Australian Camera Department Rates Card Implementation

In recent years, complaints have been arising regarding the state of rates within the film and television industry and the struggle to negotiate a fair wage from productions.

Commercial production companies have been increasing the use of deals such as the 10 for 8, as well as asking at times for other deals that cut into our entitlements, wages and rates. In local television and film production, as well as offshore productions, entitlements have been lost at times, and wages have also stagnated or else increased at a slow rate, compared with the rising cost of living.

The camera department values the sustainability of the screen industry though fair wages for all. It wishes to present a new recommended standard for market values and minimums for the positions listed. Our hope is that buy having fair rates that budgets will become more realistic and thereby improving the quality of work overall by requiring productions have higher standards to begin with.

The industry needs to keep experienced workers in our department to both maintain quality and efficiency and to train the next generation. To do this we need to be able to make a living wage, and continuing low rates will only help to starve our industry of the experience it needs.

We need to unify and agree that sending this rate card out is the best action we can take to protect our future.