The SAG day rate is $379, while the SAG weekly rate is $1,315. The term theatrical means that the film must have an initial theatrical release. In the market for a good PA? For a grip, $450-$550. 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. 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. Hiring talent on SAG weekly rates (5-day basis) does result in a per day discount. Something went wrong while submitting the form. In order to do this, Local 873 has created the IATSE 873 Independent Agreement. $1500 is a good baseline for an experienced op with good gear. That being said, if youre going long every single day of your shoot, dont expect your crew, even an inexperienced crew, to stay on the show. 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. But theres still one more step to go before were finished. 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. Film unions and guildsprovide recommended day rates for crew. Lets take a moment to discuss the role of unions and professional organizations in determining your crews pay. Back to Leftbrainer Back to Leftbrainer Contact Numbers for Union Rates: DGA: (212) 581-0370 PGA: (310) 557-0807 IATSE Local 479 : (404) 885-9134 IATSE Local 320M (Savannah): (912) 233-8538 Beyond general labor laws like AB-5, day rates in film production are also influenced by other, industry-specific forces. Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox. To learn more about how Wrapbook processes personal data, please see our privacy policy. (But dont try to tell some producers that. A producer paying a worker thinks the crew members overtime after 10 hours would be based on the $50, but in reality, its actually based on the lower rate. If your film is released directly to a streaming service, like Hulu, your SAG scale rates might fall under New Media. You took the leap and became a freelance filmmaker. For myself, and a full kit, its around $1,200/day. In addition to these rates, commercial contracts will require a 19.25-20.5% pension and health contribution. 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. If an actor appears in less than half of a seasons episode order, talent would then be classified as a major role (guest star). Its important to note that in the industry a week is considered five days. Fortunately, this is usually the easy part. Non-exempt employees are required by law to be paid according to hourly rates, and hourly rates come with a few features that do not apply to true day rates. Insurance providers like Wrapbook can spin up a policy thats SAG compliant at lowest possible cost to you. However, if you have to add additional days beyond the minimum, youll have to pay on a daily or weekly scale. 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. The Multiple Programs Agreement is a contract that applies to actors who are shooting multiple episodes of a show within one week. However, its also important to communicate with your crew and ensure that youre operating with a mutual understanding. Gear is $700-$1200 per day. 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. 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. Understanding SAG rates can be a tricky endeavor for even the most veteran of producers. Directors and producers rates are highly negotiable and receive between 2-5% of the films overall budget. Whats the difference, right? If youre making a short or documentary, this is also your contract, regardless of your budget. A day rate is still subject to change if the planned amount is exceeded. Youre seeing the word employee all over the place, and thats got you thinking Could there be a loophole here? A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. Recommend this to any filmmaker, producer. This is for companies with up to 25 employees. 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. That rate varies depending on what they own. 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. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. 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. These SAG commercial rates became effective in April of 2022 and are valid for three years. 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. For example, tier one, feature films between $1 million $3 million. It would be nice if we all got paid the same all of the time, but thats just not the case. For the latest and greatest union rates, we like to recommend the Paymaster Rate Guide. 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. While this agreement may seem like it perfectly applies to your film, its important to note that you need to release your film initially in theaters to qualify. Animator!3! All of these rates are based on a crew that works in the United States in major markets (unless indicated). There are many things to consider like job role, production types, budget, and experience. A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. Even better, access to entertainment industry union rates is now FREE for everyone. In a very real sense, day rates make the entire world of professional filmmaking go round. Below are the four basic steps of calculating day rates. Here are a few things that are considered when working out crew rates. Web5! Others are shot in a few hours. It goes without saying that overtime can dramatically increase an employees earnings, a reality that significantly complicates the flat rate vs. hourly rate conversation. 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. Before diving in, its critical to create a detailed budget of your production, as this will determine your specific SAG rates. Expect the unexpected. These rates will be valid through June 30th, 2022, with the exception of commercial rates which are valid through November 30th, 2022. This is how much you charge for your work per hour, day, or week. I scale pay with budget, so if I can get more Ill generally pay more, up to $1500/day for a DP. Level up your filmmaking knowledge with our list of the top 10 filmmaking blogs of 2023. 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. We determined these rates by researching unions for an average $1M budget feature film based on an 11-hour workday. January 25, For films, you should refer to SAG Theatrical Rates. That being said, youll still have to pay at least 19% in fringes on top of whatever rate you and the director reach. Optional cookies used to track website performance, preferences, and analytics. The SAG pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. DP rate is $1300/10hr day. Im missing quite a few crew positions but as I come across rates for other departments I will update this article. Plus kit fee. My current rate for prod sound mixing is $650/day. How much a producer pays in overtime costs will depend greatly on where theyre located. In this bucket, nothing changes on your DGA agreement in regards to prep time, guaranteed shooting time, and cutting allowance. Travel rates may be negotiated depending on location. And then after 12, depending on what state shes working in, she may even be entitled to double time. Its important to note that youll have to pay an additional 19% on your DGA payroll for health and benefits, or fringes.. In general, these DGA rates are cheaper across the board for projects lacking old broadcast money. 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. THESE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS MAY HELP: In addition, they will help to arrange your rate and workers rights, such as break hours and overtime pay. WebVideography Full Day Rate $700.00 Up to 8 hours of setup and/or prod. But youre a smart producer. For UK filmmakers see advice provided byBECTU. 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 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. The amount of prep time and guaranteed shooting are nearly identical. Then your production probably falls under a SAG AFTRA Theatrical Agreement. However, calculating your SAG rates for TV is by far the most confusing. On a full budget feature, a UPM or AD gets 19% pension and health, approximately 2% training and qualification, and 7.719% vacation and holiday. Furthermore, your rate may increase if you work elsewhere and travel to work in an expensive location. 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). I only have about a years worth of experience as an ac so my rate is a little low. The linked agreement above reads that if it isnt updated then 35% of the Theatrical Basic is used to determine these rates. Twenty-four? After eight hours, an employees hourly rate begins to be multiplied by a factor that increases as more continuous hours are worked. The P&H rate for background actors is 20%. 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. SAG has not updated anything beyond July, 2022, so rate stays at $216. 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. Do you intend to pay your cast and crew minimum wage or their going freelance rates? *2-5% budget. Like SAG rates, the DGA minimums are based on the budget of your project. It doesnt matter if he works one hour or eight hours or sixteen hours, if Kenny worked one day, hes getting paid $350 for that day. (Twice her hourly rate. For standard equipment rates, you should compare a few differentfilm equipment rental companies. 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. A guide to understanding when its time to incorporate your photo business, and how to do it. In my experience Director is between $2500 to $4000, DP is between $2000 and $3500. The Wrapbook Team consists of individuals who are thrilled about building modern software tools for creators. To become part of a union, you must meet their terms. Feature films, television shows, commercials, and new media all operate under slightly different regulations. DIT $700 (plus gear, which changes per job in the $500-$1500 range). Still, I encourage you to keep reading to appreciate the context of these video production rates fully. 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. Extra financing may sound great, but it could hurt your bottom line if it pushes your production upward into a new tier. SAG Short Project Agreements cover films that have total budgets less than $50,000 and a maximum running time of 40 minutes. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. The weekly salary is 10% less than it would be on the basic DGA theatrical contract, also reflected in the compensation beyond guaranteed work and daily employment rate. $1,200-$1,800 (more, depending on the experience/skill). 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. Films made under this pact can be released at film festivals, on free-streaming sites like Vimeo or YouTube. 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. 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 main difference between DGA rates for network pilots and cable pilots is pay. Tier 3 Positions work for their department leads to accomplish the goals: grips, electrics, ACs, drivers, technicians, art assistants, utilities. If you're producing an existing episode of a TV series, start here - DGA Rate Card 2022. The SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement applies to films with budgets between $300,000 to $700,000. And perhaps the most important rule is paying SAG rates. You can find us across the U.S. and Canada. This summary includes key conditions, classifications, rates and allowances from July 1, 2022. As with all DGA rates, you should expect to pay an additional 19.4% into the DGA health and pension plan. If they believe in the project, crew members will usually be willing to work with you for the sake of the budget. Super helpful idea about the tier concept and a fair way for small budget films to keep the little bit of money available equitable. You dont have to use our system, or any particular system (unless youre shooting a union film of course), but whatever system you use needs to be fair to all crew members. 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. 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. Keep in mind, these are the minimum rates, and quite often, DGA members can be paid far beyond these numbers. 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. When converting so-called day rates to hourly rates, theres a chance that the resulting hourly rate might not meet a states minimum wage requirements. 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. 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. 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. On union productions, this will never be an issue, but it does pop up from time to time on non-union shoots. Minimum wage will go up in several states in 2022, so production companies will want to plan ahead to make sure theyre paying their freelance crew correctly. In reality, what we commonly call day rates in the film industry are actually an estimation based on crew members hourly rates. Directors of Photography, Production Designers, etc. On a non-union film, rates are fully negotiable. 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 content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. Perhaps I should look into film production services to see if I can get a serviceable crew. DGA rates are the minimum amounts of money the Directors Guild of America will allow its members to work for on a given project. Their concept of a 10-hour day at say $500 per day is $50 per hour. Get the best resources for producers delivered to your mailbox. Budgeting A Film Crew Rates and Work Hours. Per the DGA rate card, television rates only apply to directors directing an episode of an existing show. , we like to recommend the Paymaster rate Guide 300,000 to $ 700,000 few differentfilm rental! And allowances from July 1, 2022, so rate stays at $ 216 streaming,. And analytics standard equipment rates, and cutting allowance of money the Guild! 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