My typical director’s fee is $2800/day. I’m in Seattle, and usually I’m working on corporate work for tech brands (usual suspects being Microsoft, Amazon/AWS, etc). I’m often editing the projects I direct, and my typical post-production rate is $720/day. That said, in full disclosure, I’m only directing like 1-3 times in a typical year. More often, I’m working as a cam operator, where I can earn anywhere from $400-$1200/day.
Much love bro. Here is what I see on the US side: Rough numbers 2021/2022 Corporate/Doc/Commercial DP: $1k-$4k per-day depending on DP AC: $500-$800 Grip: $300-$1000 Gaffer: $1000-$2000 ( sometimes extra lighting and special equipment drives that up quickly)
Damn wow as a commercial 1st AC in Texas my rate is generally $750-$900 base rate plus kit and rentals so some days I can take home around $1100 per day
This is by far the best pricing video for filmmakers on TH-cam. Well Done sir, hats off to you
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I can't wait for your channel to blow up. You cover everything I've always wished was covered about filmmaking on TH-cam. The technical stuff is fun, but at this point, it feels quite over-saturated and, for me, it can be very overwhelming. These videos that instead walk you through the career side of things - in what feels like a very empathetic manner - are just such a relief to find and enjoy!
Watching your content all the way from India as my friend and I are trying to somewhat turn our childhood photography & videography hobby into something serious. Truly your videos help us a lot !
Thanks Scott! In India as a non-fiction director (long-format, branded content, non-fic ads) with 5 years of experience, I've seen a maximum of 2500GBP/day. But that's rare. Since non-fiction tends to be multiple shoot days, you're almost always given a package fees here - roughly 3500-4000GBP for a monthly package.
Amazing content Scott, feel like your channel is essential for any young filmmaker/ creative looking to really understand the freelance world. Lots of the universities teaching these subjects never go deep enough into doing it well. Same exact thing happened to me, less than minimum wage when I started. No clue about APA or bectu and it pretty much took an honest director at a creative agency to tell me that I needed to be charging a lot more. Thanks for sharing the wisdom!
Thanks for this Scott - your honesty and insight is invaluable. We're often just feeling our way through these things alone and I'm sure this will empower a lot of people to ask for the rates they deserve.
Brilliant content, no one is sharing this info. Would be amazing to get some semi helpful tips on taxes/transitioning from self employed to ltd company etc Keep up the great videos
Again thank you for putting this out there. Great production quality as always. Keep them coming. TH-cam will eventually recognise the quality you are putting out and start pushing your content to more people. Sad to see that it takes so long for you to acquire a bigger reach. But even more respect for your endurance.
As a one man band in Maine, I've typically been charging $1175 for up to 10 hours. That'll include gear. I'm at $600/day editing. I'm always concerned that I'm overcharging, but I know that's likely to be the opposite. It's a balance here trying to find clients willing to make the investment. This is for commercials, social media content, and non-profit work. But I'll charge the same for narrative work. Thanks for your clarity and BTS content! I dig it!
I see good gaffers/grips in the SF bay area starting at around 800 for 10 hour days. The bay is a bit of move and TV work but dominated by Corporate videos some internal some ads.
Thanks for the content! One area i'd love clarification on is charging for prep days. (as a director) Do you charge by the hour or day that you work on prep? Or do you just have a general 'prep fee' as prep work may not always involve consistent hours and time frames? And how much lower are rates for prep days as opposed to shoot days? I know it can depend on the job but would be great to have insight on this.
Hey Rose, no problem. As a director I don’t charge for prep days in general, that’s part of the larger fee and you do as little or as much as is needed to do the job to the best of your ability. On smaller content type jobs i do charge for prep days if there’s a lot of work, or for recce days, but only if on the smaller fee’d content work. I do this at half day rate, the same as I would if I was a DP doing a prep day or a pre-light day.
OK since I'm only starting my cereer I don't know what to charge for a small video for a local business would £150 be enough since that's what I got from my last 2 jobs or should I go with more charging kit costs and all?
Once again tackling a taboo topic that not many people like to talk about. You are a true gift to the industry
Thanks Daniel :)
My typical director’s fee is $2800/day. I’m in Seattle, and usually I’m working on corporate work for tech brands (usual suspects being Microsoft, Amazon/AWS, etc). I’m often editing the projects I direct, and my typical post-production rate is $720/day.
That said, in full disclosure, I’m only directing like 1-3 times in a typical year. More often, I’m working as a cam operator, where I can earn anywhere from $400-$1200/day.
Super interesting to know, thanks for sharing Samuel! Some very reasonable sounding rates. Where do you find your work?
Much love bro. Here is what I see on the US side:
Rough numbers 2021/2022
Corporate/Doc/Commercial
DP: $1k-$4k per-day depending on DP
AC: $500-$800
Grip: $300-$1000
Gaffer: $1000-$2000 ( sometimes extra lighting and special equipment drives that up quickly)
Thanks for sharing this 🙏
@@ScottPetersFilms no doubt bro.
Damn wow as a commercial 1st AC in Texas my rate is generally $750-$900 base rate plus kit and rentals so some days I can take home around $1100 per day
This is by far the best pricing video for filmmakers on TH-cam. Well Done sir, hats off to you
I can't wait for your channel to blow up. You cover everything I've always wished was covered about filmmaking on TH-cam. The technical stuff is fun, but at this point, it feels quite over-saturated and, for me, it can be very overwhelming. These videos that instead walk you through the career side of things - in what feels like a very empathetic manner - are just such a relief to find and enjoy!
Thanks Seán - kind of you to say mate :)
Watching your content all the way from India as my friend and I are trying to somewhat turn our childhood photography & videography hobby into something serious. Truly your videos help us a lot !
Very happy to hear that!! :)
Thanks Scott! In India as a non-fiction director (long-format, branded content, non-fic ads) with 5 years of experience, I've seen a maximum of 2500GBP/day. But that's rare. Since non-fiction tends to be multiple shoot days, you're almost always given a package fees here - roughly 3500-4000GBP for a monthly package.
Super interesting to know! Thanks for sharing :)
Amazing content Scott, feel like your channel is essential for any young filmmaker/ creative looking to really understand the freelance world. Lots of the universities teaching these subjects never go deep enough into doing it well.
Same exact thing happened to me, less than minimum wage when I started. No clue about APA or bectu and it pretty much took an honest director at a creative agency to tell me that I needed to be charging a lot more.
Thanks for sharing the wisdom!
You’re most welcome James!
Thanks for this Scott - your honesty and insight is invaluable. We're often just feeling our way through these things alone and I'm sure this will empower a lot of people to ask for the rates they deserve.
Another great episode Scott! I’m based in the north west Uk and rates outside of London are never what you really want them to be.
Get what you can Tim 💪🏻💪🏻
I've just found this site - really insightful.
Brilliant content, no one is sharing this info. Would be amazing to get some semi helpful tips on taxes/transitioning from self employed to ltd company etc Keep up the great videos
It's on the list ;)
Thank you so much for your transparency and honesty about the business side of working in the industry, has always been a source of calming guidance.
Thanks again Scott!!!!!!!!!!! loved this topic. Haven't missed any content you have pushed out since you have started but this one sits VERY HIGH!!!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Your videos are really informative an beautifully crafted. Thanks!
Again thank you for putting this out there. Great production quality as always. Keep them coming. TH-cam will eventually recognise the quality you are putting out and start pushing your content to more people. Sad to see that it takes so long for you to acquire a bigger reach. But even more respect for your endurance.
your honesty is refreshing! subbed
This is wonderful and needed
Another astounding video, as always!
Thanks Scott. Appreciate the info
New Orleans commercial rates Spring 2023. Non-union.
DP: $1500
1st AC: $650-750
2nd AC: $550
Camera utility: $350
Gaffer $650 but can easily be $800
Grips: $450-550
HMU: $350+
PA’s: $200-250
1st AD: $1000
2nd AD:$650
Thanks so much for sharing Simon, super interested to know!
Thank you for sharing this. Your channel is an amazing resource for the industry.
Again, amazing video!
Thanks Sjoerd 🙏🏻
As a one man band in Maine, I've typically been charging $1175 for up to 10 hours. That'll include gear. I'm at $600/day editing. I'm always concerned that I'm overcharging, but I know that's likely to be the opposite. It's a balance here trying to find clients willing to make the investment. This is for commercials, social media content, and non-profit work. But I'll charge the same for narrative work. Thanks for your clarity and BTS content! I dig it!
Thank YOU for sharing too :)
Great video Scott!
Thanks Jake
I see good gaffers/grips in the SF bay area starting at around 800 for 10 hour days. The bay is a bit of move and TV work but dominated by Corporate videos some internal some ads.
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Thanks for the content! One area i'd love clarification on is charging for prep days. (as a director) Do you charge by the hour or day that you work on prep? Or do you just have a general 'prep fee' as prep work may not always involve consistent hours and time frames? And how much lower are rates for prep days as opposed to shoot days? I know it can depend on the job but would be great to have insight on this.
Hey Rose, no problem. As a director I don’t charge for prep days in general, that’s part of the larger fee and you do as little or as much as is needed to do the job to the best of your ability. On smaller content type jobs i do charge for prep days if there’s a lot of work, or for recce days, but only if on the smaller fee’d content work. I do this at half day rate, the same as I would if I was a DP doing a prep day or a pre-light day.
OK since I'm only starting my cereer I don't know what to charge for a small video for a local business would £150 be enough since that's what I got from my last 2 jobs or should I go with more charging kit costs and all?
I would say more Jan, how much work is involved? What’s the final deliverables?
Don't all you need is an iPhone ?
You totally can get started with an iPhone