They may be responsible for transporting cast members to various locations or responding to requests from anyone involved in the production. Be specific in communication. Day rates can differ based on the amount of hours worked in a day. Most people work a couple jobs for years and stretch every duty into a line item on their resume. A production assistant performs many of the behind-the-scenes tasks essential in the creation and editing of content and footage. Information on each local union's website is the best source of current information. As, What makes or breaks LinkedIn influencers? Production fixer rates vary from $700 to $1000 per day. All Rights Reserved. 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. Indeeds salary data reports that production assistants make around $13.91 per hour. This is very much like a producer or production coordinator. Once thats settled, we get to do some math. Many production assistants live with multiple roommates to keep their housing costs low, especially when living in Los Angeles or New York City. that oversees more junior Production Assistants, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more. PAs often help by setting up equipment and handling control room duties. Everything You Need To Know, Sports Journalist Everything you need to know, Film And Video Editor: Everything You Need to Know, LinkedIn Influencer Everything You Need To Know, Student Consumer Information / Net Price Calculator. It is different from catering, which provides hot, sit-down meals. 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. Crew positions are paid at different scales according to their specific job titles., A union 1st AC, for example, will be paid a higher minimum rate than a union 2nd AC., Critically, different crew positions fall under the purview of different unions. A wardrobe stylist rate sheet is dependent on the production and role. Confused yet? 695), Motion Picture Editors Guild (Local No.700), Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists (Local No.706), Studio Electrical Lighting Technicians (Local No. Those who are paid at an hourly rate typically earn between $15 and $16 per hour. Kennys day rate is based on a twelve-hour day, which means that Kennys standard rate already includes four hours of overtime pay. The Directors Guild of America is a labor organization that representsthe creative and economic rightsof directors and members of the directorial team working in film, television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media. A production assistant handles the necessary administrative duties of the production process. Film resumes, in general, are a little weird. However, in the film industry it can be tough to get consistent work so a production assistant can earn between $30,000 to up to $45,000 a year, which is more money than most teachers. Say a crew member leaves set after 10 hours, and they get into a fender bender on the drive home. You took the leap and became a freelance filmmaker. The average hourly wage for a Production Assistant in the United States is $21 as of June 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $19 and $24. Production Assistant Camera Assistant Art PA Personal Assistant Most assistants of 'whichever' kind usually charge $200 to $250 a day for their rate. Anyone from Cinematographers to film loaders to still photographers can join the union. 44), International Cinematographers Guild (Local .600), IATSE Production Sound Technicians, Television Engineers, Video Assist Technicians and Studio Projectionists (Local No. Hence, you are a YouTuber if, Sports journalists write and report about sports events and teams in a diverse environment. A production assistant, also known as a PA, is a member of the film crew and is a job title used in filmmaking and television for a person responsible for various aspects of a production. If youre thinking about pursuing a career in the film industry, you will likely need to start near the bottom and work your way up. Camera assistant kit fees are some of the most encountered in the industry. know the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees, determining whether or not someone is exempt., complete list of worker classification tests by state, automatic calculations of LA commercial IATSE and Teamster timecards. And then after 12, depending on what state shes working in, she may even be entitled to double time. Local 80 Craft Service RatesCraft services, or crafty, is a film production position responsible for providing snacks and drinks to all crew members. The only commonality is that kit fees must often be negotiated between the production and freelancer. A 1st AC day rate or focus puller day rate using the IATSE tier system as a guide and an industry standard 10 hour workday would have an approximate minimum pay range of $325 to $550. Crew members are classified as non-exempt employees. This will give you a range of what to expect when you are negotiating your salary. Users can also explore and play the games created by, Technical Artist is a creative and technical operator who communicates with the artist and programmer teams. However, usually the day rate for a production assistant is $150 to $250 per day depending on experience and budget of the production. Duration of the Job. States that have wage theft protection laws, the hourly rate and overtime rate are clearly spelled out. However, typically a production designer day rate can be anywhere. A shift towards, Handling involuntary termination is a likely occurrence for human resources managers and, Return better results with Payscale job search, Compare real living costs across different states, Consider potential directions your career can take, Calculate the 20-year net ROI for US-based colleges, Are you the kind of person who struggles to get a handle, Learn where the best career earners attended college, The average hourly pay for a Production Assistant is $16.78 in 2023, An entry-level Production Assistant with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $16.09 based on 84 salaries. Craft services are technically for the "crafts" -- the grips, costume department, makeup artists, camera and lighting crew -- who need to be fueled throughout the work day. Hourly rate can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. It's likely you will pay a key grip significantly more based on experience, production city, and higher budget. What does a production accountant do? In essence, were paying Kenny for fourteen hours of work at his base hourly rate per day.. The first thing you need to do is build a film production assistant resume and quite possibly a very brief and straightforward cover letter. The best way to know what is a fair wage for any department is to look at what the union has determined is the minimum amount for the budget of the production. Below is the Local 600 Union Pay Scale Chart showing their range of day rates within the IATSE tier system. By keeping your phone calls, emails, and texts short, you free up time to get to the next task at hand. A streak or a Snapchat streak expresses how many days together youve managed to send a picture or video back and forth with a specific. 871), Motion Picture Studio Teachers and Welfare Workers (Local No. The job of a PA can vary greatly depending on the budget and specific requirements of a production as well as whether the production is unionized . Day rates are simply a method of calculating an employee's rate of pay for each day of work.. West Virginia legislation is pending. A music video shoot can typically be completed in a day or two, so you will usually be paid a daily rate. However, work hours are still governed by state and federal labor laws. To help, below are a range of day rates based on the minimum film crew union rates found in the low-budget theatrical contract. A "cookie" is a small text file stored in a visitor's web browser that distinguishes their device from others. Most production assistant roles do not have minimum education requirements, although a degree in film can provide a number of benefits as you start your career. Ten? The average Production Assistant salary in the United States is $44,556 as of June 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $39,516 and $50,727. On a small film, it might benefit your production to pay everybody the same flat rate, and not worry about time and a half or double time, but that should only be if youve got a fairly cohesive group of people working on your film to begin with, and probably only if your crew is made of up largely inexperienced people. With the pay hours total in hand, calculating hourly rates is an easy task. Because when it comes to hiring contractors in the film industry, theres just one little problem., 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. DGA Rate Cards 2020 - 2021 The DGA minimum salary schedules for Directors, Unit Production Managers, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors and Stage Managers, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Thank you! Something went wrong while submitting the form. You might work on a 6-day short film, or a 10-day web series. Based on a IATSE union key costumer day rate and a 10 hour industry standard workday, a wardrobe stylist day rate might range from $325 to $400. 'Office Christmas Party!' Lets take a moment to discuss the role of unions and professional organizations in determining your crews pay., If your production is working with guilds or unions, your crew members day rates will have to comply with all relevant union regulations., Unions operating in the film industry generally mandate minimum rate requirements that productions must meet in order to remain compliant. In California, there is a daily overtime limit of 8 hours, whereas in New York, as long as the weekly limit of 40 hours isn't reached, a worker could work 10 hours and then begin accruing overtime after that.. For example, lets say were hiring a Key Grip for a 10 hour day on a union shoot in New York. Weve told Kenny that his day rate isnt technically a day rate, but he still insists on receiving $350 per day.. For the non-union freelancer working low-budget, the director of photography day rate or cinematographer day rate, A production coordinator day rate using the IATSE tier system as a guide and an industry standard 10 hour workday would have an, A key grip day rate using the IATSE tier system as a guide and an industry standard 10 hour workday would have an, The Producer - IATSE AND MPTAAC (Motion Picture Technicians Artists and Allied Crafts). 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. (Twice her hourly rate. The estimated total pay for a Production Assistant at CBS News and Stations is $41,220 per year. A handy guide for department hiring needs: Motion Picture Studio Grips (Local No. Tier 3.5 Production assistants learning the trade. The first shoot will take place on Aug. 5 and 6 in Brooklyn, New York. The estimated additional pay is $1,312 . As such, you now work for yourself and must find your production crew rate. Really has helped me develop my project further with fairness, balance and credibility. End of story. On motion pictures with budgets greater than $2,600,000 but equal to or less than $3,750,000: The Directors initial compensation shall be no less than $75,000 for a minimum guarantee of 13 weeks. Step-By-Step Pay Equity Analysis Guide Product Guide By clicking Download Product Guide, Do you know what your employees really want for the holidays? Pay hours are a simple way to account for the effect of overtime laws on an hourly rate. Production assistants do not have a union, so they negotiate their own rates, which can vary widely. But theres still one more step to go before were finished. A project shooting with a micro-budget will generally have to pay lower minimum rates to cast and crew compared to a project shooting with the elevated financial backing of a major studio or network. Movie is Now Hiring Crew, Union Vs. Non-Union Projects - Everything You Should Know, How to Network in Hollywood: Tips for Connecting in the Film Industry, Male Body Double for Kool Keith Chicago Casting Call, $1,000 Washington D.C. Sign up for the Wrapbook monthly newsletter where we share industry news along with must-know guides for producers. After eight hours, an employees hourly rate begins to be multiplied by a factor that increases as more continuous hours are worked., In other words, each hour worked above eight hours is actually worth more than one hour in terms of pay. However, this is a high level position that is negotiated depending on past quotes, experience and budget of the project. At this point, you might be tempted to think that the flat rate vs. hourly rate debate is irrelevant. It has pretty much everything you need when putting together a film budget for a union crew. The divisions Teamsters in the industry include drivers and other transportation professionals, animal wranglers, casting directors, location scouts and others. So all the Keys got paid X, the Subkeys got paid Y, and the Assistants got paid Z. A two shot is a shot that shows two subjects in the same frame. The Finished and Custom Made Costumers work under the Film Production Contract. The IATSE local unions are organized to represent workers by geographic and craft jurisdiction. The DP (director of photography) or cinematographer is a high level position and their salary is negotiated depending on experience. Are you a male fashion content creator or influencer with a passion f Join the vibrant world of musical theatre casting as a casting assistant in the United Kingdom. In the top 10% of those positions, the average pay is $99,000. But what about the reverse? The first thing to determine with any film or video project is if it is signatory to a union or is a non-union production. 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. From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation. It can be hard to believe that he, Drone filming is revolutionizing the way people make films and television programs. For instance, if you hired an employee- lets call him Kenny- at a day rate of $350, you would pay Kenny $350 for each day that he works. Learning how to review a budget, read a call sheet, and communicate effectively can also benefit you as you look for work. Local 80 represents motion picture studio grips, crafts service, set medics, marine and warehouse workers. However, usually the day rate for a production assistant is, A script supervisor day rate using the IATSE tier system as a guide and an industry standard 10 hour workday would have an, A producers salary is usually a negotiated flat rate or a percentage of the profits which can result in an enormous payday. Here is the breakdown of how wages are calculated on a shoot day: If you know the length of your shoot days up front, you can calculate the day rate for each crew member using the following formulas: WithUltra Low Budget Film, one with at least fifteen days of scheduled principal photography whose production costs do not exceed a budget of two million and seven- hundred fifty thousand dollars ($2,750,000), the wage rates for covered employees are negotiated with the employee provided however the rates are not less than one-hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the applicable state statutory minimum wage and overtime shall be computed and paid in compliance with applicable state legislation. The DP (director of photography) or cinematographer is a high level position and their salary is negotiated depending on experience. Production assistants work with members of nearly every department on set and make sure that everyone has what they need to take care of their tasks. There are of course, way more stipulations that go into determining whether or not someone is exempt., Overtime pay for an entire crew could result in a production incurring extra expenses of thousands upon thousands of dollars.. Production assistants are generally responsible for ensuring the production quality on the set of a film, TV show, music video, or commercial. A union makeup artist day rate using the IATSE tier system as a guide and an industry standard 10 hour workday would have an approximate minimum pay range of $325 to $475. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. IATSE Local 600 is also referred to as IATSE 600, ICG 600, and 600 camera union. Its interesting to know that film crew payments tend to be tiered. Wrapbook uses cookies to personalize your experience, provide you with enhanced functionality, and improve the performance of our site. Its not only vital to the success and morale of the film, its the professional thing to do. The Finished and Custom Made Costumers work under the Film Production Contract. Beyond general labor laws like AB-5, day rates in film production are also influenced by other, industry-specific forces. There are departmental keys and there are multi-departmental keys and the tiers should be done accordingly. Manage digital images, video and metadata for production team, including archiving and syncing. Local 705 is divided into Finished Costumers, Custom Made Costumers, Costume House Costumers, and Television Costumers. Production assistants are responsible for handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks associated with creating a film or other media production. There are 28 states with right-to-work laws: Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. It goes without saying that overtime can dramatically increase an employees earnings, a reality that significantly complicates the flat rate vs. hourly rate conversation. Or does the reality of reality look different this time around? In this article, we'll explore the day rates for film crew 2023 as set by the film crew unions, the tier system that establishes their minimum pay, and the difference between production and non-production cities. As a sports journalist, you perform various job duties such as, Film And Video Editor Everything You Need to Know Film and video editors are essential to any film production. Utilizing the IATSE rate card for 2023 and charts provided in this article, its easy to determine any day crew rate. 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. New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education. These same producers will then work the crew for as long as they want, and not have to worry about paying overtime. The divisions Teamsters in the industry include drivers and other transportation professionals, animal wranglers, casting directors, location scouts and others. Often, fixers work for agencies, media companies, and film productions taking place abroad where they need someone local to handle all the details.