Budget percentage for Cinematography?

[Marc Thorpe]

Hi guys,
Just a question. Is there any hard and fast formulas or an unwritten rule that dictates what kind of % of a production budget goes toward the cinematography of it? I understand there are many aspects of consideration under said cinematography segment of the gig but any guidelines would be cool.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[PatrickFaith]

I read a couple of books on this, preping for my film. Can be anywhere between 5 to 50% Not counting thingsthings like p&a but including finishing.
Edit ... Saw your word production. Pretty much a hopeless to get a simple answer without a shot breakdown.

books i've liked for low budget stuff i do:
Producer to Producer: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low Budgets Independent Film Producing
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Filmmak...d=1422681672&sr=8-1&keywords=naked+filmmaking

 

[Marc Thorpe]

Hey thanks Patrick, will take a look at those publications.

For a hypothetical situation; a three month shoot of a guy running around certain African countries documenting the antics of Anti-Poacher training units. Very much run and gun stuff, reality on the ground situation. If anything RED it would be bare bones Epic with a DJI Ronin and lightweight Jib for easy packing. that and the associated hardware accessories. Interspersed with body worn GoPro imagery options by rangers and potentially A7s for super low light ops etc. One, maybe two man crew, lighting / cameraman with sound guy/DIT.

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Paul Russell]

Carrying around a Red with a Ronin all day? Your cameraman will look like Dwayne Johnson by the time he's finished that gig.

I expect you'll use four times as many man-days in post as you did on the shoot.

 

[Marc Thorpe]

It wouldn't be all day, as mentioned the format is yet to be decided but if the shoot requires Epic then that is the best option on streamlining.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Carrying around a Red with a Ronin all day? Your cameraman will look like Dwayne Johnson by the time he's finished that gig. I expect you'll use four times as many man-days in post as you did on the shoot.

Documentaries often go a year or more in editing, just to sort through all the footage and figure out what the story and structure will be.

 

[Ryan Purcell]

Too many variables. But you should be able to figure out gear costs and labor costs and come up with a number that stands on its own. Plug that into the budget and figure out the percentages from there.

 

[jake southard]

I feel like the better question is, what should a good cinematographers day rate be with all of his gear

 

[Will Turner]

For the camera and G&E departments I've heard 15% as a good number. For a $100K film that's $15,000 which feels appropriate given everything else that goes into a film. For commercials I think that number can go much higher and average around 50%.

 

[Phil Holland]

Very hard to break down all types of productions to a standardized percentage rate. Mostly because it doesn't exactly work that way.

Talent, experience, ability, and expertise come into play a lot. There's people out there who make $400 a day and there's people who make $12,000 a day as well as everything in between and of course whatever independent deals or low budget deals get worked out.

For Union jobs the Local 600 out here has minimum day rates and that's exactly what they are. Essentially that is ideally the protective barrier to maintain a standard rate.

 

[Marc Thorpe]

Cheers for the food for thought guys. Looking into things.