I have an opportunity to potentially film with National Geographic for 3 weeks straight in the middle of nowhere. How do you guys calculate your rate for that type of shoot in super harsh conditions over water etc. ?
Hi Chris, typically in the past shooting for NG I have told them my full day rate (they then spit coffee all over the table) and we ended up somewhere around a 3day rate per week figure. Hope that helps Tabb
Hey Tabb, That's great info! Did you bring a camera operator with you? Did you fly solo? Also did you bring an extra heli for back up? Thanks for your help!
Yes I brought a camera op, I also brought an extra heli always as they sent me to some hellacious places! Jeff and I had a hell of an adventure filming great white sharks on Guadaloupe island! Best, Tabb
I've been meaning to start a thread about rates. Having been in film for 15 years, I know what happens when there is a lot of disparity between companies and their rates. I wanted to discuss what people are asking for kit rental as well as operator hourly/daily rates. Here in Canada, I'm basing my prices off of IATSE 669 camera operators plus % for being a specialty operator. However, kit rental is so subjective. If we don't create some kind of coopertive to get on the same page, we'll have some guy go out for free with his kit and productions will expect the rest of us to match that. Food for thought. Let's do the leg work early to make sure that we get paid what we're worth!!
To do that, I think you're going to have to get specific about dollar rates. But before you do, remember that Google searches this forum and so anything you say is both public and probably lives forever if not via this site then by The Wayback Machine (archive.org). Andy.
Yes. Maybe this will take a few forward thinking members to get on a conference call... Maybe we establish our own association of film pilots? Rates could be suggested by the association. Productions could hire preferentially on a pilots membership to the group. I'm spit rolling here...but I am serious, we do need to protect ourselves from being paid less than the gear, time and expertise is worth.
"Conversations" are not spidered by Google, so you could use that method, or direct email. Just remember that the first rule of any organization is to figure out who not to let in! <evil grin> Andy.
Not true. If you are the one to start it, they have to let you in. So...about this group I want to start...???
Does this forum software support private forums? In other words, a forum that would not be visible to anonymous browsers (AKA search spiders)? That may be a better solution.
Well, count me in. We are still trying to figure this issue out. We struggle with the fact that each engagement is SO unique, that there is almost no way to have a uniform fee. Basing it hourly or daily (as stated above) tends to have people spit out their coffee. I'd love to engage in serious discussion about this issue. -m
No private forum mechanism supported. That said, I've started a Conversation with with everyone on this thread and the Gang of Three (moderators). Andy.