Film Day Rate & Overtime Calculator
Standard (1.5x after 8h, 2x after 12h)
California (1.5x after 8h, 2x after 12h)
Commercial (1.5x after 10h)
Flat Rate (No OT)
Pay Breakdown
Base Pay (Straight Time):
$0.00
Overtime (1.5x):
$0.00
Double Time (2.0x):
$0.00
Kit Fee:
$0.00
Total Gross Pay:
$0.00
Understanding Film Industry Day Rates
Calculating pay in the film and video production industry can be complex due to the unique overtime structures used by unions and production companies. Unlike standard 9-to-5 jobs, film days often stretch to 12 hours or more, necessitating specific calculations for "straight time," "time-and-a-half," and "double time."
Standard Film Day Breakdown:
Most freelance crew rates are based on a guaranteed number of hours (usually 10 or 12). However, the hourly calculation typically follows an 8-hour base structure.
Most freelance crew rates are based on a guaranteed number of hours (usually 10 or 12). However, the hourly calculation typically follows an 8-hour base structure.
How the Calculation Works
This calculator uses the standard industry formulas to determine your gross pay:
- Base Pay (Straight Time): Usually the first 8 hours of work are billed at your base hourly rate.
- Overtime (1.5x): Hours worked between 8 and 12 are typically billed at 1.5 times your hourly rate.
- Double Time (2.0x): Any work performed after 12 hours is billed at double your hourly rate (or sometimes more depending on the specific union contract).
- Commercial/10h Rates: Some commercial productions calculate overtime starting after 10 hours rather than 8.
Example Calculation
Imagine a Gaffer has a negotiated rate of $50/hour and works a long 14-hour day.
- First 8 Hours: 8 hrs × $50 = $400
- Next 4 Hours (OT): 4 hrs × ($50 × 1.5) = $300
- Final 2 Hours (DT): 2 hrs × ($50 × 2.0) = $200
- Total Labor: $400 + $300 + $200 = $900
If they negotiated a $50 kit fee for their tools, the total invoice would be $950.
Why "Day Rates" Can Be Misleading
Freelancers often quote a "Day Rate" (e.g., "$600/10"). This usually means $600 is guaranteed for up to 10 hours. To find the hourly rate for overtime calculations, you must reverse engineer the math. For a "$600/10" rate, the hourly rate is roughly $54.54, not $60, because the 9th and 10th hours are valued at 1.5x.