Commercials
COMMERCIAL RATES from 1st July 2023
The following rates apply to all commercials from July 1st 2023 without exception.
These rates are for work taking place Monday to Friday with a call time between 0700 and 1100.
These rates apply to all commercial content, be it television, online, print, fashion or any other format.
Overtime on Commercials is charged in 30 minute increments.
SATURDAY RATES from July 1st 2023
From July 1st 2023, these rates apply to all work taking place on Saturdays with a call time between 0700 and 1100.
Overtime on Saturdays is charged at 1.5T until 0000, in 30 minute increments.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The APA Recommended Terms For Engaging Crew on The Production Of Commercials PDF
1st July 2023 - PDFWhilst all other departments have "recommended terms",
The BECTU Lighting Technicians Branch have an agreement with the Advertising Producers Association until July 1st 2024.
This is specified in the last line of The APA Agreement:
"These are APA recommended terms
in relation to commercials productions
and an agreement with BECTU in respect of electricians."
Take notice of Production Companies Payment schedule/policy
The APA Agreement is clear; "We will pay invoices from crew with whom we contract direct within seven days of receipt."
Some productions are quoting 30, 60 and even 90 days to pay
If a production asks you to work below the agreed rates or under different terms, advise them that you are both interested and available for the job, but that you first need to speak with your BECTU Rep.
Contact the Batfone and our Commercials Committee will help you resolve the matter.
LIGHTING DESK OPS
The Lighting Desk Operator role is clearly defined in the APA Agreement:
"An electrician who is operating and programming a lighting desk requiring lighting cues during a take, effects, moving lights, multi-channel LEDs or time coded synchronisation and triggering.
Such rate and grade is only applicable when the position is deemed necessary and agreed in advance between the Gaffer and Production Manager "
Visit the Desk Op Page for further information.
CHANNEL 4 CREATIVE
Terms
For idents and promotional work for 4 Creative or Channel 4, our Branch has historically observed the following Terms & Conditions agreement.
Updated July 2022 - PDF
We recommend that you use the T&Cs above for all Channel 4 Creative/Ch4 Promotions jobs while the committee is in the process of renewing our agreement for 2023/24
Rates
Until such time that an agreement is reached, please see the table below for recommended rates for shooting Monday to Friday on 4 Creative/CH4 Promotions from 1st July 2023
CHARITY COMMERCIALS
With the prior agreement of the Gaffer and Lighting Technicians, Charity Commercials can be bestowed with a reduced day rate.
In order to be considered, the client must be registered as a charity with the HMRC:
Remember, these are the recommended minimum rates and can only be applied with the express permission of the Gaffer and the Lighting Technicians.
Term & Conditions as per The APA Agreement should be agreed in advance with the production.
COVID ADVICE
COVID Restrictions have largely been removed, but information is displayed here for historical reference
BECTU and the APA recommend that production companies arrange and pay for PCR Covid Testing for their Crew, however it is entirely at the discretion of each production company whether or not they choose to do so.
The APA do not currently recommend any Rapid Testing Methods for Commercials.
If you are given a specific call time to take a Lateral Flow or Immunofluorescent Test, you must inform the production in advance that your working day will be billed from that time.
The guidance in the document above
is designed for PCR Testing only.
There are three important points:
The best course of action is for productions to send testing out to the Crew Member at a time that is convenient for the Crew Member.
If the production ask for you to be tested on a shoot, recce or prep day, there is no reason why the time needed for testing cannot be incorporated into your working day.
If you are given a specific call time to undergo a PCR test, you must confirm with the Production in advance that your working day will be billed from that time.
If you need to take a day off to undergo testing at the behest of the production, then this should be treated as a non-shooting day and is billable as an 8hr day at your normal rate.
Contact Us
If you have any queries or believe that the APA terms are being broken, please contact the Branch Mobile Phone immediately.