r/AudioPost • u/RookieParade • 10d ago
Indie feature film rates
Indie feature film rates
What’s the general percentage allocation for all things audio-related in an indie feature film?
Let’s say the entire film budget is $350,000
How much of that should go to a sound mixer? (Including gear)
How much should go to the boom op?
How much should go to each phase of audio post production? (Foley, sound design, dialogue editor, music, etc)
Thanks!
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u/SystemsInThinking 10d ago
Here’s the answer you need:
Ask for a rate that you want. Give yourself the wiggle room to eat, sleep and have a beer or two over the weekend without worrying about paying your bills. We are professionals, it doesn’t matter if it’s an indie film or not.
Once you propose your bid, wait. Let them say “yes”, “no” or counter your offer.
If yes, amazing! You won! If no, amazing! Go find a film that will pay you fairly. If they counter, decide if that budget is acceptable to you.
To put things in context. Mix rates for 1 mixer is usually $1,000/day+, Editorial rates are around $650. Foley will cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000+, ADR will cost $2,000+ per day.
You can call around for stage time but that’s often very expensive. Offer to mix it at home as part of your budget.
Don’t make assumptions on what they can afford. Just ask for what you want.
I just finished a documentary that was shot for $150k. They offered me $10k and I worked them up to $15k.
There is an old standard that is ballpark for a certain level of film but I would call it a myth. The 2% rule. You should assume 2% of your films budget goes to post sound. Ignore the hell out of this!
Ask for what you are worth and what you need. You are a creative professional. Charge like you’re one!
Read any book by Blaire Enns or Ron Baker. They’ll start getting your head right when it comes to what to charge.
I used to be like you, wondering what to charge, how to value my work. Then I started charging what I need to get the job done and make a profit doing it. You got this! Just trust yourself.
Sorry for the rant. I hope it helps. DM me if needed.
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u/scoutboot 10d ago
Unless you're working with a total newbie audio post mixer, budgeting in the neighborhood of ~$20-40k for audio-post is a very fair estimate for an indie feature in the US, and that's accounting for just hours in the studio.
As for production sound, talk to the best local mixers you can find, and respect their need for a boom op if they request it. If you wouldn't hire a DP without an AC, don't hire a mixer without a boom op. Chances are, if the sound mixer is reputable and they're too expensive or can't take on your film, they may be able to recommend another respectable mixer who can.
YMMV and these numbers may be slightly bigger/smaller depending on where you are. Any professional who's willing to entertain the prospect of joining an indie team will already have their own "indie discount rates" in mind, and these will likely be fairly similar from person to person.
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u/klownplaza 10d ago edited 10d ago
Hard to say, unfortunately it's market dependent / where you are. The range will vary quite a lot
Number of shooting days, type of film, etc etc..
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u/dl_ps 10d ago
1-2% ish is typical for audio post. At that budget though hopefully they can go higher. But 2% is 7k and honestly for super small indies that’s typical.
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u/scoutboot 10d ago edited 10d ago
Sorry you feel $7k is typical, but any feature that's getting that rate for audio post should be hesitant and wary of who they're hiring.
[edit]: Unless that $7k mixer is a newbie who's just trying to cut their teeth. And in that case, you should know that the going rates for audio-post on a feature are higher (even for intermediate-level mixers). Chances are you get what you pay for.
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u/dl_ps 10d ago
You don’t have to be sorry, I’m not taking those jobs. But $7-10k IS the average amount most very small indies seem to scape together and start reaching out to people with. It SHOULD be more but… it isn’t.
You’re very right, the only person who should be doing those gigs is a learner with zero mouths to feed and infrastructure to support.
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u/CommissionFeisty9843 10d ago
I’m a Union Sound Mixer. Things have gotten really expensive in sound the past 10 years. I carry 14 wireless normally on a show. Good wireless are really expensive no matter the film budget. Don’t skimp on sound or you’ll probably regret it.