ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

2 years, 11 months ago - Zan Barberton

For me this is the hardest part of putting together a funding proposal. Bectu supply rates cards (google it) but it's likely they will put you over budget. For actors I think the minimum may be £150 a day (I think Equity has a rate card, and for a lead I would consider more). In terms of the crew, it may be a matter of contacting potentials and discussing what they would consider. If they like your script or yourself they may be amenable. You might also be able to make the DoP and Camera op (as a female camera op I prefer the gender neutral term) the same in a small shoot. I would. DoPs can be from around £250 a day if you're really lucky and get an up-n-coming gaffer to £900 a day, depending on whether they come with kit, what they have on at the time, and whether they could benefit from the work.

When considering rates you need to consider who benefits - short films are hugely valuable to a director or writer, and can be a great showcase for an actor. To some of the rest of the unit it may be just another freelance job, so it varies hugely. Personally I would charge a day rate for 4 hours because it's not like you can get another job in the other half of the day, but mentioning that it's a short day is also helpful to those with childcare responsibilities.

Shooting people is a great place to advertise.
Good luck!

2 years, 11 months ago - Mark Wiggins

Hi Andrew

You say 4 hours. The minimum is a whole day; regardless of how many hours you do. This is because it is impossible for crew to find a job to fill out the rest of the day so the minimum call is a day.

You also have missed out camera assistants and a gaffer.

2 years, 11 months ago - Frederick George Archer

BECTU rate card..Yiu can find it on their website..

2 years, 11 months ago - Frederick George Archer

BECTU rate card..Yiu can find it on their website..

2 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

The answer is rather "what deals can I get?" - the purpose of the budget for these funding schemes is to show you've done your research and deals and are a unit ready to go as soon as you have the cash!

2 years, 11 months ago - Xenia Glen

Hi Mark,

Some organisations that provide funding are specific about how cast and crew should be paid.

This can change per organisation, so it might be worth taking a look at the FAQ page on website of the fund you are applying for to see what their regulations are regarding paying cast and crew.

If you have any other questions, please do post again in Ask & Discuss.

Best of luck with it!

2 years, 11 months ago - Alex Gregson

Hi Andrew,

More than happy to give you some guidance in the Sound Design department and can introduce you to a colourist too to understand the rates.

Here is our website: 344audio.com

You can reach me directly via alex@344audio.com

Kind regards,

Alex Gregson

2 years, 11 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

I would ask the people who you want to work with. I would start with the cinematographer/DOP, they can often fill in the most blanks for you. Look at the credits of short films that seem to show the competencies you want, and you can often find the filmmakers online.

Make sure to tell them the destination. If it is a corporate film for a bank it will cost more than a film for a charity which will still cost more than a personal student film. (The corporate film for the bank can still win festivals, by the way.).

I would talk to a VFX artist separately. That range can be enormous.

Most people underestimate how long it takes them to do something (not just filmmakers, engineers and others.). A four hour shoot sounds crazy, unless the film is super-short or it is a documentary of a live event. (Where the rehearsals were budgeted elsewhere.)
I suppose you can only get the location for four hours?

From the look of it, you are writing, directing and editing yourself? I would suggest budgeting your own work there as well. Even if you already have enough saved up to live on, and you can't imagine anyone taking your place if you get ill, it is good practice to budget some money for yourself. (Also, I would suggest separating the roles of director and editor. Often a fresh set of eyes will be better at picking out the best take.)

Jungle Software sells rate cards, which give rates for not only the UK and US but Australia and elsewhere, which can be just plugged into budgets. But if you have crazy demands (an actor learns lines, gets made up, and performs a ten minute script in just four hours), then you may be looking at above minimum salaries.