DPs and how much

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what is the going rate for a dp with his own camera (HVX200) and some extras (Sticks basic lighting, would love a 35mm adapter)?
I have contacted a couple of dp on this sight but would love to see some more demos.
I know this is a loaded question and understand that experience will play a role in this but just looking for a ballpark figure. I will be hoping to crew up in a couple of weeks.
Thanks.
Oh important.
Needs to be in Orlando/ Tampa area
Thanks
 
Prices range so much, even for my behind-the-scenes videographer, I got quotes WITH HVX200 and sticks from $80 (no joke, and even $100 for another guy) up to $700. Most were in the $300-400 range, but I didn't need a 35mm adapter either.

It depends also so much on your project, and whether the DP thinks you might be a good connection in the future. I think that's always true in this industry, you get some amazingly good deals on crew, cast, equipment, etc. if people believe in your project or think you're going to be a good future connection.

Spending a lot of money is always a good way to let people know you're serious ;) haha, just joking with you, but to some extent it's not far from the truth.
 
Wow, Jonathan those rates are ridiculously cheap. I know FL has lower rates but a professional cam op with an hvx for $400? In NYC the camera with P2 cards/firestore and sticks from a rental house can run that before paying the shooter.
 
HVX200 + Letus EX + FS100 + BLTH80 + Macbook Pro + SteadiCam + Segway = $1500+/day (Max 8hr) + AC (with wireless FF) + Transportation + Hotel
 
tumbleweed said:
Wow, Jonathan those rates are ridiculously cheap. I know FL has lower rates but a professional cam op with an hvx for $400? In NYC the camera with P2 cards/firestore and sticks from a rental house can run that before paying the shooter.
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Remember you get what you pay for. If you only want to pay $100 per day for an HVX and a camera operator, you can post a craigs list add and get that. I see them all the time here in Oregon. But then when you see the final product, it comes out working worse then cable access. So in the end it just depends what you want your final product to look like. (You are right about the camera package rates- to get out the door with and HVX, Sticks, P2, etc. here in Oregon you are looking at about $350 - $500 just for the camera.)
 
Heres my rate for my kit and myself in NYC based on a 12 hour work day.

HVX 200
2 16gb p2
2 8gb P2
P2 Store
Panasonic monitor
Brevis Flip 35mm adapter
Nikkor primes 20mm,24mm,28mm,50mm,85mm
Nikkor zooms 35-135, 80-200
Follow focus, matte box, rails etc etc
assorted 4x4 filters
varizoom
Bogen 519 tripod

Rental $650 Operation anywhere from $250-500

I also have a complete sound, and lighting kit available for extra rates.
 
that sounds more realistic and I think your operator rate is low. Things are different if it's a low budget/indie friends and family project but I start at $400/day and go up from there depending on the project and my responsibilities.
 
TimurCivan said:
3 day week.
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Now that's interesting to me.
You offer people a 3 day week on your services?
I wonder if that's common.

I've always figured time is time.
I'll give people 3 day weeks on gear when it's rented (just got my Letus package back yesterday actually, from a 3 day week vacation). But that doesn't really cost me the same way spending an extra two days on set does.
 
Matty_g said:
It is common on longer shoots.
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Makes sense to me on a feature, if we're talking multiweek.
But do you guys normally do that on a week long shoot?

Again, just curious.

That's kind of a whole other world to me I guess.
Most of the jobs where I'm working as more of a hired gun are usually one day shoots, maybe 3 days at the most. And the majority of the time when I've had longer shoots they were for projects I was in charge of... so I'm not really making a 'day rate' anyhow.
I mean, there is one in the budget...but you know.
 
3-day week rates are pretty standard, its a pleasant way to give a good weekly rate (I dont give a 3-day week rate on 1-week long projects however, they need to be at least a few weeks)

As far as day rates go, I have done a lot of stuff for way cheaper than I want to say (got to pay the bills!), but I have also worked at rates like $1100/day or more, it just depends on the job and the client.

On another note:
From what I have been also finding is that even top-notch dp's (that you have actually heard of) may only make a few thousand dollars a week on a feature, I thought that they would make more but I guess not...

That leads me to: Where does the money go to? Directors? Producers? Johnny Depp?
 
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hunter richards said:
Where does the money go to? Directors? Producers? Johnny Depp?
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Nice.

I will do discounts for large amounts of work only.

My best paying clients are out-of-state, which is sad but not surprising.

In state client, with my HVX video/+audio or +lights package I look for $500/$750 a day, and I can get it about half of the time. Most people want to offer like $300 which is frustrating and unacceptable.

LA clients pay well, my NY clients have been OK (discounts apply to gigs where I get to hang around with metal bands I really like
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)

Best I've done is about $1200 a day (2 HVX + Fs100 + laptop on site digitizing) - what sucked was after 2 days for that client I got asked to stick around for a third, but had to bail since I agreed like a year prior to be an on-call for another shoot that day for..... $50. I was so upset... :kali: oh well live and learn.
 
The Cheap Whore - $700/day

The Cheap Whore - $700/day

Sorry in advance if this sounds like an ad. No offense to anyone.

I'm in Los Angeles, and I'm always looking for more work. DP on 6 feature films (prepping for my 7th), 25 short films, 1 award for best cinematography, 1 nomination for best videography, 100+ other projects, so I've got a little bit of experience.

I have done projects as far north as Washington, down to the Mexico Border, and as far east as Little Rock, Arkansas. If you'll pay for gas and the day rate, I'll drive anywhere.

My day rate is flexible, but I try to make $600 - $700 a day including all of the equipment below, truck, gas, and labor within the 30 mile zone, up to 13 hours:

* Panasonic HD HVX-200 24p camera

* Panasonic MiniDV DVX-100 24p camera with 16:9 anamorphic adapter

* over 1 ton of lighting and grip

HMI: (4x) 1200 Arri HMI pars, (2x) 200 LTM Fresnel

Kinos: (3x) 4' x 4 bank kino select, (3x) 2' x 4 bank kino select, (3x) 4' x 2 bank kino select, (1x) kino 12" car kit, (1x) 4' 8-bank mole biax (kino image 80 clone), (1x) x 2' 4-bank mole biax (kino diva 400 clone)

Tungsten: (2x) 5k fresnels, (4x) 2k fresnels, (6x) 1k fresnels, (4x) 650 fresnels, (3x) 300 fresnels

Grip: (1x) 12' x 12' frame w/ full silk, 1/4 silk, 1/4 silent frost, solid, ultrabounce, (2x) 42" x 42" shiny board, (4x) combo stands, (2x) low combo stands, (2x) medium roller combos, (23x) c-stands, (2x) baby c-stands, (2x) 6' menace arms, (6x) beefy baby stands, 6'x 6' set & frame (2x silk, 1x solid, 1x griff, 1x muslim, 1x green screen, 1x silver lame), (8x) 4' x 4' frames, (1x) 4' x 4' silk, (6x) 4' x 4' floppie, 18" x 24" flag set, 24"x36" flag set, (1x) wall spreaders, (3x) foam core holders, (30x) sandbags, (18x) stingers, (3x) Cartellini clips, (4x) apple box set, (1x) 20' x 20' solid, etc.

:kiss:

Tim
(408) 406-1832
Los Angeles DP/Gaffer
 
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Thats the best deal I have ever heard of. Tim, just one 1.2k Hmi rents for $225...and your including 4? And a loaded grip truck? and an HVX? and 13 hours of labor?

Is competition really that ridiculous in LA to drive rates so low? Im just amazed at how you can offer that rate and make a profit.
 
My rates are low to ensure I get the job. 8)

I work 200-250 days a year, I get to do what I love, and I get to meet some real nice people. I've had the pleasure of shooting:

David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Tommy Tiny Lister, Chad Everett, Sarah Thompson, Mercedes McNab, Charles Durning, James Russo, Mackenzie Firgens, William Sadler.

Sometimes it's not about the rate. Sometimes it's about who I get to work with.
 
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