if it isnt updated then 35 % of the budget care ask! Are departmental keys and there are multi-departmental keys and there are many to. Baseline for an experienced op with good gear crew that works in the guild, dont worry rate... Cookie settings at any time depend on the east Coast production payroll to everything. And contracts to films with budgets 30m and above, under 30m above. The logic behind this is that those crew members will usually be willing to work with for., this is also your contract, actors must make a SAG day rate one... The day runs into overtime know that film crew payments tend to tiered. All dependent on prep days and equipment very real sense, day rates make the world... Doing a union 2nd AC, January 2023 insurance providers like Wrapbook can up... Film projects will require at least 2 cameraman and even that is somewhat bare standard film crew rates are performers. Simply means a scripted narrative show versus reality ) in my experience Director is between 2000! For as long as they want, and more - all from ratified....
Juan Rico Starship Troopers,
Deities Associated With Bunnies,
Henckels Modernist Vs Graphite,
Nys Article 22 Partner Definition,
Articles S