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RATES & JOB DESCRIPTIONS

The latest Rate Cards and job descriptions for all Set Decoration roles.


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Use our quick tool to look up BECTU rate card rates, or browse the full rate cards below

Rate card FAQs  

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 have been 10+1 since 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 survey in ending in April 2023, of 1031 members, and then added a percentage to account for inflation. Rates for some grades have been adjusted in order to match rates with job roles of similar responsibilities in both the Art Department and other departments.

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 Art Department, Graphics and Low budget rates?

Art Department rates can be found on the BECTU Rate Card download page or on the Filmbase Art Department 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



Bectu Set Decoration Rate Cards 2023 

As issued by the BECTU Art Department Branch 

Film Rate Card
TV Rate Card
Box Rental Rate Card

Box Rental minimum 2023

(per week)  

Computer Allowance OR Specialist Kit Rental

Phone Allowance Car Allowance Software Allowance

Set Decorator

25 / -

10

150

-

Senior Production Buyer

25 / -

10

150

-

Production Buyer

25 / -

10

150

-

Action Prop Buyer

25 / -

10

150

-

Location Set Decorator

25 / -

10

150

-

Senior Assistant Set Decorator

25 / -

10

150

-

Assistant Set Decorator

25 / -

10

150

-

Junior Assistant Set Decorator

25 / -

10

150

-

Set Dec Buyer / Assistant Buyer

25 / -

10

150

-

Petty Cash Buyer

25 / -

10

150

-

Set Dec Coordinator

25 / -

10

-

-

Set Dec Assistant

25 / -

10

150

negot.

Set Dec Trainee

25 / -

10

150

-



Set Decoration - 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.

Set Decorator
Duties to include:
  • Working alongside Production Designer and Director to create the visual language of the film 
  • General HoD responsibilities 
  • Script breakdown 
  • Research and source 
  • Budget supervision and allocation 
  • Selection of crew 
  • First point of contact for other departments 
  • Brief and supervise all works of all departments that work for Set Decoration including Props Dept, Drapes, Model makers, Set Dec Art Directors, Graphics and more 
  • Liaising with production, accounts, locations and other departments 
  • Brief and supervise external contractors and specialists 
  • Dress sets
  • Involvement in product placement and clearance issues 
  • Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director

Senior Production Buyer

Duties to include:

  • Creates and manages budget with the Set Decorator 
  • Supports and guides the spend of the department 
  • Is the negotiator for the department 
  • Does financial forecasts and weekly budget reports 
  • Liaises with the prop department for collections/ returns and dressing schedules 
  • Liaising with production, accounts, locations and other departments Involvement in product placement and clearance issues


Production Buyer

Duties to include:

  • Creates and manages budget with the Set Decorator
  • Supports and guides the spend of the department
  • Is the negotiator for the department
  • Does financial forecasts and weekly budget reports
  • Liaises with the prop department for collections/ returns and dressing schedules
  • Inputting data into financial spreadsheets for all expenditure
  • Completing purchase/hire orders and other paperwork
  • Sourcing/ Research


    Location Set Decorator

    Duties to include:

      • Acting as HOD of that location for Set Decoration 
      • Liaising with all other departments as main contact 
      • Liaising with external contractors and specialists 
      • Script breakdown 
      • Recceing locations 
      • Leading a team of locals and crew from the UK 
      • Research and source 
      • Oversee all works from various departments
      •  Dressing locations
      • May run the budget for the UK buyer in their absence 
      • Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director


      Senior/ Lead or Key Assistant Set Decorator

      Duties to include:

          • Liaising with all other departments as main contact alongside the Set Decorator
          • Assists the Set Decorator with the organising and running of the department and the visual language of the project 
          • Script breakdown 
          • Research and source all props and furniture 
          • Sourcing, briefing & overseeing suppliers and external fabricators 
          • Oversee and manage the works needed for their own sets 
          • Dressing sets 
          • Good knowledge of period furniture, design & architecture styles and textiles
          • Involvement in product placement and clearance issues 
          • Help run Set Dec Dept. Assisting in selection & overseeing other members of the dept. 
          • Creation of mood boards for presentation to Designer & Director


          Assistant Set Decorator

          Duties to include:

              • Assists the Set Decorator with the visual language of the project
              • Script breakdown
              • Research and source all props and furniture
              • Sourcing, briefing and overseeing suppliers and external fabricators
              • Oversee and manage the work needed for their own sets or aid with other sets.
              • Dressing sets
              • Knowledge of period furniture, design, architectural styles and textiles
              • Creation of mood boards for presentation to the Designer and Director.
              • Involvement of product placement and clearance issues


              Set Decoration Co-ordinator

              Duties to include:

                    • The day to day running of the department
                    • Schedule meetings
                    • Arrange Travel
                    • Inform the department on schedule and script changes
                    • Manage labour flow for the department
                    • Help liaise with clearance and legal for the department
                    • Fill in the daily work forms
                    • Organise the drawings, input orders, file paperwork
                    • Order the stationary and set up the office
                    • Organise the archiving at the end of the shoot


                    Action Prop Buyer

                    Duties to include:

                            • Script breakdown specifically for action props
                            • Sourcing, briefing and overseeing suppliers and external fabricators for key props
                            • Presenting to the Set Decorator and Director for approval
                            • Communication and servicing the stand-by art department for set requests
                            • Buying consumables


                            Assistant Buyer

                            Duties to include:

                                    • Support to the production buyer
                                    • Assist with the paperwork / hiring / sourcing
                                    • Coordinate online purchase deliveries
                                    • Support the Set Decoration team in sourcing smaller parts of sets such as door furniture or some key props
                                    • Support the standbys on set during the shoot
                                    • Cash handling and reconciliation


                                    Petty Cash Buyer

                                    Duties to include:

                                            • Support to the the above roles either sourcing or in the office with admin
                                            • Getting in samples 
                                            • Contacting suppliers 
                                            • Buying consumables 
                                            • Assistance in couriering or sourcing items for set requests


                                            Set Decorating Assistant

                                            Duties to include:

                                            • Taking care of the department’s daily needs and requirements 
                                            • Assist the co-ordinator in their role and duties 
                                            • Help distribute paperwork, filing, photocopying 
                                            • Research


                                            Set Decorating Runner / Trainee

                                            Duties to include:

                                            • Taking care of the department’s daily needs and requirements
                                            • Assist the co-ordinator in their role and duties 
                                            • Help distribute paperwork, filing, photocopying 
                                            • Collection of props or graphics when needed 
                                            • Assist in the presentations to other departments under direct supervision


                                            Additional roles to be added to future rate cards: 

                                            Drapesmaster

                                            Duties to include:

                                            • Design and manufacture of drapes items for window dressing / upholstery / carpets / runners and tents etc.
                                            • Has control over the execution of tasks within their department and manages department accordingly.
                                            • Breaks down the script and identifies fabric makes.
                                            • Works under the direction of the Set Decorator and follows briefs from Set Decoration department.
                                            • Can refurbish interiors or cars / trains / planes / carriages.
                                            • Employs their own teams
                                            • Skilled dressing of sets with their makes


                                            Assistant Draper

                                            Duties to include:

                                            • Works under the supervision of the Drapesmaster .
                                            • May break down scripts under the supervision of the Drapesmaster
                                            • Assists the Drapesmaster with the creation of fabric related makes.
                                            • Carries out dressing of sets with their makes for window dressing / upholstery / carpets / runners and tents etc.
                                            • Can refurbish interiors or cars / trains / planes / carriages.


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