Steve Laramie
Veteran
Just wondering what Gordon Wills and Roger deakins gets payed. Anyone know? I hear that the union has a minumum of 900$ days but Roger Deakins is non union.
Last edited:
what can you expect to make as a DP?
- Thread starter Steve Laramie
- Start date
Chris Santucci
Veteran
DP's at that level do not work for scale.
.
.
Luis Caffesse
Admin
They probably get, roughly, whatever they want.
(and it's 'Deakins' by the way)
(and it's 'Deakins' by the way)
A lot of guys I know, who are feature-film DPs (with grips and electrics reporting to them) work for a fixed salary + benefits / fringes (to IA600) for features. This can break down to somewhere between $7k and $15k per week and up. As Luis stated, you have a lot more latitude to demand what you want when you're coming off of a financially, critically and/or artistically successful show.
Guys like me, who are credited as DP / Cinematographer, but who don't oversee a crew (electrics and grip depts.), work for $500 - $1000 per day on non-union shows and scale plus-plus on IA600 gigs.
e
Guys like me, who are credited as DP / Cinematographer, but who don't oversee a crew (electrics and grip depts.), work for $500 - $1000 per day on non-union shows and scale plus-plus on IA600 gigs.
e
Andrew Brinkhaus
Veteran
Roger Deakins is union, he is a member of the 600, as well as the ASC and BSC.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I have hired mid-tier semi-name DPs for around $6,000.00-$10,000.00 per week but they guys you are talking about make big bucks, they are at the top of their game. They make more money that most mortals and are booked out years in advance at times.
And you talk to their agents, not them.
Dan
And you talk to their agents, not them.
Dan
Luis Caffesse
Admin
Hm.
That's gotta make it weird working on set.
"Could you tell Roger that we need this to be day for night?"
"And you are...?"
Taylor Rudd
Veteran
Is that just for their time? Or does that bleed over into their crew/personal equipment?
Andrew Brinkhaus
Veteran
Roger Deakins is the exception to this rule if any of you have been to his forums on rogerdeakins.com he personally answers questions/comments of his own work, as well as troubleshoots with basically anyone with a problem. Great guy it seems.
That's their time. Box rentals are always negotiated and billed as a separate line item. I cannot say this enough. Do not package your time with your rentals.
e
e
egyptianboxer104
Well-known member
Most DP's don't own equipment... or don't NEED to own equipment.
Luis Caffesse
Admin
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Hm.
That's gotta make it weird working on set.
"Could you tell Roger that we need this to be day for night?"
"And you are...?"
I want to see this as an SNL sketch with Spade reprising his part.
Dan
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Davdo
Active member
Those aren't very fair statements. I used to assist under some of the best documentary DP's around. They're "real" DPs and frankly, the part of the industry that they serve is very reliant on them having a trusty lighting package, though not necessarily a camera. They can get in and out of situations lickety-split and still make everything look good. That's because they know their kits like the back of their hands. Mind you, they occasionally rely on rented lighting for larger-scale situations, but more often, they work with what they've got (and to stay on the topic of the thread, they bill for it separately on top of their day rates).
For fiction work, that's not very often the case. I mean, we're talking about tons of lighting equipment and there, you're right. However, let's please not forget about the doc guys out there, who carry their kits with them and are very much "real" DPs.
~~Dave
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Since the thread was discussing DPs like Roger Deakins, etc. I was referring to "real DPs" as guys who do multimillion dollar features. I am one of the guys you are talking about, I am a documentary DP who does own my camera, grip/lighting and audio package. Even though my business card says DP on it, I definitely like the British term, "lighting cameraman" much better. To me a DP is in charge of a grip and electrical crew, may not even touch the camera and makes big bucks.
Not to knock down what we documentary guys do, we do a lot with a little and create some beautiful images with expressive, evocative lighting but for some reason, I find it pretentious to be considered a director of photography when we are usually only directing ourselves. Many others will disagree with me.
Many of the "real DPs" could not do what we do, haul the gear, light the setup, operate the camera and often audio and sometimes even do interviews ourselves while doing the other jobs as well too. Different, yet related jobs. A few can do both well (I can't).
Dan
I was once having a conversation with an old assh(um, boss) about a short I was DP'ing on weekends. He felt it important to tell me about some "real" DPs he'd been associated with. Clueless. He's still in his little civil service managerial job and I'm shooting features full time now.
Nobody else, save the director in some cases, composes the shot, designs the lighting, determines proper exposure, choreographs camera/subject movement but me. Gee, I must be a "real" DP.
Nobody else, save the director in some cases, composes the shot, designs the lighting, determines proper exposure, choreographs camera/subject movement but me. Gee, I must be a "real" DP.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
If you are making a living doing it, I think you are a "real" DP ;-)
D
D
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Depends on how competitive your market is and how much you need to make to earn a living. To me, $300.00 says, "kid with a camera", not DP. In LA, most working DPs that I hire are between $500.00 and $1,200.00 per day, depending on their reel and experience and my budget.
I am sure it is different in other areas. In LA, DPs are a dime a dozen, there are literally thousands of them and most of them are pretty talented. In a smaller market, perhaps there is not as much competition so you can charge more?
Dan
I am sure it is different in other areas. In LA, DPs are a dime a dozen, there are literally thousands of them and most of them are pretty talented. In a smaller market, perhaps there is not as much competition so you can charge more?
Dan