Free!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a reminder to all of you production folks that our friends at Media Services offer some excellent free software (Mac & PC). That's right free! Mighty recession friendly of them, isn't it!

See if there is anything you can use (or pay it forward and pass onto a friend or colleage) at: http://www.showbizsoftware.com/category_s/46.htm

And while you are there, check out their other offerings . . . including their "Bargain Bin" where you'll find some great production resource books on sale for a low $9.95.

Or if you are in LA or NYC check out their free workshops.

Fan Club

Bonnie Sonder gave me permission to post a link to her awesome comments to me on Facebook about this blog and how useful she's found it. Click on the title "Fan Club" to read her comments.

I love knowing that people are reading and actually getting something of value from the blog. Thanks Bonnie for taking the time give feedback!

I hope more of you will join, follow and comment. 

You, after all, are my inspiration :-)

2008 Rates for NYC Producers, Etc.

Hi folks,
Everyone always wants to know what the other guy or gal is making. Some of us are more willing to share our day rate information than others. I'm a big believer that sharing this information keeps all of us from undercutting each other and weakening the system. So on that note, here is some information that was recently posted on WIFNY. Happy holidays.

Producer for Commercials:

$1000/day - non union producer with a union crew.

Producing with non union crews sometimes pay less then $1000/day.

For very long term jobs I have gone as low as $500/day but won't go below that.

Post Producing for Commercials:

$600/day though I believe the going rate for freelance commercial post-producers is in the $700-800 range.

advertising agency in-house post-producing job for $450/day seems the going rate.

++++

AP:
Inexperienced/Low rate: $800/week.
Experienced & basically a producer with an AP title: $1400/week
Average: $1000

Producer:
Inexperienced/Low rate: $13-1400/week (although I have heard of people taking lower to get the credit)

Experienced: $2500/week (this is the highest I have seen - it was for a couple of the producers on the Carrier project, which involved a big sacrifice: living on an aircraft carrier for 6 months).

Good solid average rate: $1600 (maybe $1800 for field?)

+++

AP for Public TV non fiction:
$225-$275/day (without benefits) maybe more for someone truly wonderful or verging on full producer

Producer for non-fiction:
usually $300 - $350/day depending on skill, extra-special or producer/manager might get more, up to $400/day

Producer for NY local news-based video or talk freelance:
$300/day. Good Morning America about the same.

Producer for Reality shows:
producers may get $450-$500/day.

Information provided by WIPNY (Women in Production New York)
To sign up for the WIPNY newletter, send and email request to: avidyvette@yahoo.com

Going West! LA Bound.

I'm about to head out to Los Angles to establish myself as bi-coastal. I love working on the east coast. NYC is great and Philadelphia continues to be a well-kept secret . . . though the secret is getting out thanks to the great works of the GPFO (Greater Philadelphia Film Office) . . . while I'll maintain my east coast roots, this awesome, woman director needs a bigger pond to swim in!

For years I've been told I should "Go West!"

So I'm taking off on what given the current rising gas prices maybe the last great cross country road trip of a lifetime and heading to LA to establish a west coast base on July 19th and I'll be there by July 30th.

As a fellow filmmaker friend said,

"L.A. is where the work is! If you fancy yourself a salmon fisherman, you go where the salmon are."

NYC and Philly friends, colleagues and clients--don't worry . . . I'm not leaving, I'm just going to L.A. I'll still be maintaining my east coast base and going back and forth between the coasts as needed. As always, I'll be reachable via my cell phone and email.

L.A. friends, colleagues and prospective clients--I could use some help and advice on establishing myself in L.A. I'd love to get some referrals to production companies looking to add an awesome, emerging, woman director to their roster. If anyone needs a house sitter or knows of an expensive housing option in the west side/Santa Monica/Venice/Marina Del Rey areas, please let me know. I'll need networking opportunities, party invites, work, friends, and so on. So please keep me in mind.