The three rule sets
Which overtime rules apply depends on who's working and where.
| Who | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-exempt crew, anywhere in the US | 1.5x after 40 hours in a workweek | Federal FLSA |
| Non-exempt crew in California | 1.5x after 8 hours in a day and 40 in a week; 2x after 12 in a day; 7th consecutive day 1.5x for the first 8 hours, 2x after | California Labor Code 510 |
| SAG-AFTRA day performers, Ultra Low Budget | 1.5x through the 12th hour, 2x from the 13th, in tenths of an hour | UPA section on overtime |
IATSE and Teamster crews follow their own agreements, including golden time past 12 or 14 hours.
The "10-hour day" rate, worked out
Non-union deal memos often say "$300 for 10 hours." In California that $300 has to include overtime for hours 9 and 10, so you back out the real hourly rate first:
Straight-time equivalent hours: 8 + (2 x 1.5) = 11
Base hourly rate: $300 / 11 = $27.27
Now the crew member works 13 hours:
| Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 (guaranteed) | included | $300.00 |
| 11 to 12 | 2 x $27.27 x 1.5 | $81.82 |
| 13 | 1 x $27.27 x 2 | $54.55 |
| Total | $436.37 |
That's about 45% more than the guaranteed $300, for three extra hours. An 11-hour day on the same deal pays $300 + ($27.27 x 1.5) = $340.91. If the budget assumed 11-hour days for a 20-day shoot and the show averages 13, the gap per person is 20 x ($436.37 - $340.91) = $1,909.20.
Budgeting it honestly
Budgets that price crew at a straight day rate for the number of scheduled days are almost always short. A better approach is to set a planned day length per department (grip and electric often run longer than the office) and price the overtime into each line, then track the actual pattern in hot costs. The overtime calculator does the tiered math.
Overtime errors payroll catches
Paying overtime on the day rate instead of the hourly base rate, missing the weekly 40-hour threshold for crew who do four long days and a short fifth, treating kit rental as part of the regular rate, and forgetting the premium on a sixth day or seventh day. A flat rate doesn't remove overtime obligations for non-exempt workers.