2007Legal / Business Practices forum
Day player rates for network television camera work compared to regular operator rates
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Producers typically attempt to hire day players at the same rate as regular operators, but day players should normally negotiate higher compensation since they lack ongoing employment stability.
- Day players who come in for occasional work, such as second unit assignments, often receive significantly higher rates than operators on full-season contracts to account for irregular employment.
- Some day players accept standard rates when substituting for colleagues as a personal favor or when using the production's equipment.
- Experience from major television productions shows day players can earn nearly double the rate of full-season regular operators for the same role.
Depends on
- The discussion is based on experiences from 2007 and may not reflect current industry standards.
- No specific union agreements or contract details are provided.
- The exact definitions of day rate versus regular rate structures are not formally explained.
- Limited confirmation of whether these practices apply uniformly across all network television productions.