Does a DP get a percent in royalties?

W

whizzkid

Active member
Hi Everyone,

I remember back in film school that one of my teachers told me that DP's get 3% in royalties in feature films. Is this true? how about in TV series? etc? I know that you can negotiate this with the producer but what is the industry standard?
 
There is never a given percentage to anyone. Sure there may be common numbers or standard 'templates', but it's pretty much always something negotiated in the end... for not only the DP, but for actors, directors, producers, etc.

Get a good agent and you might get 6%. Get a bad one and you'll get none. It's highly subjective and nothing is for certain. Depends on your talent, agent, and budget.

I've went on projects with low salaries but with big back end points. It's all negotiated and differs with the project.
 
I'd like to point out that getting percentage points if a way for the producers to talk you into lowering your rate. As we all know the success rate of an indie film (or any film for that matter) is very slim so the chance of you getting any $$ from the percentage points is very slim. Ultimately the decision is up to you but for me between my i would always take my rate over points.
 
Good chance you will never get that back end anyway. With modern accounting even films that make millions seem to also make a "loss". Just ask Peter Jackson.
 
Thank you all for your response. As for getting agents? How does a filmmaker get one? I'm living in Puerto Rico and it's very hard here to penetrate the industry. The last job I did was do the "Making Off" of a local film - Edward James Holmos is the Executive Producer. I've been trying to find an agent to represent me since I moved here.
 
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