editing Editing a feature length documentary..what to charge?

[forgottenfilms]

It looks like I might be editing a documentary for a guy that I shoot and edit alot of projects for. He has several reality shows out right now (not going mention which ones but they are pretty big). He recently mentioned that he has someone wrapping up a shoot for this new documentary and he wants me to edit it.
I am clueless on what to charge him for something like this, and I don't want to be ripped off. I guess it probably has alot to do with the budget. Any examples or ideas I could go off?

 

[Alcove Audio]

A lot depends upon how badly you want the gig.

How many hours of footage you are going to have to weed through?

Are you doing the imports yourself?

Are you doing the graphics?

Are you doing the color correction?

Are you doing the audio post?

Are you working at home or do you have a facility for which you must pay rent, utilities, insurance and equipment maintenance?

Once you have the answers to all of those questions you will have a general idea of how many hours it will take and what your costs are. From there just apply your hourly rate plus expenses. Since you will be kept busy for quite a while you will probably want to give some sort of a discount.

Never make your commitment open-ended. Be sure to sign a contract with definitive start and end dates. Delineate your responsibilities and those of your employer. Be sure there are clauses that will compensate you for your out-of-pocket expenses. Be specific with the delivery requirements, both what is delivered to you and what you will deliver to the client. Have a specific payment schedule. Set rates for additional work. Run like hell if they won't sign a contract.

 

[samvic]

what tye of experience do you have editing? i live in LA but trael to north shore and would like an editing partner to help me chop my feature film once its finished

 

[M1chae1]

Yes, what is your experience in editing? How many shorts have you edited? How many features? How many television shows? Do you have examples of your editing online?

If you have zero experience, you'll be asking for very very little--if not pro bono for experience and resume.

If you have a lot of experience, well, then you'd probably know what to charge.

I don't have enough info to gauge. If you're just getting started...maybe a few hundred dollars? $400 max maybe.

 

[sonnyboo]

The big thing on any film project is to ask a lot of questions and make sure you are on the same page. Someone being asked to "edit" is vague. As previously mentioned, does that include digitizing? Are you expected to do effects work? Title sequences? How does this director like to do the editing?

The big questions as to salary specific, How many revisions are expected of you? Is this hourly or a flat rate? Is there any money for assistant editors to help synch, organize bins, etc. ?

Documentaries are some of the most difficult to edit because that is where the storyline is shaped from about 100 to 1 ratio of material to final cut in most cases. This is where the directors, producers, and editors are doing the lions share of the work for extended periods of time. Things can change and be re-edited for much longer periods of time than most narrative pieces.

 

[spinner]

Figuring out prices is hard for me too. I never feel as though I am charging enough and naturally the client thinks I am charging too much.


-- spinner

 

[directorik]

That is going to happen all the time, spinner. All freelancers
face it. There is no "right" answer on what to charge. The
client wants it for less, you want to earn a living. Or you
want the job bad enough that you will underbid.

There comes a point when we freelancers weigh the need
for a gig against the need to earn a living at it. Sometimes
a guy like me will lose out to a gal like you - I bid too high,
you bid too low and the client chooses you. Sometimes
experience will trump cost.

It's quite a dance, isn't it?