Turning a day rate into an hourly rate
A non-union camera operator's deal memo says $450/12. On a California shoot, overtime starts after 8 hours at 1.5x, so the 12 guaranteed hours are 8 straight hours plus 4 overtime hours:
Straight-time equivalent: 8 + (4 x 1.5) = 14 hours
Hourly base rate: $450 / 14 = $32.14
That $32.14 is the number payroll uses for everything past 12 hours, when the rate goes to double time: hour 13 pays $32.14 x 2 = $64.29. If you divided $450 by 12 and got $37.50, you'd overpay every overtime hour and put the wrong regular rate on the time card. The overtime calculator does this conversion.
Day rates for cast
Actors hired by the day are day performers, or day players. Under SAG-AFTRA's 2026 theatrical wage table the day performer minimum is $1,283 from July 1, 2026. The low budget agreements set their day rates as a percentage of that Basic rate:
| Agreement | Share of Basic | Day performer, from 7/1/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (theatrical) | 100% | $1,283 |
| Low Budget | 65% | $834 |
| Moderate Low Budget | 35% | $449 |
| Ultra Low Budget | 20% | $257 |
Check: $1,283 x 0.65 = $833.95, rounded to $834. See SAG-AFTRA tiers for budget caps.
Equipment and locations
Rental houses quote a day rate and a weekly rate, and the weekly rate is commonly a multiple of the day rate smaller than five, so a four-day need often costs the same as a week. Location fees are quoted per shoot day with separate, lower prep and strike day fees. Budget those as separate lines so a schedule change moves the right number.
Day rate errors in budgets
Budgeting crew at a day rate with no stated hours, forgetting prep and wrap days at the same rate, and letting kit rental get folded into the day rate, which inflates the overtime base. Another is hiring someone "on a day rate" for a week and a half when a weekly rate would have been cheaper. For typical non-union figures by position, see film crew day rates and the crew rate lookup.