2006Legal / Business Practices forum
Back end points and deferred compensation for camera crew on low-budget films
20 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Back end points are often uncollectible even when films are profitable, as producers can manipulate accounting to show losses regardless of actual revenue.
- Union protections may be ineffective at recovering deferred payments owed by producers who ignore collection efforts.
- Payment from back end points varies widely; some films do pay out while others never deliver compensation despite exceeding financial thresholds.
- Day-rate payment carries opportunity cost, as deferring compensation to receive points can result in significant financial loss if the film succeeds.
- Decisions about accepting back end points should consider the script quality, reputation of director and producers, career benefit from footage, time commitment, and attached talent.
- Back end compensation has been described as functionally equivalent to receiving no payment on lower-budget productions outside major studio systems.
Depends on
- Accounts are anecdotal and span different budget levels and union versus non-union productions.
- The discussion does not specify what percentage of points is being offered or standard industry rates.
- No information provided about contract language, accounting standards, or legal remedies available to claimants.
- Experiences with payment success or failure may depend on producer integrity, company resources, and film distribution outcomes.