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RATES & JOB DESCRIPTIONS
The latest Rate Cards and job descriptions for Art Department roles.
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Rate Calculator
Use our quick tool to look up BECTU rate card rates, or browse the full rate cards below
What are the minimum and recommended rates?
Minimum - These are the base rates. No one
should accept less than these rates. They are
based on the minimum rates crew members
have been paid in these roles over the last year,
adjusted for inflation.
Recommended Minimum - These are guide
rates for anyone who has established
themselves in a role with at least 3 years of
experience. Crew members should negotiate
upwards of these rates according to their skill
level and experience.
What are the working hours per day?
This depends on which contract you are working
under. For features over £30m, your contract
will be based on the PACT-BECTU MMP
agreement, in which the contracted hours are
11+1 (11 hours work and 1 hour for lunch) for off
set crew.
For TV Drama Productions following the PACT -
BECTU TV Drama Agreement, hours will be
10+1 from January 2023. However, you could
also be temporarily scheduled on a Semi-continuous
working day (SCWD: 9.5 + 30) or a Continuous
working day (CWD: 9) if agreed between your
HoD and production.
Productions that do not follow either of these
agreements are free to negotiate their own
terms with crew members. Nevertheless, it is
widely agreed that the Art Department is a self
scheduling department and traditionally works
9+1 for the rates on the rate card.
What do I charge for Box Rental?
The BECTU Art Department committee have provided a guide for minimum box
rentals that crew should claim. This should be
dependant on the value of your kit, and many
members do claim higher rates. Please note
that ‘computer allowance’ is for a basic laptop /
desktop and is generally paid at a production standard of £25 per week. If you have computer equipment of
high value, you should claim ‘Specialist Kit
Rental’ at a higher rate.
How have these rates been calculated?
The BECTU Art Department committee held a rates survey (completed in April 2023) of 1031
members in order to review rates paid to crew in the previous 12 months. 5% was added to all rates on the 2022 rate card to account for inflation and to match the increase agreed by PACT and BECTU, for the MMP Construction branch 2023 rate card.
Some roles have been given additional adjustments to reflect actual rates being paid (as per the survey) and also to achieve parity between roles with similar levels of responsibility.
What about Prep and Wrap?
Art Department, Set Decoration and Graphics
do not do ‘Prep and Wrap’ (Unpaid hours at the
beginning and end of the day.) The Art
Department is not listed as a prep and wrap
department on the MMP Agreement or the TV Drama
Agreement.
What about Set Dec, Graphics and Low budget rates?
Set Dec rates can be found on the BECTU Rate Card download page or on the Filmbase Set Dec rates page.
Graphics rates are on the BECTU Rate Card download page, or are listed on the Graphics Union website.
The BECTU Art Department Committee also publish a low budget rates action plan here.
How do these rates compare to actual rates paid?
The rate survey produces the greatest amount of data for rates on major motion pictures (Films with budgets over £30m. Please see this chart for a comparison of rates paid on productions in the MMP budget band, in the 12 months before April 2023, and the rates suggested on the 2023 rate card. Please note that the suggested rates incorporated a 5% increase on the reported rates, so that they are viable for the coming year.
Where can I download the full rate cards?
The rate cards are the work of the Bectu Art Department Branch Committee and are listed below. They can also be downloaded from the
Bectu Art Department Website
If you have any questions about these rates, you can contact the committee at info@bectuartdepartment.co.uk
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Bectu Art Department Rate Cards 2023 ▲
As issued by the BECTU Art Department Branch
Film Rate Card
TV Rate Card
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Box Rental Card
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Supervising Art Director
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- / negot.
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10
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150
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negot.
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Senior Art Director
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- / 75
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10
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150
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negot.
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Art Director / VFX Art Dir.
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- / 75
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10
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150
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negot.
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Stand-by Art Director
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- / 75
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10
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150
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negot.
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Senior Assistant Art Director
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- / 75
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10
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150
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negot.
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Assistant Art Director
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- / 50
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10
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150
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negot.
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Senior Draughtsperson/ Senior Set Designer
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- / 50
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-
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-
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negot.
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Draughtsperson / Set Designer
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- / 50
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-
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-
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negot. |
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Junior Draughtsperson / Junior Set Designer
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- / 50
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-
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-
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negot.
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Modelmaker
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25 / 50
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- |
-
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negot.
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Art Dept Coordinator
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25 / -
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10
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-
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Art Dept Assistant
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25 / -
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10
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150
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negot. |
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Art Dept Trainee
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25 / -
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10
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150
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Concept Artist
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- / negot.
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10
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-
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negot.
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Storyboard Artist
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- / 30
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10
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-
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negot.
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Researcher
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25 / -
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10
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-
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Scenic Artist
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- / negot.
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-
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-
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Art Department - Job Descriptions ▲
These job descriptions have been written by the Bectu Art Department Committee.
They are written with productions in Band 3 (£30M+) in mind. A separate document will follow for productions in the other budget bands.
Please note, some of these roles are fluid and may vary in their placement within the hierarchy presented.
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Duties to include:
- Head of Art Department
- During pre-production Supervising Art Directors work with the Construction Manager and Production Manager to estimate the costs of set construction and Art Department labour.
- Analyse the shooting schedule and plan set building and dismantling (or 'striking') of sets.
- They oversee the entire day to day running of the art department
- Throughout pre-production and shooting, ensure the production stays on schedule and on budget.
- Help select crew members for department
- Liaise with the ADs to ensure schedule is workable
- Liaise with Set Decoration, Props, Graphics and all other departments
- Ensure the vision of the designer is followed through
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- An experienced Art Director who will often handle several of the largest sets on the film.
- Facilitate the Production Designer's creative vision for these sets to give the film its unique visual identity.
- Overseeing production of and schedule of work through issue of drawings for a number of sets depending on scale of film and sets required.
- Project managing production of sets through construction.
- Art Directors are usually requested by the production designer or Supervising Art Director
- Analyse the script to identify all special set considerations that may require longer lead times or special effects and liaise across departments.
- Manage a team of draughtspeople to draw up numerous plans for sets and locations for use by Art Directors when working with the construction managers and their team
- Throughout construction Art Directors will answer questions and approve work in progress in the construction workshop floor.
- Working with the Production Designer to create colour and patina reference boards, art directors will work closely with the Head Painter to ensure that the Production Designer's vision is carried across on to the sets.
- Liaise closely with the location manager to survey locations and draw plans for all other departments to reference. Supervising construction when locations are being prepared and dressed.
- During filming, Art Directors continue to oversee the construction, dressing and striking (dismantling) of the remaining sets.
- After the film wraps (shooting is completed), Art Directors must ensure that all sets are struck and locations cleared.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Facilitate the Production Designer's creative vision for these sets to give the film its unique visual identity.
- Overseeing production of and schedule of work through issue of drawings for a number of sets depending on scale of film and sets required.
- Project managing production of sets through construction.
- Art Directors are usually requested by the Production designer or Supervising art director
- Analyse the script to identify all special set considerations that may require longer lead times or special effects and liaise across departments.
- Manage a team of draughtspeople to draw up numerous plans for sets and locations for use by Art Directors when working with the construction managers and their team
- Throughout construction Art Directors will answer questions and approve work in progress in the construction workshop floor.
- Working with the Production Designer to create colour and patina reference boards, Art Directors will work closely with each of the ‘Head of’ roles in Construction to ensure that the Production Designer’s vision is carried through into the sets.
- Liaise closely with the location manager to survey locations and draw plans for all other departments to reference. Supervising construction when locations are being prepared and dressed.
- During filming, Art Directors continue to oversee the construction, dressing and striking (dismantling) of the remaining sets.
- After the film wraps (shooting is completed), Art Directors must ensure that all sets are struck and locations cleared.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Stand-by Art Directors work alongside the shooting crew to manage art department concerns of each set while it is being filmed.
- Stand-by Art Directors are the only member of the art department that is with the shooting crew 24/7 and represents the Art Department and Set Decoration Department during the shoot. It is their responsibility to maintain the Designer and Set Decorator's vision while facilitating the needs of the Director, DOP and all other departments.
- Must have a wide understanding of all departments needs and be able to action all shooting requirements for all sets.
- Works in partnership with the Stand-by Prop Department to facilitate all shooting crew departments requirements.
- Has a complete understanding of the script to have a full overview of the whole story and every set.
- Must keep up to date with all script changes.
- Must be able to problem solve within a very tight time frame and have a full knowledge of how each set works and its abilities and limitations when coming up with solutions to problems.
- Works with a Stand-by Construction team including, but not limited to, Chippie, Painter, Rigger, Stagehand, Plasterer and Greens team so must have a working knowledge of these trades.
- Has a close dialogue with the Designer, Set Decorator and Art Director of each set to be able to understand and maintain their creative vision, while having a strong knowledge of the practicalities of a shooting crew being able to use the set.
- Must have an understanding of cameras, lenses and film lighting.
- Stand-by Art Directors maintain set continuity through watching every frame that is shot and making sure all dressing is correct as per the scene.
- Create script breakdowns that include, but are not limited to, story, dressing, greens, action vehicles, SFX requirements, cast, timelines, set requirements, VFX requirements (Art Department concerns only), graphics. These must be maintained in line with script revisions.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Assistant Art Directors' responsibilities vary depending on the size of the production.
- Help the Art Director with research, surveying locations, model making or producing sets.
- On large productions with multiple sets, an assistant art director will take responsibility for some of the smaller or medium sized sets
- Sketch ideas, refine them and work on 3D models.
- During shooting some Assistant Art Directors may work as Stand-By Art Directors, monitoring video playback to see what the camera is shooting and how this impacts on set requirements.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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| Art Department Coordinator |
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Duties to include:
- Ensures the smooth running of the Art Department during pre-production, filming and wrap, by providing administrative support to the Head of Department.
- Will organise meetings, hiring of crew, department breakdowns, build schedules and labour flows under the direction of the HoD.
- Will also liaise with other departments and ensure communication between the Art Department and all other departments.
- May also create and help maintain filing systems for assets and clearance.
- On wrap, will archive all files and assets.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- An experienced Draughtsperson is able to provide complicated technical drawings that serve as a template for the construction department.
- Drawings are either drawn by hand or CAD software like Sketch-Up, Cinema 4D and Vectorwork, among others.
- Supervised by the Art Director for the set they work on.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Draughtspersons provide technical drawings that serve as a template for the construction department.
- Drawings are either drawn by hand or CAD software like Sketch-Up, Cinema 4D and Vectorwork, among others.
- Supervised by the Art Director for the set they work on
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Junior Draughtspersons are closely supervised by the Art Director or more senior team members and will draw specific construction details across a range of sets, such as window or door detailing, providing technical drawings that serve as a template for the construction department
- Drawings are either drawn by hand or CAD software like Sketch-Up, Cinema 4D and Vectorwork, among others.
- Often required to make accurate scale models of all sets enabling the production designer and director to visualise camera positions and movements.
- Supervised by Art Director for the set they work on.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Art department trainees might be working with anyone in the art department; the Art Director, Assistant Art Director, Set Decorator, Draughtsmen or Art Department Coordinator. They report to the Production Designer and Supervising Art Director.
- Responsible for many of the departments administrative type jobs. They will often work closely with the art department coordinator, providing backup and doing basic running duties between the art department office, the drawing and construction team and the production office. They may be responsible for ordering and collecting art department drawing and model-making materials and might even help with the construction of scale models for sets.
- During filming, they might help the Stand-By Art Director and art department coordinator with any last-minute requests or changes to the sets.
- May be asked to draw by hand or use art software packages.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Works closely with Production Designer to create the visual for the whole production
- Can be asked to create either quick or detailed drawings and paintings of environments, characters, buildings, vehicles and props (including creation of thumbnails and wireframes)
- Use traditional and technological approaches to create designs in 2D and 3D through drawing and painting
- Efficiently interpret briefs and work independently
- Clearly communicate ideas and respond positively to feedback
- Adapt and refine work following feedback
- Be confident using specialist creative programmes
- Research topics and information for points of reference and ideas to use in your designs
- Meet strict deadlines for creation of work.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Duties to include:
- Provides visual representation prior to the filming to map out an effective production blueprint for Director often taking reference from Production Designer to inform design in boards.
- Create a collection of visual scenes which will show the director how he/she may be able to shoot the project.
- The storyboard can represent angles for shooting, lighting themes, colour, clothing and motion/blocking set-ups.
- While the director will probably have their own ideas about how a production should look, a storyboard provides an easy-to-interpret breakdown of all included scenes, and may give the production staff further ideas on how to develop the production
- Produce hand-drawn or computer-generated storyboards quickly and must often be prepared to adapt them “on spec” with very short notice.
(This description is a work in progress as per the Bectu Art Dept Committee. 26.06.20)
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Additional roles to be added to future rate cards: Modelmaker
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