film budget and price to pay DP and editor at DVinfo.net

Dave Morgan · April 17th, 2010, 05:07 PM

Someone I know has script and has 450k budget for the film. he wants me to be the cameraman/DP and editor. I have no idea what to ask for payment. any ideas? its a 90 page script so a feature length film

hourly? or a set price? it would require me to travel.

if a set price any thoughts on how much?

Lori Starfelt · April 17th, 2010, 05:59 PM

At $450k, I'd go with union rates, if I were you - even if you're not union. The producer can afford it at that figure but everyone will be working at scale with the exception of whatever B list celebs get brought on board for distribution.

The last I checked, the basic rate for DPs was around $3500 per week (I could be wildly wrong on this) and editors start at around $1300 per week. This is off the top of my head. I haven't checked union fees on either of them in a few years, but that's what I recall.

It gives you a guideline as to where to start and figuring a 3 week shooting schedule and an 8 week editing process, puts you around 5% of the budget for both roles.

Brian Drysdale · April 18th, 2010, 02:13 AM

I doubt you could get full union rate on a feature at that budget, especially if shooting for a month.

I know of a feature film with a bigger budget and the DP was getting £750 per week.

Lori Starfelt · April 18th, 2010, 10:47 PM

Brian,
Yes, he can get full union on $450k.

Brian Drysdale · April 19th, 2010, 07:18 AM

You can get it, although that would depend on the script, the shooting format and how much the above the line costs are. Often they pay those and put the squeeze on the below the line costs like the crew.

Dylan Couper · April 19th, 2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Morgan

Someone I know has script and has 450k budget for the film. he wants me to be the cameraman/DP and editor. I have no idea what to ask for payment. any ideas? its a 90 page script so a feature length film

hourly? or a set price? it would require me to travel.

if a set price any thoughts on how much?

Charge your full day rate, or as Lori suggests, union rates if you can swing it.

Shaun Roemich · April 19th, 2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

Often they pay those and put the squeeze on the below the line costs like the crew.

I see you have Craigslist in the UK as well...

Brian Drysdale · April 19th, 2010, 12:01 PM

No, just tough producers. There are feature films made at this cost level, but they're still low budget productions and you often find that people higher up the scale do get paid higher rates, but at the expense of lower grades. A quality BBC one off TV drama would have a higher budget and people do get the rate or at least close to.

It really depends on the production values involved and how long the schedule is. You should be hard nosed and get the best rate you can.

Someone I know worked on a $40m feature and he thought that was a good budget until he was told it should really be $80m.

I think the squeeze is pretty universal, that's why they're shooting films in lower cost locations like Eastern Europe.

April 17th, 2010, 05:07 PM	#1
Dave Morgan Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 293	film budget and price to pay DP and editor Someone I know has script and has 450k budget for the film. he wants me to be the cameraman/DP and editor. I have no idea what to ask for payment. any ideas? its a 90 page script so a feature length film hourly? or a set price? it would require me to travel. if a set price any thoughts on how much?

April 18th, 2010, 10:47 PM	#4
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	Brian, Yes, he can get full union on $450k. Last edited by Lori Starfelt; April 18th, 2010 at 11:46 PM.

April 17th, 2010, 05:59 PM	#2
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	At $450k, I'd go with union rates, if I were you - even if you're not union. The producer can afford it at that figure but everyone will be working at scale with the exception of whatever B list celebs get brought on board for distribution. The last I checked, the basic rate for DPs was around $3500 per week (I could be wildly wrong on this) and editors start at around $1300 per week. This is off the top of my head. I haven't checked union fees on either of them in a few years, but that's what I recall. It gives you a guideline as to where to start and figuring a 3 week shooting schedule and an 8 week editing process, puts you around 5% of the budget for both roles.

April 18th, 2010, 02:13 AM	#3
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	I doubt you could get full union rate on a feature at that budget, especially if shooting for a month. I know of a feature film with a bigger budget and the DP was getting £750 per week.

April 19th, 2010, 07:18 AM	#5
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	You can get it, although that would depend on the script, the shooting format and how much the above the line costs are. Often they pay those and put the squeeze on the below the line costs like the crew.

April 19th, 2010, 12:01 PM	#8
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	No, just tough producers. There are feature films made at this cost level, but they're still low budget productions and you often find that people higher up the scale do get paid higher rates, but at the expense of lower grades. A quality BBC one off TV drama would have a higher budget and people do get the rate or at least close to. It really depends on the production values involved and how long the schedule is. You should be hard nosed and get the best rate you can. Someone I know worked on a $40m feature and he thought that was a good budget until he was told it should really be $80m. I think the squeeze is pretty universal, that's why they're shooting films in lower cost locations like Eastern Europe.