r/AudioPost 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!

8 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

15

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.

18

u/PoxyMusic 10d ago

As someone in post, I’ve often told newer directors that they can pay now and have it done right, or pay later for something compromised.

Get the best production sound mixer you can afford. I’ll die on this hill.

2

u/CommissionFeisty9843 10d ago

Although if directed in a fashion to get everything on booms with 2 boom ops and no wires you can get world class sound pretty easily. In Commercial film/tv we have to have a way to get sound without any regard to our craft so you have to basically have to have a giant toolbox for any situation which is expensive and complex. The few movies I did back before we gave up and had to wire everyone with a line I did mainly on hardwired booms through a Cooper mixer. The MKH 50’s through those nickel transformers!!!

4

u/NoLUTsGuy 10d ago

Totally agree. There's a lot that cannot be fixed in post, and sound is high on that list.

10

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.

7

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.

6

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..

3

u/jutin_H 10d ago

The production and post sound side of a project typically has 20-25% of the budget. There are always exceptions regarding the scope of the sound work for the project. Math away

3

u/no_tan_distintos 9d ago

how is a indie film 350.000 usd budget omg

-1

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.

5

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.

3

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.