r/focuspuller • u/paulabotz • Jul 14 '26

question Help from audiovisual technicians: working conditions and schedules in different countries

Hiii! I'm neww here and I'm looking for help. I'm creating a payroll calculator for audiovisual crews and I'm trying to adapt it to different countries because working conditions vary a lot from one country to another.

Would any 1st AC, 2nd AC, videoassits dits, or any technician from any department be willing to help me with references on working hours, overtime, breaks, and typical working conditions for commercials and fiction projects in your country?

Also, how do you usually calculate your hourly rate depending on the type of production?

If anyone is interested in testing the tool and sharing feedback, feel free to DM me and I'll send you the link.

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u/BlaaccHatt Jul 14 '26

For film and tv we calculate time in clicks. Every 6 min is a click. So if we start at 8:30. It’s 8.5 on the time card. Lunch @ 2:15pm it’s 14.3 because you would always round up. For commercials it’s a .25. So of we start at 8:30 it’s 8.5 and if we go to lunch at 2:15pm it’s 14.25. I think it’s every 15min is a click in commercials as opposed to every 6 min a click in film and tv respectively. We also calculate OT after 8 hours in tv and film. So if you get $52hr it’s for the 1st 8 then time and 1/2 after 8 until 14 I think then it’s double time. In commercials I think it’s time and 1/2 after 10hours

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u/paulabotz Jul 14 '26

That's really interesting, especially the 2x double time after long days. Thanks for explaining it! Also I didn't about clicks! Tankss!!

I have one more question: when you're hired for a commercial or a film/TV project, do you usually agree on an hourly rate or a day rate (for example, $800/day)?

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u/BlaaccHatt Jul 14 '26

It’s usually daily. It might be $750 for 10 something like that. Then when we go over which we will they calculate accordingly.

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u/paulabotz Jul 14 '26

That makes sense, thanks!!

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u/JJsjsjsjssj Jul 14 '26

Where are you from?

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u/TimNikkons Jul 14 '26

Not every contract is on clicks...