Travel Expenses for Actors?

capitalP

capitalP

Veteran
I'll be shooting my feature film in May, all actors are working on deffered pay. I live in NJ and some of the actors live in NY. It would be fair to pay for their expenses of traveling right?

I ask because expense alone will eat up a chunk of a budget I don't have. Not just 1 Actor lives in NY maybe 3 and my D.P also lives in NY, I know it's only fair to pay for their travel expenses, but I'm currious what ur opinion are on something like this.

And the actors haven't brought up travel expenses, I just feel it's the right thing to do to pay for their travel expenses since they'll be working for free.

That being said, if I do pay for traveling, I will be eliminating alot of sweet equiptment I could be getting. And I know I could do the easy thing and cast people in my area, but I had 3 auditions in my area and the actors who I've cast traveled from NYC to come to the audition. And the people in my area didn't deliver like the ones from NYC.

The Actors from NYC performances blew me away, I'd hate to let them go because of something like travel expenses.

What would you guys do and have you ever been in this situation?
 
An option [which I've used for a SAG prod.] would be to go pick-up the actors yourself in NY. If not available already, rent a minivan, and pick the 3 actors up. It can work out quite well, in that the traveling time can be a good "get-to-know" each other experience. The minivan can then also act as a "production vehicle".
 
Great answer Vidled.
Yes, you should pay for their gas or transportation to and from the set...
To save even more, you can either pick them all up, like mentioned above, or have them all meet at one location in NY , and transport them all together.
This brings up other issues though....one of your actors will always be late, making ALL your actors late to the set.... And some actors have different call times... Pick your battles, but do cover their travel expenses.
 
Thanks guys, I never thought of the picking them up thing. That can be an option, but whatever I do, I know I should set funds aside for their travel expenses. Thanks, just wanted to hear it from other filmmakers, I know it was the right thing to do. I'm gonna be sooooo broke this Summer :)
 
I must agree, pay for their travel, especially since you're probably not paying them (are you thinking about doing deffered?) Either way, I'd give them a flat amount to cover it.
 
Hey CapitalP,

I think you answered yourself in your initial post. If the actors in NY blew you you away then thats who you cast. Screw the gear because beyond script your cast is everything.

But yes, it is usually approrpriate to cover peoples out of pocket expenses when working for free or deferred. I think your plan of giving them a flat amount is probably the best way to go.

-- Dean
 
If this is a guild project (deferred pay or not) there are standard practices on travel expenses. Even if you are not shooting under a union contract I would suggest using their practices as a guideline for your actions.

In most markets there is a concept know as the studio zone (30 mile radius in LA, 8 mile radius in New York). Travel to any location within the zone is considered part of the performers expense. Outside of the zone you either reimburse them for the mileage or provide the transportation yourself. If you have a number of crew and cast that are centrally located, consider hiring a vehicle/driver to pickup up these members and provide their transportation to and from set.
 
Thanks for all the feedback you guys. Just to answer a few questions, this is a non-union film. Can someone clarify the deffered pay option for me and what do you guys mean by flatrate. My original plans were to pay them on contingency... which means, if the film get's picked up for distribution the principal cast get a percentage of the money it makes from distribution? Is this wise or not?

By flat rate you guys mean, just promise them a certain amount and pay them that amount once the film is done? The reason I'm doing the contingency thing is because I can't afford to pay them daily or flat rate, so their basically working for free with hopes of making money at the end, just like me.

If the project don't get distribution then no one gets paid. Any thoughts.

As for the travel expenses, I'm definitely going to look on the best cost efficient way to do this, but this is a must. That and food ofcourse.
 
I think the suggestion was for deferred pay (your concept of "contingency") and a flat rate for travel expenses. Like offer them $10/day for travel expenses. If they can make it to the set for less, they keep the difference. If it costs them more, they pay the difference.

I had the opposite commute on a short film I did ... my lead actor was from NJ and we shot our film in NY. He gave me his train receipts at the end of the shoot and I wrote him a check for about $70. I think each roundtrip was about $13 from his home using NJ Transit trains. That was for 5 shoot days.
 
I actually thought of doing the train thing. Have them catch the train, make sure they keep receipts and I reimburse them that way, but if some decide to drive, then I'll give them a flat rate. Either way, I will make this part of the expenses of the film.

Cool, thanks.
 
Blaine said:
Find out how far they have to drive and give them a "per mile" rate based on that.
Click to expand...

Cool.


Hairy Lime said:
If they're non-union actors in NYC I'll bet dollars to donuts they do not own cars.
Click to expand...

:Drogar-BigGrin(DBG) You may be right, starving artist.
 
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