FILM PRODUCTION · DAY RATES & CREW

DFW crew.
Cinema kit.
Transparent rates.

Published day rates for networks, production companies, agencies, and directors hiring DFW local crew. Sony hybrid cinema kit (same sensor family as the Netflix-approved FX6), Marine-certified DP, DaVinci Resolve color pipeline, and a full freelance roster on call. Insurance billed transparently as per-shoot pass-through.

DAY RATES · THREE TIERS

Three pre-built day-rate tiers. Solo for lean shoots, B-Cam for dual-camera coverage, Full Crew for network-grade productions. Or build your own crew à la carte below.

SOLO

Solo Operator Day

$1,50010-hour day
  • TJ as DP / operator — 10 hours on location
  • Sony FX3 or A7S III + SmallRig cinema cage + Sigma Art lens set
  • Rode NTG shotgun + wireless lavalier + pro monitor
  • SmallRig RC 260B LED lighting kit + stands
  • Owned slider for steady-motion coverage
  • Hollyland wireless client monitoring
POPULAR

B-Cam Day

$2,50010-hour day
  • TJ as DP + 1 freelance camera operator
  • Dual Sony package (FX3 + A7S III, color-matched)
  • Full Rode audio kit (wireless lavs + boom + shotgun)
  • SmallRig LED lighting kit (owned)
  • Slider + gimbal for motion work
  • Hollyland dual-channel client monitoring
  • 10-hour day
FULL CREW

Full Crew Day

$5,50010-hour day
  • TJ as DP + 1st AC + Sound Mixer + Gaffer
  • Dual Sony FX3 + A7S III, matte box, follow focus, shoulder rigs
  • Pro audio mixer kit (lavs + boom + 32-bit recorder)
  • SmallRig lighting package (owned) led by Gaffer
  • Slider + gimbal + DJI drone available
  • Hollyland multi-channel client monitoring
  • HMI / SkyPanel packages optional à la carte
À LA CARTE · CREW DAY RATES

Build your own crew. Every role priced transparently per 10-hour day. DFW local, right-to-work, non-union (IATSE-adjacent by request).

DP / Cinematographer (TJ)

$1,500

10-hour day. Sony FX3/A7S III cinema kit included.

Camera Operator

$800

10-hour day. DFW freelance roster.

1st AC

$650

Focus puller, camera build, media management.

2nd AC

$475

Slate, batteries, camera support.

Sound Mixer (w/ kit)

$900

Mixer, wireless lavs, boom, recorder.

Boom Op

$550

Dedicated boom operator for dialogue scenes.

Gaffer

$650

Lead lighting, meter reads, power management.

Key Grip

$600

Lead grip: stands, flags, dolly, rigging.

Grip / Electric

$475

Day-player grip or electric support.

PA

$200

Runner, set support, craft logistics.

Drone Pilot (Part 107)

$1,200

FAA-licensed pilot + DJI drone package.

À LA CARTE · CAMERA & LIGHTING

Sony FX3 and A7S III — same sensor family as the Netflix-approved FX6, S-Log3, 4K 120p, DaVinci pipeline. Small lighting is our owned SmallRig kit; mid and large are transparent rental pass-through.

Sony A7S III Kit

$175

Body + Sigma Art primes + monitor + media.

Sony FX3 Kit

$225

Body + Sigma Art primes + monitor + media.

Dual Sony Package

$350

FX3 + A7S III, matched color, full lens set.

Small Lighting Package

$250

SmallRig RC 260B + stands + diffusion (owned).

Mid Lighting Package

$1,200

SkyPanels + HMI + grip cable (rental pass-through).

Large Lighting Package

$2,500

3-ton truck, multi-HMI, dolly (rental pass-through).

LOGISTICS & ADD-ONS

Standard production-industry conventions, published openly. Overtime, travel, and per-diem line items every line producer expects to see on a quote.

Overtime

1.5× / 2×

1.5× after 10 hrs, 2× after 12 hrs.

Meal Penalty

$35

Per crew member, per half-hour past the 6-hour mark.

Prep Day / Tech Scout

50%

Half rate for prep, scout, or wrap-only days.

Travel Day

50%

Half rate for days spent traveling to location.

Mileage (beyond 30 mi)

$0.75/mi

Beyond the 30-mile downtown Dallas zone.

Per Diem (multi-day)

$75/day

M&IE only. Lodging billed at cost.

Rush Delivery

Quoted

Faster than the 2–4 week standard turnaround.

Raw Footage Buyout

100%

Of project cost. Transfers all media rights.

INSURANCE · COVERAGE & COI POLICY

Production insurance billed transparently per shoot day — no hidden markup, no mystery fees. Equipment coverage is always on us. Upgraded network-grade limits available on request.

PER-PRODUCTION INSURANCE

$175–$295 / shoot day

Covers $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate general liability plus workers' comp for the shoot day. Pass-through pricing — Solo Day $175, B-Cam Day $225, Full Crew Day $295. Your production pays actual cost; we don't mark it up. $2M / $4M network-grade upgrade available (+$100–$150/day).

EQUIPMENT COVERAGE

Always included

Semper Fi Media carries year-round inland marine coverage on all owned cameras, lighting, audio, and grip gear. Your production doesn't pay extra for gear protection — that's on us.

WORKERS' COMP

Included on crewed shoots

Workers compensation coverage bundled into the per-production policy on every shoot day we crew. No additional pass-through, no mystery fee, no production that walks away uncovered.

COI CERTIFICATES

Free · 24-hour turnaround

Additional-insured certificates issued within 24 hours of booking confirmation with zero admin fee. Most DFW shops charge $25–$75 per cert. We don't — producing a piece of paper shouldn't be a profit center.

Networks, agencies, production companies.

Hiring DFW crew? Book a 15-minute production call. Tell us the scope, dates, and scale — we'll quote a crew, a kit, and an insurance line transparently.