2013Legal / Business Practices forum
Compensation and contractual practices for camera operators across major television productions
13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- HBO provides one hour of free travel time, then compensates portal-to-portal for any additional distance beyond that threshold.
- TNT was paying approximately $100 per day for day-play Steadicam work as of late 2013.
- When a forced call results in less than seven hours of work, operators enter triple-time pay until their next call.
- A major cable network attempted to impose weekly payment caps on day-play equipment rental rates, which some industry participants viewed as a problematic precedent.
- One production company offered $60 per hour for Steadicam operation without additional compensation for the specialized skill, which experienced operators considered inadequate.
- Productions sometimes require operators to provide specific equipment such as Preston focus control systems as part of their kit.
- Operators with housing provisions are typically classified as portal-to-portal, whereas local day-play follows different compensation structures.
- Some producers misrepresent or lack accurate knowledge of network payment policies and contractual obligations regarding travel compensation.
Depends on
- The TNT rate is from 2013 and may not reflect current market conditions.
- The housing versus local classification distinction applies specifically to situations mentioned but may vary by jurisdiction and union agreement.
- The specific policies cited relate to IA 600 union jurisdiction and may not apply universally across all productions.
- Some claims about network practices are based on individual experiences and may not represent official company policy.