Day rate for a Cameraman and XDcam HD camera?

[Tim Bradley]

Hi All,

Sorry to post this, but I own a PDW700 (Sony HD XDCAM camera) as well as a Red.

I have a shoot coming up in Australia for a large US production company and want to know what the normal day rate is in the US for a Cameraman, light kit, tripod, batteries etc shooting on a 2/3 inch HD broadcast camera like the PDW700.

Thanks in advance !!

Cheers, Tim.

 

[Craig W. Bickerstaff]

Shouldn't you just charge them the standard australian rates? Shooting in Australia and all?
I mean if I'm a film maker and I go to shoot in canada and the crew is charging me US prices and not canadian prices I start to feel a little bit like maybe he thinks I'm a sucker.

 

[jimhare]

Craig,

Australian prices have become all over the place, to the point where there are no standards anymore.

We have also been squeezed, made to feel guilty, and taken advantage of by locals for so many years, we sometimes forget what fair is! :mad2:

From what I've been reading, it's become that way in a lot of places around the world.

Tim, when I deal with overseas clients I usually start with my full rate and add a few contingencies and expenses.

Judging by the way they crawl over their own mother to sign the contract as quickly as possible, I have found we are quite competitive compared to the rest of the world, even at full card rate.

Exchange rate also plays into it. It was much more attractive to U.S. clients when our dollar only cost 50¢!

But even now, in the U.S. and U.K. my clients have never asked for a discount. One U.K. client even upped my budget once! They said it's so affordable let's throw more at it. Nice shoot, wish they were all like that...

All the best,

Jim

 

[Greg M]

$1500-$1800

 

[Tim Bradley]

Shouldn't you just charge them the standard australian rates? Shooting in Australia and all?

Craig .. yes, but I want to know that my Australian Rate is in line with the US rate.

DigitalFX ... Thanks you for the info !!

Cheers, Tim.