Need Info on Paid TV Studio Show Positions By Category

F

FilmmakersStudio

Member
I am looking for price quotes on how much one should charge a :

Director
Camera Operators
Set/Lighting Design
Editors
Sound Operators

for a non-union show since I would be hiring qualified individuals looking to get more experience in TV shoots. I'm trying to get a estimate for one show so that it would help me budget the costs for a three year span.
 
Budget for union rates. You might negotiate a non-union contract that comes in cheaper (or stooges people on overtime rates) but if you need people to work for you for three years and to turn up reliably when you need them, they are going to need to live. It is one thing to shoot evenings and weekends on a personal project for a short spell on goodwill alone but three years is a long time without adequate pay.
 
They will get paid per show. My question is how much do you think one should charge per show per position like $11 to $15 per hour?

Egg Born Son said:
Budget for union rates. You might negotiate a non-union contract that comes in cheaper (or stooges people on overtime rates) but if you need people to work for you for three years and to turn up reliably when you need them, they are going to need to live. It is one thing to shoot evenings and weekends on a personal project for a short spell on goodwill alone but three years is a long time without adequate pay.
Click to expand...
 
No reliable/sustainable crew is going to work at that rate. Call local production companies and have them quote the job.
 
FilmmakersStudio said:
They will get paid per show. My question is how much do you think one should charge per show per position like $11 to $15 per hour?
Click to expand...

I couldn't tell you. Our cost of living is a little higher and the exchange rate sucks right now but even taking that into account, 1st year trades apprentices in Australia make more than your $11/hr and they can't even hold a hammer properly. And they only get paid so little because it is a training wage and it's assumed they live with their parents. Even minimum wage at McDonalds pays almost $17/hr here. I know wages are lower in the US and money goes a bit further but I couldn't even conceive of living on so little.

I could give you union rates for Australia but that won't help you (and would probably make you cry). Find out, the information isn't secret and this is stuff you should know before thinking you can pull off a 3 season show. If you pitch to a network or cable channel with a budget that shortchanges your staff you will not be taken seriously. They won't sign up to a project that is going to face endless delays and issues over staffing.

And pay per show? Do you intend to deliver an episode every week or only when you can find the crew? To deliver a season you need all the key positions locked in at the very least. I don't want to belittle your ambition here and unlike many starting out you at least understand the concept of paying people at all.
 
I am going to go the route of contacting production companies. That would be the easiest route of going. I'm sure I'll get a good estimate from them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top