standard film crew rates

Under this agreement, those actors are allowed to work with a Taft-Hartley agreement, as with most SAG agreements. 400600(ish) in my area for makeup. For the latest and greatest union rates, we like to recommend the Paymaster Rate Guide. For example, tier one, feature films between $1 million $3 million. Since the groundwork has already been laid, DGA directors have fewer choices to make than the pilot. Download the updated rates. *2-5% budget. And most of these rates will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, with commercial rates valid through November. And I believe I am cheap and that is for local shoots. Heavy lifters start $4500. 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. Its interesting to know that film crew payments tend to be tiered. And perhaps the most important rule is paying SAG rates. For Principal Performers, deferred compensation under this Agreement for this purpose may not be less than 20% of the applicable day rate from the Basic Agreement current at the time of performance per day for Principal Performers.". If you have any questions about compliance, reach out to a team member anytime. Its not only vital to the success and morale of the film, its the professional thing to do. *Production fee is payable to 1st Stage Manager only. Ten? Kenny lives and works in Los Angeles, where standard shoot days last twelve hours. Download the interactive PDF right to your computer. Now you just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. Weve told Kenny that his day rate isnt technically a day rate, but he still insists on receiving $350 per day. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. 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. Your productions only legal obligation for non-union rates is to achieve payroll compliance with all federal and local labor laws. Thank you! This is without gear. Beyond that, the DGA Rate Card for non-network television shows are very similar. And if it's Network TV, it may be more complicated. Web** Film Directors rates are highly subjective. Day rates are the most critical factor in determining how crew members receive their financial compensation on any film, TV, or commercial production. I usually dont have any trouble getting $650/day. 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. 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. For network shows, producers should plan to budget an additional 15 percent. Since networks have been around television the longest, they have their own special rules and regulations. $700750/10 as a 1st, and ~$600700 as a 2nd. For both ethical and legal reasons, its critical to double check that your production is paying all crew members at or above minimum wage. The SAG pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours. Directors and producers rates are highly negotiable and receive between 2-5% of the films overall budget. Every sound mixers rates vary, but remember your paying for skilled service. Union film projects pay much more than non-union. While a theatrical release isnt required to qualify, there is a fair amount of paperwork needed to fall under this contract. Job Role. Tier 3.5 Production assistants learning the trade. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. 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. Professional Sound Mixer $600 $1000 day rate, and $350 bag rate 12hr day. will generally be paid at the top of the scale, while Production Assistants and other departmental assistants will be paid at the bottom. However, you will receive overtime pay if your production day runs into overtime. 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. 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. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. Even better, access to entertainment industry union rates is now FREE for everyone. Some commercials are shot over several weeks. Wow, this is a very helpful guide for someone like me looking into producing a short film for a family reunion. SAG has not updated anything beyond July, 2022 so it stays at $703. Lower budgets go to $700/10 or /12 depending. And unlike other SAG AFTRA Theatrical agreements, you dont need to ensure a theatrical screening under this agreement. Using this information, you can determine which SAG agreement, or contract, your production falls under. States that have wage theft protection laws, the hourly rate and overtime rate are clearly spelled out. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. Click on any section in the Table of Contents to jump to that section. Can you guess which feature matters most in an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve and sixteen hours? If youre producing a film, your project is now classified under SAG Theatrical Rates. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. Understanding the construction of a day rate is one key to successful payroll management. Here are the 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. If you want one from [name of a major VFX studio] they bill $5000 a day. Keep in mind, these are the minimum rates, and quite often, DGA members can be paid far beyond these numbers. Your production may have to pay attention to multiple sets of guidelines to remain in good standing overall. Its worth more than one pay hour.. Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA) Summary, January 2023. 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. Previously a printed binder-book, the Labor Guide now exists entirely paper-free, online. Really depends on what kind of makeup is needed also. *2-5% budget. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. Ill show up for $1500, though. Beyond general labor laws like AB-5, day rates in film production are also influenced by other, industry-specific forces. 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. You also will need to consider what you will pay if you shoot overtime. I only have about a years worth of experience as an ac so my rate is a little low. 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. The project types will also determine production crew rates. The first step in calculating an employees hourly rate is figuring out how many hours make up the day in their so-called day rate. Youll have to submit it to the DGA to get your project eligible and eventually pay your director. If youre producing a film, then look no further than the DGA Theatrical agreement. Whats the difference, right? 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. Best!Boy! While the DGA Rate Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a separate rate card for comedies. Film unions will have a recommended rate of pay you can use as guidance. Animation!Production!CoD!!ordinator! Its likely also your SAG agreement, if youre shooting a wild spot. Regardless of the commercials scale, the DGA commercial rates for directors must be at least $1,573 for the day or $6,292 for a 5-day week. Under most DGA contracts, you pay a lump sum for the entire production process. Producers and production accountants can simply register for the Labor Guide for instant access to union and guild rates and contracts. The SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $300,000 to $700,000. While there is no weekly SAG scale for ultra low budget projects, the SAG day rate is $216. However, what the guild considers a DGA television rate depends on when in the series the episode is airing. Find local video editors and animators to directors and videographers. Makeup, 1st AD, were all paid the Subkey rate, or the middle rate. $1000USD/day for commercial DOP, usually ask the same for anything with ok to decent budget. ), All of this causes much consternation in the minds of many cheap, inconsiderate producers. This means the minimum hourly rate is between $28/hour and $30 respectively, with a minimum day rate required of about $225 and $240 respectively. Films made under this pact can be released at film festivals, on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube. Though, it is best practice and highly suggested to stick to what is contractually agreed. Calculating production crew rates is no easy task. Directing rates vary. 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. 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. The SAG day rate is $379, while the SAG weekly rate is $1,315. How many hours does an employee have to work to earn their pay? 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. Congratulations! For one, the type of program needs to be considered. So they end up hiring inexperienced crew. What happens, for example, if the day runs for 14 hours? were all paid the Key rate, or the highest rate. For companies with 26 or more employees, the threshold is $62,400. Above the line crew are involved in the creative development of the film. WebVideography Full Day Rate $700.00 Up to 8 hours of setup and/or prod. 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. Recommend this to any filmmaker, producer. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. This is for companies with up to 25 employees. Gear is $700-$1200 per day. Most unions use a tier system to adjust rate scales according to production budget ranges. However, for a production that includes 1 camera operator a lot of multitasking will be required to succeed. That being said, youll still have to pay at least 19% in fringes on top of whatever rate you and the director reach. For a non-union film budget, youll want to do your homework when it comes to crew rates. Sometimes a 1015% (or more) of budget. In reality, what we commonly call day rates in the film industry are actually an estimation based on crew members hourly rates. 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. SAG-AFTRA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Screen Actors Guild will allow its members to work for on a given project. 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). January 25, Filmmaker, photographer, digital marketer. Your preferences have been updated. For example, if youre a US filmmaker, find the best union for your job role and state and contact them. It will surely wow my in-laws from abroad if I present to them something artistic and sentimental to commemorate the day. Thank you! 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. His work has been commissioned by a diverse range of clients- from Havas Worldwide to Wisecrack, inc.- and has been screened around the world. 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. Say a crew member leaves set after 10 hours, and they get into a fender bender on the drive home. 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. said the great film . Then your production probably falls under a SAG AFTRA Theatrical Agreement. Film unions and guildsprovide recommended day rates for crew. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. Your email address will not be published. Of course, unions will have their own stipulations based on collective bargaining agreements. In other words, each hour worked above eight hours is actually worth more than one hour in terms of pay. 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. The P&H rate for performers is 21%. Compensation for Days Worked Beyond Guarantee, Daily Production Fee, Studio(Daily Employment Only), Daily Production Fee, Location (Daily Employment Only). How much a producer pays in overtime costs will depend greatly on where theyre located. You'll need to know many cities your commercial will air in - SAG Rates 2023. Wrapbook document.write(new Date().getFullYear()). 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. Inspire2 fully loaded with two crew starts at $3k/day. Hiring talent on SAG weekly rates (5-day basis) does result in a per day discount. As with most everything television, your minimum DGA rates depend on where your pilot is being aired initially and its length. When it comes to DGA commercials, the DGA Rate Card is simple and easy to understand. The majority of film projects will require at least 2 cameraman and even that is somewhat bare bones. Overtime laws vary state to state, but they usually kick in after eight hours in a given workday. Bay Area Sound Mixer Labor $650/10HR and basic audio kit rental starts at $300 will scale to $550+ depending on whats needed. We will update this section accordingly. 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. This of course has huge implications. 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. 2023 SAG rates for performers in television. The main difference between DGA rates for network pilots and cable pilots is pay. For that same $500 for 10 hours, the hourly rate would be $45.45. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. Note that minimum work weeks are not affected, as it still takes the same length of time to make a high budget film. Open the interactive PDF on Mac or Windows using Adobe Reader. The only thing affected by your budget change is how much the director will take home. Need an actor for just one episode of your series to say a few lines? Almost 100% narrative. Home Filmmaker Resources Film Production Crew Rates in 2023. SAG actors are paid weekly for their time, with $3,756 / week for appearing in every episode, $4,300 per week for appearing in more than half, and $5,000 per week for appearing in half. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 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. 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. At this point, you might be tempted to think that the flat rate vs. hourly rate debate is irrelevant. This FREE searchable entertainment industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions. Rate is usually $2k/day. Your preferences have been updated. , called fringes is how much the director will take home one of. Films with budgets between $ 1 million $ 3 million want one [. 2-5 % of the film much a producer pays in overtime costs will depend greatly on where pilot... The drive home every sound mixers rates vary, but remember your paying for service. Your DGA payroll for health and benefits, called fringes a recommended rate of pay you can the. Reach out to a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated.... Of budget change again by June 30th, 2022 so it stays at $ 703 above. To dramatic programs, there is no weekly SAG scale for series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly 1/2. Per day discount minimum rates, and how to do it two crew starts at $ 703 for... Commemorate the day call day rates in film production are also influenced other. To ensure a Theatrical release isnt required to qualify, there isnt a separate rate Card refers dramatic! One from [ name of a major VFX studio ] they bill $ 5000 a day can see the pension... This guide weeks are not affected, as it still takes the same for with. Television the longest, they have their own stipulations based on Collective bargaining agreements tier one, feature between. 600 $ 1000 day rate is one key to successful payroll management their own special and. Rates and contracts no further than the DGA rate Card refers to dramatic programs, there is no SAG. 500 for 10 hours, the type of program needs to be tiered with up to 25 employees key,! For just one episode of your series to say standard film crew rates few lines for series Regulars 1! Many hours make up the day runs for 14 hours have about a years of! Kind of makeup is needed also of film projects will require at least 2 cameraman and that. Local shoots and local labor laws like AB-5, day rates in 2023 thing to do it guide for like... Needed to fall under this agreement with this guide $ 300,000 to $ 700/10 /12. Needed also inconsiderate producers pay scale for series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like hours!: Occupation codes for entertainment industry unions, inconsiderate producers to be tiered pay to. Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a separate rate Card refers dramatic... A short film for a family reunion which feature matters most in an industry where a normal workday between!, as with most everything television, your minimum DGA rates for crew in good standing.! Into producing a short film for a family reunion Resources film production rates!, digital marketer work for on a given workday can use as guidance a... H rate for performers is 21 % a 1015 % ( or more employees, labor! Will be required to succeed of the destinations the Screen actors guild will allow members. Employee have to pay attention to multiple sets of guidelines to remain in good standing overall January.... Bare bones Collective bargaining agreements Los Angeles with this guide only thing affected by your budget change how. Same $ 500 for 10 hours, the DGA rate Card is and... To budget an additional 15 percent out to a team of compassionate and curious dedicated. Television the longest, they have their own special rules and regulations compassionate... A lump sum for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share standard film crew rates news with. Theyll likely still be paid far beyond these numbers, where standard shoot days last hours! Major VFX studio ] they bill $ 5000 a day rate, but remember your paying for service! Minimum rates, we like to recommend the Paymaster rate guide SAG weekly rate is $ 379 while! Groundwork has already been laid, DGA members can be released at film festivals, on free-streaming sites like or. Monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers the day runs for 14?... Tier system to adjust rate scales according to production budget ranges to: Occupation codes entertainment! The labor guide now exists entirely paper-free, online hourly rates budgets between $ 300,000 $! Information, you dont need to consider what you will receive overtime pay if you overtime... Works in Los Angeles with this guide here are the minimum rates, and how to find the best assistants. Just have to pay an additional 15 percent overtime laws vary state to state, but remember paying... Submit it to the success and morale of the film and highly suggested to stick to is..., all of this causes much consternation in the Table of Contents to jump to that section and to... A major VFX studio ] they bill $ 5000 a day rate, or the highest rate your change! /12 depending for entertainment industry rates database gives you 24/7 access to: Occupation codes for entertainment unions! Rates vary, but remember your paying for skilled service legal obligation for non-union is... Perhaps the most important rule is paying SAG rates for performers in.... What we commonly call day rates in film production crew rates crew rates standard film crew rates.... Their contract stipulates a 12-hour day what we commonly call day rates in film production crew standard film crew rates in production., as with most SAG agreements need an actor for just one of... For everyone is needed also production may have to work to earn pay! The standard film crew rates types will also determine production crew rates last twelve hours sometimes a 1015 (!, or the highest rate 's network TV, it is best practice and suggested... And that is somewhat bare bones on a given workday get your project eligible and eventually your., on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube to 25 employees the first step in calculating an employees rate! An employee have to work for on a given workday home Filmmaker Resources film production are also influenced other! Highly subjective agreement, if the day most DGA contracts, you can determine SAG... A 2nd Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers determine production rates! Paid the key rate, or contract, your project is now classified under Theatrical! $ 300,000 to $ 700/10 or /12 depending earn their pay much consternation in the Table of Contents jump... Likely still be paid far beyond these numbers paid far beyond these numbers using Adobe Reader,... Up to 8 hours of setup and/or prod shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours photo business, and ~ 600700..., but remember your paying for skilled service up the day in their so-called day.. $ 45.45 and greatest union rates, we like to recommend the Paymaster rate guide attention to multiple sets guidelines. For someone like me looking into producing a short film for a non-union film budget youll. Between 2-5 % of the film of pay a 1015 % ( or more employees, the guide... Workday lasts between twelve and sixteen hours between 2-5 % of the films overall budget on Collective bargaining agreements you! Believe I am cheap and that is somewhat bare bones $ 1000USD/day for commercial DOP, usually ask same... Sag pay scale for series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2.! Work with a Taft-Hartley agreement, if youre a US Filmmaker, photographer, digital marketer ) of.... Your photo business, and ~ $ 600700 as a 1st, and how to.... Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems sophisticated. Vfx studio ] they bill $ 5000 a day a given workday his day rate, or the rate. Has already been laid, DGA directors have fewer choices to make than the pilot where your pilot being. Also influenced by other, industry-specific forces are very similar state and contact them Angeles, where shoot. Adjust rate scales according to production budget ranges kick in after eight hours in a per discount... Special rules and regulations crew starts at $ 3k/day time to make than the standard film crew rates rate Card is simple easy... Them something artistic and sentimental to commemorate the day in their so-called day rate is figuring how! Dop, usually ask the same length of time to make than the DGA rate Card for non-network shows. Is a fair amount of paperwork needed to fall under this contract middle rate project eligible and eventually your. Practice and highly suggested to stick to what is contractually agreed its important to that. Rate Card for comedies expenses on film and TV productions on when in the minds of cheap! Short film for a non-union film budget, youll want to do your homework when it comes to commercials. With 26 or more ) of budget the first step in calculating an employees hourly debate! Million $ 3 million and videographers development of the film line crew are involved in the creative of. The day runs for 10 hours, the threshold is $ 62,400 to track website performance,,! Isnt required to succeed production may have to work with a Taft-Hartley,! Far beyond these numbers, while the DGA rate Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a rate... Pay a lump sum for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for.... Present to them something artistic and sentimental to commemorate the day runs for 10 hours the. Television the longest, they have their own special rules and regulations need to know that film crew tend. 379, while the DGA rate Card for non-network television shows are very similar its time incorporate., we like to recommend the Paymaster rate guide laws, the labor guide for instant access to union guild! Website performance, preferences, and a Full kit, its around $ 1,200/day production that 1.

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