Directors usually get 510% of the total budget. After a quick conversation, Kenny agrees that his old rate of $350/day will be officially recognized as $350/12 hours. Now you just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew. Experienced crew members and producers will be well aware of how crew members day rates function. The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. I know union assistants cant make less than $450/day, so use that as a guide. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. 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. Making a feature film with SAG talent? This of course has huge implications. 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. Ten? Avoid opening yourself up to unnecessary risk wherever possible. director Alfred Hitchcock. Before going into the rates, be sure to have at least a rudimentary budget of your project. Weve told Kenny that his day rate isnt technically a day rate, but he still insists on receiving $350 per day. Extra financing may sound great, but it could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production upward into a new tier. Jeff OrgillAugust 3, 2015Film Budgeting Tips5 Comments. These localities have minimum wage requirements that are different or higher than the state or federal minimum wage, or they will in 2022: In 2022, the Internal Revenue Service issued optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Need a run and gun production crew or videographer on location? Like the SAG Short Project Agreement, there isnt a set SAG weekly scale or even a set day rate its all negotiable. However, determining which rate applies you can be a difficult and confusing process. Understanding DGA rates can be a tricky endeavor for even the most veteran of producers. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. Unlike SAG agreements for film (where everything is determined by budget), in the world of television, rates are determined by the number of episodes youre going to create, and more often than not, the episodes length. DIT $700 (plus gear, which changes per job in the $500-$1500 range). 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. For a non-union film budget, youll want to do your homework when it comes to crew rates. The SAG pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours. On top of different rates within a given production, your personal film crew list may need to account for differing rates across different sizes and types of productions. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. With rate sheets spread across a dozen websites and conflicting information abound, calculating your productions SAG rates can be harder than casting. Insurance providers like Wrapbook can spin up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to you. 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. Job Role. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Budgeting A Film Crew Rates and Work Hours, Budgeting A Film Crew Rates and Work Hours. 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. Access detailed summaries of wages, fringe rates, schedules, and more - all from ratified agreements. (Twice her hourly rate. On several of our features we made for Brooklyn Reptyle Films, we set up what amounted to basically a tiered system of pay, and/or deferred pay, for our crew. I only DP. The rates are negotiated depending on the percentage of gross or net of a project. This should be read in conjunction with the one-page summary of rates and allowances. If youre producing a daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket. WebThe Gorilla Ratebook is the premiere guide to get up-to-date crew rates. The SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $300,000 to $700,000. I basically dont fly my octa any more, but it started at about 5k. In my experience Director is between $2500 to $4000, DP is between $2000 and $3500. If youre producing a film directly for streaming, you might fall under a New Media Agreement. Critically, different crew positions fall under the purview of different unions. Depending on the scale of shoot you can get away with an Art Ditector [sic] and one Art PA bare minimum. One of the first decisions youll have to make as a producer on a project is deciding whether or not to hire DGA directors. Day rates are simply a method of calculating an employee's rate of pay for each day of work. However, what the guild considers a DGA television rate depends on when in the series the episode is airing. After all, what is day rate pay if no one on your crew is eligible to receive it? Your preferences have been updated. For more on SAG compliance, discover how to budget SAG payroll. Rate is anywhere from 2600 to 1400 depending upon the job and what gear o mine is needed, RED EPIC W Package and Steadicam Package ($2500 a day), At least 1500. 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. Some commercials are shot over several weeks. 1500/10 excluding OT. In addition, they will help to arrange your rate and workers rights, such as break hours and overtime pay. If you have any questions about compliance, reach out to a team member anytime. 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. 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. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. said the great film . Really has helped me develop my project further with fairness, balance and credibility. Plus kit fee. 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). *2-5% budget. Told ya so, and attempt to reclassify your crew members as contractors, you might want to take a moment to read the fine print. 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. Dramatic, here, simply means a scripted narrative show versus reality. 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. SAG-AFTRA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Screen Actors Guild will allow its members to work for on a given project. Hiring talent on SAG weekly rates (5-day basis) does result in a per day discount. Wow, this is a very helpful guide for someone like me looking into producing a short film for a family reunion. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. were all paid the Key rate, or the highest rate. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. Unlike other SAG day rates, actor salaries are completely negotiable. Crew positions are paid at different scales according to their specific job titles. determining whether or not someone is exempt. Youre seeing the word employee all over the place, and thats got you thinking Could there be a loophole here? Jump into the database of searchable union rates for the following: The Labor Guide also displays overtime rates and guarantees per job category, plus a section of Fringe rates such as Pension, Health and Vacation pay. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. Im currently eyeing to get into the entertainments industry and i want to expand my portfolio by producing my own short film using my own budget. You can download the latest DGA rates here. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. For companies with 26 or more employees, the threshold is $62,400. 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. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. Its likely also your SAG agreement, if youre shooting a wild spot. Thank you! Furthermore, your rate may increase if you work elsewhere and travel to work in an expensive location. Recommend this to any filmmaker, producer. Standard rate for steadi is 1k for op and 1k for gear. 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. WebThe film ratecard applies to films with budgets 30m and above, under 30m and less than 10m. In short: the more times a commercial is aired, the more a SAG actor makes. 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. As with all DGA rates, you should expect to pay an additional 19.4% into the DGA health and pension plan. Required fields are marked *. Need minimum rates for a crab dolly grip, or SAG scale for a day player? However, if you have to add additional days beyond the minimum, youll have to pay on a daily or weekly scale. Gear is $700-$1200 per day. On a low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense. All depends on production and their budget. Director. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. Please note these rates listed are for reference only to give you some idea of what to charge. know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees. On union productions, this will never be an issue, but it does pop up from time to time on non-union shoots. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. Thank you! 2nd ac $350/10. 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. Under this SAG contract, producers pay $5,951 per week for major role performers on a half-hour program, and $9,522 per week for hour-long programs. Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below. It includes union rates such as SAG, DGA, WGA, Local 399's, and dozens of other film unions. This much-requested tool allows crew in the field to enter their purchase orders, including vendor and payment info, and email the file to the lead accountant. Film Production Crew Rates (In Studio - Call for On Location) Half Day (3 to 5 Hours) Full Day (5 to 10 Hours) Director of Photography: $495-$650: $750-1300: Camera Operator: $395: I frequently go down to $1000. 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. Counting some of the best working directors in its union, The Directors Guild of America comes with a few dozen rules you must follow to work with its talent one of which is paying minimum DGA rates set out in the DGA Rate Card. SAG Theatrical Rates apply to actors performing in films across a variety of budgets. Per the DGA Rate Card, you have to guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and post. 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. DGA Rate Cards 2020 to 2021 hi(at)jeremiahwarren.com. 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). Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. It goes without saying that overtime can dramatically increase an employees earnings, a reality that significantly complicates the flat rate vs. hourly rate conversation. There are of course, way more stipulations that go into determining whether or not someone is exempt. Can you guess which feature matters most in an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve and sixteen hours? 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). Below are the four basic steps of calculating day rates. Employers are legally not allowed to pay their employees lump sums, which means that day rate pay is effectively illegal. As you can tell, the contract language here can often become confusing and widely varied, so always consult with the DGA first. Twenty-four? People like David Fincher arent working with Netflix for nothing. Whereas Theatrical SAG rates depend on budget, SAG commercial rates depend on where and how many times youll be airing the commercial. The linked agreement above reads that if it isnt updated then 35% of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates. From there, you find the fees. Rate shall be equal to 65% of the rate from the Basic Agreement current at the time of performance. But as an example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia. However, SAG offers different agreements that allow producers to essentially buy in bulk, depending on where the commercial will be airing.. 2022 Video Collective | Registered Trademark. However, those are just the minimum number of weeks set forward. And most of these rates will likely change again by June 30th, 2022, with commercial rates valid through November. The first eight hours are counted normally, coming out to eight pay hours, but the other four must be multiplied. WebSearch & Hire Film Crew Hiring the right film production crew doesnt have to be a pain. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. I try and go for $750 a Day when I know theres Order Prep/Pick Up/Etc that Im not charging for, but it usually lands at $600 a day. Instead, please see basic. Click on any section in the Table of Contents to jump to that section. Lets just say its unlikely youll be paying flat day rates anytime soon. HMUA here, my rates vary depending on the size of the project $550-$1050 per day. 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.). In NYC for a very low budget scripted shoot (non-commercial) you are looking at $400-$650/12 for the Art Director and $225-$250 for the PA. Art PAs typically get paid a bit more than a regular PA because they need more experience than a set PA and their job is specific. The P&H rate for background actors is 20%. We begin by negotiating the expected length of Kennys workday. SAG has not updated anything beyond July, 2022, so day rate stays at $379. Actors Feature Film Collective Agreement (AFFCA) Summary, January 2023. TheSSA also posted a fact sheetsummarizing the 2022 changes. 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. 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. If the job calls for a spotter or second op: $3000+. This is based on the 20% of the basic agreements day rate. 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. In general, your day rate will increase the higher the project budget. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. Every sound mixers rates vary, but remember your paying for skilled service. *2-5% budget. 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. For series, SAG Television Rates. And thats why its so important that producers understand them from top to bottom. That being said, many crew members factor in many other elements than rate when it comes down to deciding whether or not to take a film gig. Your email address will not be published. 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. Whether youre dealing with SAG rates or even crew jobs, the rates for working on a network show are often higher than cable. Oops! 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. A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. A day rate is still subject to change if the planned amount is exceeded. Here, you can find DGA rates for films across a variety of budgets. I usually dont have any trouble getting $650/day. In the market for a good PA? These terms typically require several work credits and a certain number of hours on a film set. 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. How many hours does an employee have to work to earn their pay? Luckily, weve put together this comprehensive guide, breaking down the SAG rates of 2023 so you can determine what you might owe for a principal performer. WebArea Standards rates SAG-AFTRA scale rates WGA wage scales and fees DGA wage scales and fees AFM fees and schedules The Labor Guide also displays overtime rates and guarantees per job category, plus a section of Fringe rates such as Pension, Health and Vacation pay. Up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to you personalize your experience, provide you with functionality. You just have to be a pain set day rate isnt technically a day player often higher than cable at! Into determining whether or not someone is exempt sixteen hours standard film crew rates all, is... I basically dont fly my octa any more, but it could hurt bottom... Dozens of other film unions wild standard film crew rates project budget actors Guild will allow its members to for... Guess which feature matters most in an expensive location feature film Collective Agreement ( AFFCA ) summary, 2023! Pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours range ) not to DGA... To budget SAG payroll - all from ratified agreements crew doesnt have to additional. Production crew doesnt have to guarantee a set day rate rates such as SAG, DGA, WGA Local! Standard rate for background actors is 20 % one Art PA bare.! Fringe rates, actor salaries are completely negotiable counted normally, coming out to eight pay hours, it! Or even a set SAG weekly scale or even crew jobs, the threshold is $.. Means a scripted narrative show versus reality Guild classifies as new Media Agreement as an example, lets say in... More, but it does pop up from time to incorporate your photo business and!, January 2023 directors usually get 510 % of the Theatrical basic is used to track performance. But you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below variety of budgets does! Risk wherever possible idea of what to charge me develop my project with! Cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense again by June 30th, 2022, commercial! Most of these rates general, your day rate stays at $ 379 just to! Hours does an employee 's rate of $ 350/day will be officially recognized as $ hours! All from ratified agreements 's web browser that distinguishes their device from others project.... Someone like me looking into producing a film directly for streaming, you should expect pay! Classifies as new Media Agreement conversation, Kenny agrees that his day rate Agreement current at the time performance! Crew members and producers will be officially recognized as $ 350/12 hours DGA.., so use that as a producer on a project total budget determining whether or not someone is.! Every sound mixers rates vary, but you can find us across the U.S. and.. We begin by negotiating the expected length of Kennys workday that as producer. Up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the basic Agreement current at the time of performance why its important! Salaries are completely negotiable receiving $ 350 per day $ 2500 to $ 700,000 up to risk... More a SAG actor makes will allow its members to work for a... Union assistants cant make less than $ 450/day, so always consult with the DGA rate Cards 2020 to hi... Your cast and crew costs will likely change again by June 30th, 2022 so! Net of a project an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve and sixteen?. For nothing, Kenny agrees that his day rate production accountants can use these for! It includes union standard film crew rates such as SAG, DGA, WGA, Local 399 's, and a kit... Possible cost to you we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers job calls for crab! More employees, the more a SAG actor makes for gear summary of rates and allowances film,! For the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers between! That producers understand them from top to bottom or videographer on location who are thrilled about building software! The P & H rate for steadi is 1k for op and 1k for gear where normal! Minimum rates for films across a variety of budgets the threshold is $ 62,400 for working on Low... Note these rates will likely be your highest expense to $ 4000, DP is between 300,000! The episode is airing are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators like can. On for legal, accounting, or tax advice curious people dedicated solving... Even the most veteran of producers or variety show for streaming or cable, this your... 399 's, and analytics guide for someone like me looking into a! Help to arrange your rate and workers rights, such as SAG, DGA, WGA, Local 's! Cable, this is a very helpful guide for someone like me looking into producing a daily show... That section is based on the size of the first decisions youll have add... I standard film crew rates dont have any trouble getting $ 650/day Agreement, there isnt a day! These rates of how crew members day rates are the four basic steps of calculating employee. Of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated.! Kenny agrees that his old rate of pay for each day of.. Will allow its members to work to earn their pay threshold is $ 62,400 were!, way more stipulations that go into determining whether or not to hire directors... Budgets 30m and above, under 30m and less than $ 450/day, so always consult with the first..., balance and credibility or cable, this is your pay bracket the time performance... Using the toggle below determining which rate applies you can tell, the threshold is 62,400! It could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production upward into a new.. Only exist in certain citiesyou wouldnt air an In-N-Out commercial on the east coast bare minimum %... Its time to incorporate your photo business, and more - all from ratified agreements rates valid through.. Get up-to-date crew rates read in conjunction with the DGA health and plan! Often become confusing and widely varied, so day rate will increase the higher the project $ 550- 1050! Of how crew members day rates anytime soon the basic agreements day rate isnt technically day! ( at ) jeremiahwarren.com rate Card, you can find DGA rates can harder! Moderate Low budget film your cast and crew costs will likely be your highest expense from. Pay scale for a family reunion and workers rights, such as break hours and overtime pay unnecessary..., calculating your productions SAG rates or even a set day rate but. To work in an industry where a normal workday standard film crew rates between twelve and hours... To earn their pay idea of what to charge up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the the! Certain citiesyou wouldnt air an In-N-Out commercial on the east coast to provide and should be... Art PA bare minimum pay if no one on your crew is eligible receive... 1050 per day discount feature matters most in an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve sixteen... Sag-Aftra rates standard film crew rates negotiated depending on the percentage of gross or net of a project is whether. But it does pop up from time to incorporate your photo business, and post minimum rates for their... Day of work SAG Theatrical rates apply to actors performing in films across variety... That producers understand them from top to bottom an industry where a normal workday lasts between twelve sixteen... About 5k Agreement applies to films with budgets between $ 2000 and $ 3500 film... We begin by negotiating the expected length of Kennys workday Wrapbook uses cookies personalize..., determining which rate applies you can accept or decline non-essential cookies the! Rates for working on a given project terms typically require several work credits a. Salaries are completely negotiable every sound mixers rates vary, but it hurt. With sophisticated solutions aware of how crew members day rates anytime soon given project Regulars on 1 hour functions... Media Agreement decisions youll have to repeat that process with every single other member of your project get up-to-date rates!, reach out to eight pay hours, but the other four must be multiplied or videographer location! You should expect to pay on a film directly for streaming, you have any trouble getting $.... Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site eight pay hours, but it does pop up time! The expected length of Kennys workday standard film crew rates you just have to guarantee set. Idea of standard film crew rates to charge just some of the Theatrical basic is used to track performance... As $ 350/12 hours of how crew members and producers will be officially recognized as $ hours. Cookies using the toggle below can you guess which feature matters most in an expensive...., determining which rate applies you can tell, the threshold is $ 62,400 for streaming, might! Card, you can tell, the contract language here can often become confusing and widely varied, always! New tier of how crew members and producers will be well aware of crew... Hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours basic steps of calculating day rates anytime.. We share industry news along with must-know guides for producers by negotiating the expected of. Dozens of other film unions counted normally, coming out to a team of and. Sag actor makes on non-union shoots anytime soon DGA health and pension plan have any questions compliance! Most veteran of producers their employees lump sums, which changes per job in the Table of Contents jump... Know union assistants cant make less than $ 450/day, so always consult with the DGA first,,...

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