Crew fees? at DVinfo.net

Dan Uneken · June 14th, 2004, 04:58 AM

Can someone fill in some approximate middle range fees for (some of) the following crew members working on an independent feature, in US $:

1st AD
2nd AD
Production Manager
Production Coordinator
Production Assistant
Runner
Location Manager
Production Accountant

Thanks a lot!!

Dean Bull · July 1st, 2004, 02:01 AM

Ok, I know how useless posts like mine can be considering that I am not going to actually quote you rates... but here goes.

Since your cost-estimating an indie feature the best bet is to find people who perform said tasks and ask for a ballpark bid based on your estimate of how many days you intend to actually be in production.

With that said, part of the indie financing strategy usually means convincing folks to work for free -- however I would suggest paying folks who have the skills (even if its very little, like min-wage or negotiated flat fee/salary). When you start talking turkey you can start demanding a higher level of professional skill/ability, and accountability.

The darkside of paying folks in a low budget feature is that allot of hucksters may give you low-ball bids and have absolutely no qualification for the job, eventually taking your money and costing you even more when you have to fix the problem. Check reels and get recommendations.

Finally, I will pass on some ballpark rates I remember off the top of my head.

PA - min wage
2nd AD - min wage
Production Accountant - % of overall amount of money being monitored or a fee for their services

And that's the best I can do -- makes some calls and get some bids/recommendations!

Good Luck, and take it one step at a time.

Richard Alvarez · July 1st, 2004, 06:25 AM

here are some figures I use when preparing a mock-up budget. Your mileage may vary. Rates are weekly and subject to negotiations. Figures in US Dollars

Unit Production Manager - 1,500
First AD - 1,200
Second AD - 750
PA- 300
Production Coordinator - 1,000

Total budget of Legal and accounting is 7,500

Don't have a listing for "runner" and I am not sure what you mean by that.

These figures are ballpark as we work up budgets for a 35mm shoot. These are numbers that are reasonable for our market in Houston Texas, for professionaly credentialed crew. Houst on is a "right to work" market, but a lot of crew are union.

Good luck.

K. Forman · July 1st, 2004, 06:48 AM

Richard- The runner would be the person who gets the cappucino, tapes, and is also known as a Gofer- They go fer this, and go fer that...

Dan Uneken · July 1st, 2004, 01:45 PM

Thanks guys! Richard, one more question: the week is 5 or 6 days? 10 hour days?

Thanks so much!

Dan.

Richard Alvarez · July 1st, 2004, 03:49 PM

The figures quoted are for ten hour days, six day weeks. But really, these are starting points for a non-union mid sized budget. Things are always negotiated. (NO one ever gets what they deserve, only what they negotiate.)

For instance, my partner is a DP currently working on a low budget horror 35mm film here in Houston. He sold his rate and his camera packages as an all in one deal. The 1st camera negotiated overtime, the gaffer negotiated a ten hour turn around, (Which, by default affects the entire crew.) So in order to get what they wanted, the producers had to come to the table.

As to a "runner" I usually have PA's do the leg work, and interns do the coffee making. Drivers do the driving and delivery of people and film... so I guess there's some overlap on job titles there.

Good luck.

June 14th, 2004, 04:58 AM	#1
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Crew fees? Can someone fill in some approximate middle range fees for (some of) the following crew members working on an independent feature, in US $: 1st AD 2nd AD Production Manager Production Coordinator Production Assistant Runner Location Manager Production Accountant Thanks a lot!! __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

July 1st, 2004, 06:48 AM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Richard- The runner would be the person who gets the cappucino, tapes, and is also known as a Gofer- They go fer this, and go fer that... __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 1st, 2004, 01:45 PM	#5
Dan Uneken Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Andalucia, Spain Posts: 301	Thanks guys! Richard, one more question: the week is 5 or 6 days? 10 hour days? Thanks so much! Dan. __________________ Film & TV locations & production Spain http://www.fotofilmvideo.com/

July 1st, 2004, 02:01 AM	#2
Dean Bull Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 106	Ok, I know how useless posts like mine can be considering that I am not going to actually quote you rates... but here goes. Since your cost-estimating an indie feature the best bet is to find people who perform said tasks and ask for a ballpark bid based on your estimate of how many days you intend to actually be in production. With that said, part of the indie financing strategy usually means convincing folks to work for free -- however I would suggest paying folks who have the skills (even if its very little, like min-wage or negotiated flat fee/salary). When you start talking turkey you can start demanding a higher level of professional skill/ability, and accountability. The darkside of paying folks in a low budget feature is that allot of hucksters may give you low-ball bids and have absolutely no qualification for the job, eventually taking your money and costing you even more when you have to fix the problem. Check reels and get recommendations. Finally, I will pass on some ballpark rates I remember off the top of my head. PA - min wage 2nd AD - min wage Production Accountant - % of overall amount of money being monitored or a fee for their services And that's the best I can do -- makes some calls and get some bids/recommendations! Good Luck, and take it one step at a time.

July 1st, 2004, 06:25 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	here are some figures I use when preparing a mock-up budget. Your mileage may vary. Rates are weekly and subject to negotiations. Figures in US Dollars Unit Production Manager - 1,500 First AD - 1,200 Second AD - 750 PA- 300 Production Coordinator - 1,000 Total budget of Legal and accounting is 7,500 Don't have a listing for "runner" and I am not sure what you mean by that. These figures are ballpark as we work up budgets for a 35mm shoot. These are numbers that are reasonable for our market in Houston Texas, for professionaly credentialed crew. Houst on is a "right to work" market, but a lot of crew are union. Good luck.

July 1st, 2004, 03:49 PM	#6
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	The figures quoted are for ten hour days, six day weeks. But really, these are starting points for a non-union mid sized budget. Things are always negotiated. (NO one ever gets what they deserve, only what they negotiate.) For instance, my partner is a DP currently working on a low budget horror 35mm film here in Houston. He sold his rate and his camera packages as an all in one deal. The 1st camera negotiated overtime, the gaffer negotiated a ten hour turn around, (Which, by default affects the entire crew.) So in order to get what they wanted, the producers had to come to the table. As to a "runner" I usually have PA's do the leg work, and interns do the coffee making. Drivers do the driving and delivery of people and film... so I guess there's some overlap on job titles there. Good luck.