ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 6 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

And some times, 'Expenses' doesn't actually mean covering your out of pocket expenses - just a contribution towards... That might mean a £10 per day expense or £30 per week... I've had Expenses job before where I may have spent £100 of out of pocket expenses, but only been give back half!

Double check before you commit, what Expenses actually means.

10 years, 6 months ago - Marlom Tander

If you're the guy claiming the expenses, make sure the producer knows what they will be and commits to it PERSONALLY in writing, esp if you might invest more petrol money than you feel comfortable writing off.

If you're the producer, it's enough to ensure that the person isn't out of pocket, so, provided to buy the food/drink at meets /shoots that's really just travel for most people.

10 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Expenses technically should mean you're not out of pocket, not making a profit.

You could offer a 'per diem' fixed rate instead of repaying on receipt, but per diems are taxable, so you're stepping into payment territory.

10 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

^^^ Plus consumables - wise to discuss this with production before you start so they know what to expect.

Chewing through PP3 batteries? Using foundation that needs replacing? Blood? Tape stock? Antiflare? Fog Fluid and gas? Many departments will have consumables, discussion with production in advance what'll be covered and what won't is essential. For instance, production can't buy whole makeup sets afresh each time, but may do a deal to replace one or two of the artists key items a day.

Just a tip on travel expenses - get the basis explicit. Taxi may or may not be appropriate (usually not if there's a tube going the same route and it's open), some cars use more fuel than others - is the refund a fixed fee per mile or top-up to top-up for fuel on receipt? Train fares - production may be able to pre-order tickets for you for a particular service, or more likely refund on receipt.

10 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Ps - I wish I could say £x is right/wrong, but really can't!

10 years, 6 months ago - Alpesh Gor

Hi Paddy, thank you for your reply.

A flat fee I think is probably the best idea.

And after all of the above, all being well, I'm hoping to be in my producer shoes again very soon too.

Again thanks to all those who've replied.

10 years, 6 months ago - Alpesh Gor

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

I'm an editor and have mostly worked for paid jobs. There has been one job that I did for free. But that was a very individual project for a top bloke.

But now I'm looking at doing some "expenses" only jobs. I don't want to work day-in-day out using my electricity, heating (loft office is blooming cold!), knock bag cups and cups of tea to keep me awake and then only get £10 per day for example.

What would be a fair expenses rate for a work-from-home editor?

I produced a film a couple of years ago on expenses only. I paid for travel, lunch, dinner, snacks, teas, coffees and any other cost any of the crew may have incurred. The project was a happy and fun place to be.

10 years, 6 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

What can you attribute as a direct cost as opposed to subsistence?

Office workers don't get to recharge their lunches, especially working from home, and lunch on set is for production's benefit, not the crews (it may have become expected because of so many location shoots, but the true benefit is stopping all the children running off and getting lost). Working from home if you've any acumen at all you're making a deduction for heating and use of the room in your tax return anyway, you can't really claim that twice either. Tea? Not really, office workers don't have tea as a term of engagement. The level isn't with what you would get off you were on set away from home for a month being the norm, it's closer to working from home office. Think what HMRC would accept for a self-employed worker working from home and that might be a good start.

That's not to say you can't agree a better deal, maybe include a component for using your Avid license etc., but it's by negotiation. If that negotiation includes a hot meal daily etc., that's probably P11D-worthy, but still may or may not be acceptable by agreement to the producer.

Personally, I'd probably agree a flat fee with you and if you choose to done out, well that's your choice. It wouldn't be a Per diem basis, just a flat fee to keep it simplest all round. If you accepted that or not would be your choice. It's all negotiation.