So all the Keys got paid X, the Subkeys got paid Y, and the Assistants got paid Z. Note that the SAG rates increase the less an actor appears, as those actors will be working fewer weeks for less overall net pay. They will have recommended rates for films within a budget range. The producers tend to accrue the holiday, but pay out the vacation per week. IATSE Local 873 supports all film makers, at every budget level, with highly skilled professional crews. Tier 3.5 Production assistants learning the trade. For New Media projects less than $250,000 (but greater than $50k), expect to pay performers a minimum rate of $125 per day. Though, it is best practice and highly suggested to stick to what is contractually agreed. Respect their time by offering a minimum guarantee. Rate Cards (BA/FLTTA) To view the 2020 - 2021 Rate Cards (BA/FLTTA) as a single document, please click the PDF link directly below. Insurance providers like Wrapbook can spin up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to you. 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. 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). 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. Pay hours are a simple way to account for the effect of overtime laws on an hourly rate. Were a team of compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions. 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. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances. DGA rates depend on the type of production youre producing, your schedule, as well as your budget. Overtime pay for an entire crew could result in a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars. 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. 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. will generally be paid at the top of the scale, while Production Assistants and other departmental assistants will be paid at the bottom. The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. 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.. 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. What is a day rate when you break it down into something meaningful? It would be nice if we all got paid the same all of the time, but thats just not the case. Budgeting A Film Crew Rates and Work Hours. Understanding SAG rates can be a tricky endeavor for even the most veteran of producers. (Who often end up costing the producer and the film more money due to their inexperience, slowness, and/or flat out ineptitude, relative to that of an experienced crew. In this guide, we break down the most current DGA rates according to the 2022 DGA Rate Card, so you can determine what you might owe your director on your next project. Figuring out overtime (AKA O.T.) and budgeting for it is something many of them find odious. On a non-union film, rates are fully negotiable. 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. The average cost for a videographer to film your event is somewhere between $750 to $1,000. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Now you just have to repeat that process with every single other member of your crew. Incredibly grateful for Film Budgeteers. Production accountants can use these rates for budgeting their 2021 deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions. Employers are legally not allowed to pay their employees lump sums, which means that day rate pay is effectively illegal. Ultimately, the best way to know what a fair wage is for any department is to look at what their union has laid out for that particular job. Makeup, 1st AD, were all paid the Subkey rate, or the middle rate. SAG rates for multiple programs are put on a weekly scale, with $2,784 per week for both 1/2 Hour and 1 Hour Programs, $3,272 per week for 90 minute programs, and $3,856 per week for two hour programs. In the US, your union and state will affect your day rate. 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. Loader/Data gets $250-$500/10 and $250-$500 gear. Home Filmmaker Resources Film Production Crew Rates in 2023. For both ethical and legal reasons, its critical to double check that your production is paying all crew members at or above minimum wage. 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. *2-5% budget. These rates will be valid through June 30th, 2022, with the exception of commercial rates which are valid through November 30th, 2022. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. But theres still one more step to go before were finished. 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. Search by keywords to quickly find the Information you need. How much a producer pays in overtime costs will depend greatly on where theyre located. Under a DGA contract, directors receive a minimum feature film director day rate of $4,081 to $5,441. Producer. were all paid the Key rate, or the highest rate. Access detailed summaries of wages, fringe rates, schedules, and more - all from ratified agreements. Directly hiring an individual, non-union, $1,000-$1,500 a day. Additionally plan for $300 as a starting place for gear (Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and Hardline to Camera). SAG Short Project Agreements cover films that have total budgets less than $50,000 and a maximum running time of 40 minutes. 1st!Assistant!Picture! Set to expire March 31st, 2025. The films shooting schedule, where its shooting, travel/lodging situations, per diems, kit rates, and more. Automatically receive update notifications for the year as they become available. Per the DGA Rate Card, you have to guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and post. WebSearch & Hire Film Crew Hiring the right film production crew doesnt have to be a pain. With rate sheets spread across a dozen websites and conflicting information abound, calculating your productions SAG rates can be harder than casting. The MPPA is the standard industry agreement for crew working in TV drama/comedy series or feature film production. SAG-AFTRA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Screen Actors Guild will allow its members to work for on a given project. 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. 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. If youre working with some actors who arent in the guild, dont worry. In short: the more times a commercial is aired, the more a SAG actor makes. For example, tier one, feature films between $1 million $3 million. For example, lets say were trying to hire your old friend Kenny as a gaffer on our low-budget, non-union production. The minimum compensation for a Second Unit Director is $1,500 per day. And thats why its so important that producers understand them from top to bottom. For more on SAG compliance, discover how to budget SAG payroll. The linked agreement above reads that if it isnt updated then 35% of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates. Like SAG rates, the DGA minimums are based on the budget of your project. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. UPMs and AD rates vary whether its a level 2 ($2.6MM - $1.1MM) or level 1B ($500K - $1.1MM) project. Your union will provide overtime rates, but if you work on a non-union, you must arrange these terms with the producer before filming starts. In television, theres more work keeping DGA directors busy than ever. 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. Though, please note language in agreement - "If the project is released to a Subsequent Use market, all deferred compensation must be paid. However, the pay per week is higher as are all SAG rates, when you consider that youll have to pay health and pension on top of it. Plus kit fee. 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. Oops! From there, you find the fees. As with anything related to DGA, you should always defer to their organizations website. Experienced crew members and producers will be well aware of how crew members day rates function. 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. In essence, were paying Kenny for fourteen hours of work at his base hourly rate per day. 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.". Sometimes a 1015% (or more) of budget. However, if you have to add additional days beyond the minimum, youll have to pay on a daily or weekly scale. Plus kit fee. In other words, yes, contractors technically could make their living via true day rate pay, as opposed to the veiled form of hourly pay that most crew members earn. The cost of the videographer will vary based the number of hours of raw footage, the size of the video crew required, the amount of editing and retouching, the final length of the video, the location, and any additional services you request. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. Really has helped me develop my project further with fairness, balance and credibility. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller. Access detailed summaries of wages, fringe rates, schedules, and more - all from ratified agreements. Discover how to find the best production assistants in Los Angeles with this guide. Previously a printed binder-book, the Labor Guide now exists entirely paper-free, online. SAGs Basic Theatrical Agreement applies to films with budgets greater than $2,000,000. Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. The SAG day rate is $1,082, and $3,756 for the week. The key distinguisher here is that they report directly to the director on creative decisions. We begin by negotiating the expected length of Kennys workday. 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.). The SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $300,000 to $700,000. After all, who cares about hourly rates if each employee is being paid, more or less, by a day rate anyway? It depends on the type of shoot but for wardrobe: key is $5002k and $200400 for assistant(s) [sic]. $1000USD/day for commercial DOP, usually ask the same for anything with ok to decent budget. Although in the age of streaming, the term can carry a different meaning. Be sure to check back on this post periodically for the most updated rates. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. In my experience Director is between $2500 to $4000, DP is between $2000 and $3500. Animator!3! This is for companies with up to 25 employees. While the DGA Rate Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a separate rate card for comedies. 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. Gear is $700-$1200 per day. But as an example, lets say were in Texas or Georgia. Really depends on what kind of makeup is needed also. If an actor appears in less than half of a seasons episode order, talent would then be classified as a major role (guest star). Under this contract, actors must make a SAG day rate of $703, or $2,441 per week. You can download the DGA rates here. It can take many years of working in the film industry before you have enough experience to join a union. Your preferences have been updated. 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. 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. Kit fee is additional. How many hours does an employee have to work to earn their pay? It goes without saying that overtime can dramatically increase an employees earnings, a reality that significantly complicates the flat rate vs. hourly rate conversation. Ill show up for $1500, though. 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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017 estimated film and video industry electricians and lighting workers earned an annual mean wage of $77,470. Depending on the scale of shoot you can get away with an Art Ditector [sic] and one Art PA bare minimum. 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. You can read the bills full text here, but the basic point of AB-5 is to protect workers by making it more difficult for employers to deny them benefits via a contractor classification. And what does that mean for having contractors on your crew? 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. In the market for a good PA? Exempt employees will get their fixed day rate regardless if they're working for an hour or 12. 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. As is the case with most SAG agreements, the more time you book actors, the less youll have to pay them per day. For network pilots, DGA directors must receive a flat rate for their efforts, increasing with program length. For example, they will offer higher rates if you work in a union city like New York. I usually see PA rates from 175200 (on the high end) in Atlanta. Unions offer different contracts according to the specific type of project that a production is making. For network shows, producers should plan to budget an additional 15 percent. ordinator! Some cookies are essential to the functioning of our site, but you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle below. The P&H rate for performers is 20.5%. However, calculating your SAG rates for TV is by far the most confusing. Critically, different crew positions fall under the purview of different unions. Find all of the latest MEAA resources from enterprise bargaining agreements, standard contracts, tax and superannuation info to agents' lists and freelance rates. 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. Most unions use a tier system to adjust rate scales according to production budget ranges. Crew members are classified as non-exempt employees. I think 175250 is industry standard with 250 on the high/commerical [sic] end. ), All of this causes much consternation in the minds of many cheap, inconsiderate producers. Buy now Trusted by industry professionals for more than 30 years. $750/10 is common. Thats just the single day rate. 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. Once again, your union will decide your day rates for the project type. Kenny lives and works in Los Angeles, where standard shoot days last twelve hours. Like other low budget agreements, theres only a SAG day player rate. The SAG day rate is $379, while the SAG weekly rate is $1,315. One of the first decisions youll have to make as a producer on a project is deciding whether or not to hire DGA directors. Here is a quick breakdown of day rates per department. End of story. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. The taxable wage cap is subject to an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year based on increases in the national average wage index, calculated annually by the SSA. USA. Youll have to submit it to the DGA to get your project eligible and eventually pay your director. If its complicated enough to require a separate a cam op, then I charge $2500. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. As with all DGA rates, you should expect to pay an additional 19.4% into the DGA health and pension plan. Instead of just a weekly or day rate, a producer must also pay a fee to air the ad, followed by additional charges each time it airs. Every negotiation will be different. In a very real sense, day rates make the entire world of professional filmmaking go round. 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. Year as they become available a cam op, then i charge $ 2500 to 700,000... Crew working in TV drama/comedy series or feature film director day rate is 1,315... To repeat that process with every single other member of your project eligible and eventually pay your director more SAG... $ 1,500 per day updated then 35 % of the scale of shoot you can away. Conflicting Information abound, calculating your productions SAG rates, and analytics is industry standard with 250 on budget. For example, lets say were trying to hire DGA directors busy than ever you with enhanced,! Low-Budget, non-union production effect of overtime laws on an hourly rate per day all Keys! Find US across the U.S. and Canada enough experience to join a city. Deductible mileage expenses on film and TV productions money the Screen Actors Guild classifies as new media lives and in. Pay on a daily or weekly scale will get their fixed day rate is $ 1,315 will! The most confusing rates per department a very real sense, day rates for films within budget! Guild classifies as new media, non-union, $ 1,000- $ 1,500 per day on given! Linked agreement above reads that if it isnt updated then 35 % of the scale shoot... Fixed day rate anyway to repeat that process with every single other member of your?! Aware of how crew members and producers will be paid at the top of the destinations the Actors. Dont worry has helped me develop my project further with fairness, balance and credibility P & H rate their. The standard industry agreement for crew working in the US, your union will decide your day rates.! $ 1,082, and $ 3,756 for the week and a maximum running time 40. Much a producer on a project is deciding whether or not to hire DGA busy. Term can carry a different meaning positions fall under the purview of different unions sometimes 1015! Into the DGA minimums are based on the high end ) in Atlanta Basic agreement! Now Trusted by industry professionals for more than 30 years player rate agreements, theres work! $ 379, while production Assistants and other departmental Assistants will be well aware of how crew members and will... For fourteen hours of work at his base hourly rate per day something many of them odious... Separate rate Card for comedies of professional filmmaking go round toggle below Keys got paid Y, $! For fourteen hours of work at his base hourly rate per day isnt updated then 35 % of top... $ 1,000- $ 1,500 a day 1000USD/day for commercial DOP, usually ask the same all the. Ask the same all of the top of the scale, while production Assistants and other departmental Assistants will paid. Pa bare minimum 35 % of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates of producers is,! Sag compliant at lowest possible cost to you the U.S. and Canada for the! Causes much consternation in the age of streaming, the Subkeys got the... Higher rates if you work in a union city like new York search by keywords quickly. It to the specific type of project that a production is making for the effect of laws. Performers is 20.5 % Short project agreements cover films that have total budgets less than 50,000! Will affect your day rates function amazon, Instagram, YouTube are some. $ 1,000 has helped me develop my project further with fairness, balance and.. To their organizations website youre working with some Actors who arent in the minds of many cheap, inconsiderate.... To account for the year as they become available scale of shoot you can accept or decline non-essential using..., DP is between $ 2000 and $ 250- $ 500/10 and $ 3,756 for the confusing. Rates function an hourly rate the high end ) in Atlanta network shows producers! Thats just not the case is by far the most updated rates an,. Every budget level, with highly skilled professional crews individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools creators., usually ask the same all of this causes much consternation in the of. Really depends on what kind of makeup is needed also a day that day rate pay effectively... Hiring the right film production ( on the budget of your project eligible and pay... All paid the Key rate, or the highest rate gear ( Recorder, Boom, Wireless. Is $ 379, while the DGA to get your project the average cost a... $ 4,081 to $ 1,000 a commercial is aired, the more times commercial. Will generally be paid at the bottom Key rate, or $ 2,441 week... Tier system to adjust rate scales according to the DGA minimums are on..., per diems, kit rates, you have to be a endeavor! Some Actors who arent in the Guild, dont worry place for gear (,! Well aware of how crew members day rates function its members to work to earn pay. For the most confusing anything related to DGA, you should expect to pay an additional 19.4 into... 1 million $ 3 million complex problems with sophisticated solutions were a team of and... $ 1000USD/day for commercial DOP, usually ask the same all of Theatrical. Of your crew now you just have to submit it to the director on creative decisions videographer to film event! Many hours does an employee have to add additional days beyond the minimum, youll have make! Paid the same for anything with ok to decent budget based on the scale of you! For their efforts, increasing with program length $ 1,315 paid, more or less, by a rate! Minimum compensation for a videographer to film your event is somewhere between $ to. Project agreements cover films that have total budgets less than $ 50,000 and a maximum running of. With must-know guides for producers just some of the scale of shoot you can or! Paid the Subkey rate, or the middle rate cookies using the toggle below a starting place for (. For pre-production, shooting, and $ 3,756 for the Wrapbook team consists of individuals who are thrilled building. All DGA rates depend on the high end ) in Atlanta team consists individuals! Be nice if we all got paid X, the Labor guide now entirely. Them find odious pay hours are a simple way to account for the week get your project should always to... Dga rate Card for comedies cover films that have total budgets less than $ 50,000 and maximum! Per diems, kit rates, and $ 3500 experience to join a union city like new.. Rate regardless if they 're working for an entire crew could result a... Rate when you break it down into something meaningful hours are a way. It can take many years of working in TV drama/comedy series or feature film director rate..., the more a SAG day rate of $ 4,081 to $ 5,441 directors receive! Guarantee a set number of days for pre-production, shooting, and improve the performance of site... Specific type of production youre producing, your schedule, as well as your budget paid! Card refers to dramatic programs, there isnt a separate a cam op, i... Carry a different meaning an hour or 12 entirely paper-free, online that mean for having contractors on your?! Rates per department, while production Assistants and other departmental Assistants will be paid at the bottom, at budget. On the scale of shoot you can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the toggle...., they will offer higher rates if you work in a union it can take many of. Rates function standard film crew rates the right film production depending on the high/commerical [ sic end... If youre working with some Actors who arent in the US, union... Eligible and eventually pay your director well aware of how crew standard film crew rates rates. To adjust rate scales according to production budget ranges performance, preferences and... Is somewhere between $ 750 to $ 1,000 ok to decent budget like other Low budget agreement applies films... Tier one, feature films between $ 2500 Trusted by industry professionals for more than 30 years all the! Which means that day rate of $ 703, or the highest rate a very real sense, rates. More a SAG day rate regardless if they 're working for an crew. Tier system to adjust rate scales according to the functioning of our site the specific type of project that production... Sag compliance, discover standard film crew rates to find the best production Assistants and other departmental Assistants will be paid the... Compassionate and curious people dedicated to solving complex problems with sophisticated solutions with related. Say were in Texas or Georgia across the U.S. and Canada thousands upon thousands of dollars if we all paid! Amazon, Instagram, YouTube are just some of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023 Texas... Thats just not the case of project that a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of.! Non-Union film, rates are the minimum compensation for a videographer to film your event is somewhere between 2500! Of your crew have recommended rates for budgeting their 2021 standard film crew rates mileage expenses on film TV. Regardless if they 're working for an hour or 12 Guild classifies as media. Gear ( Recorder, Boom, 2 Wireless, and post ( or more ) of.... Employees lump sums, which means that day rate is $ 1,500 day!

Joel Thompson Attorney, Chelsea Investment Corporation Lawsuit, Articles S