how do you guys charge for DP services?

[jambredz]

I just want an idea of how you guys charge...do you charge for only the days of shooting? or do u also include days of pre prep (location scouting, shot setups, rehersal ect). And is that at a lower rate??

 

[Davdo]

Scouting and other sorts of prepro work are typically billed at half the day rate.

Typically you want to bill for every day that's being committed to the production, whether it's an actual shoot day or something else. If there's a day that's being lost for travel, I bill for it (again, not the entire day rate, mind you, but enough to slightly offset any lost revenue elsewhere). Same thing with scouting, equipment check-out, rehearsals, etc.

Now of course, like everything else in the business, there are exceptions. For instance, I'm currently shooting a feature that didn't have a budget for preproduction. To make up for that, they were very flexible with the scheduling of scouts and prep, so I was able to take other gigs throughout the process and not lose any paying jobs.

I hope my long-winded, didactic response helped

~~Dave

 

[xqzt]

Good answer here^ 1/2 day rate for prepro, location scouting, consultation.

Although I would charge full rate for rehearsals or auditions, but probably per hour. If the cam gets turned on at least get a full rate per hour.

 

[jambredz]

thanks guys...this really helps. No long winded answers will not go unappreciated