DP Rates: Blockbuster vs. Indie

[Michael B McGee]

this may have been discussed before, but i couldn't find an answer. What is a common rate for a top tier DP on a $180 million blockbuster versus the $2 million indie he/she decides to shoot? i know Janusz Kaminski probably didn't make the same rate on Indiana Jones as he did on The Diving Bell... I used to PA on big budget commercials and the DPs rates varied between $3500-$5000/10hr maybe. i heard Janusz's rate is $10 grand. not sure, but that's what i heard. now i i know rates on commercials are different from features, but i just wanna get a feel for what people get.

 

thanks,

Mike

[Daniel Wallens]

Really? You couldn't find an answer?

 

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...ic=36430&hl

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...07&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...39&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...51&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...08&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...49&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...41&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...36&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...71&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...54&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...37&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...57&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...21&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...82&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...04&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...60&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...69&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...83&hl=rates

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?sh...58&hl=rates

 

 

 

Read all of that FIRST.

[Michael B McGee]

Well Daniel, except for David Mullen's contributions in the links you provided for me, no one really answered my question.

 

thanks though.

[Brad Grimmett]

It's a very difficult question to answer, which is why you haven't found one in the archives. Rates are all over the map. I'm afraid you're probably not going to get a specific answer unless you offer up some specifics regarding budget and project, and even then rates will vary quite a bit.

[K Borowski]

McCoy: "Spock, do you remember what it was like being dead?"

 

Spock "Yes, doctor, I do."

 

McCoy: "Well. What was it like?"

 

Spock: "It would be impossible for me to describe it to you without a common point of reference."

 

 

Something similar applies here. Your mileage will vary.

[Michael B McGee]

well, i thought the Kaminski reference was pretty specific.

[Brad Grimmett]

well, i thought the Kaminski reference was pretty specific.

Well, none of us here are named Kaminski, so we don't know what he made on either of those pictures. His rate very well may have been the same on both movies. Maybe it wasn't. I guess you could get in touch with him and ask him, but even if he told you his rates, there's probably very little relation between what he makes and what most other DP's make.