Average rate for editing a feature?

B

BLUESPIDER

DVXuser Ninja
I'm having a hard time finding this out. Is there a website where I can get an average price on what it would cost to edit a indie feature? I know can vary a lot depending on the budget of the film, etc. I just need to know some numbers. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks


BLUESPIDER
 
That's a tough one since there are a lot of variables... type of feature, amount of dailies, etc. It is just for the editing or for the entire post production? On average, post production is 20%-30% on a feature but that changes radically in most independent films I have edited since all the money was used up in production... ;)

Editors use get a weekly rate unless you negotiate a project rate. Lots of ways to go at it.

Michael
 
Yes, lots of variables... projects can be VERY different.

Just be sure to protect yourself with a good contract. As was mentioned, be 100% clear on your obligations, whether it's video editing, graphics, compositing, audio mixing, scoring, adding sound effects, DVD authoring, editing trailers, etc, etc....

I've edited 4 feature length indie digital films, and it's a huge commitment. Lot's of media management, and I easily spent 200-350 hours on each of those.

Oh and demand that you get a full script, and logging sheets for all the footage. That may sound like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many dumb directors are out there and have a hard time providing these.

For just video editing, and light compositing, nothing overly complex I'd say an average of $4000-$8000 is in the ballpark (at least in my area for indie features, remember things can very greatly)
 
Thanks for your responses guys! The producer keeps calling and asking for a price. I think I may go somewhere around 5-8 thousand. I hate coming up with what to charge, its just not my area of expertise.

Thanks
 
I charge my hourly rate so the overall total simply revolves around how much time is spent.
I have cut movies for as little as 5k due to proper prepation by the director.
Others, I have been well into 5 figures when the plug was pulled on an unfinished project. For this reason, half down is a good idea.
 
I usually pay the editor about $500 for a feature. It depends, every once in a while I tip $40.

haha, just kidding. I would be surprised if a producer wasn't paying at least $5,000, that still seems low to me...
 
And the better editors get the $5K per week if not more! I know editors who get in the tens of thousands per week for their skills.

Michael
 
Yeah that's pretty amazing. I suppose if you have $100M to burn it's only fair. But I wouldn't ever pay that much unless I had an obscene amount of money in the budget. You can get just as good of editing for a lot less, you just don't get a name editor or whatever.
 
JonathanLB said:
You can get just as good of editing for a lot less…
Click to expand...
Sure. Find some high school kid cutting for $50 a day. The end result will be exactly the same as an editor that's been honing his craft for decades. "Just as good" as you say.
 
milksac said:
Sure. Find some high school kid cutting for $50 a day. The end result will be exactly the same as an editor that's been honing his craft for decades. "Just as good" as you say.
Click to expand...

We just hired an 18 year old kid to shoot stills on our last feature...

The kid has an eye and I'd love to take photoshop lessons from him...

Anything over $10m... yeah I say pay your editor $5k a week...

Between $5m to $10m... then $2,500 a week..

Between $2.5 to $5m... then $2,000 a week

Between $1m to $2.5m... then $1,500 a week

Between $500 to $1m... then $1,000 a week...

Between $250k to $500k... then $750 to $1,000 depends on the editor...

No money... Hire the high school kid... :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
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