Firstly, find below a PDF of our new FAA Rate Card for 2024.
All rates, including 2024 Equity rates, can be found on our Rates page.
At the beginning of 2024, we asked our Supporting Artists to fill out a feedback survey.
Over 1300 completed the survey and their comments were incredibly insightful.
We’ve shared a few surprising findings that we believe our lovely Crowd 2nd ADs will appreciate.
If a Supporting Artist receives no confirmation after three days since their availability was checked,
they often forget about the role or assume the opportunity has passed.Effectively, the expiry date of each lookbook you receive is probably sooner than you think.
The slowness of confirmations also encourages artists to put themselves forward for as many other jobs as possible on those dates as insurance.
We’ve always intuitively known that the sooner someone is booked, the less likely it is that we’ll encounter diary conflicts or drop-outs, but now we know this for sure.
“I refuse to keep my life on hold for a pencil that might not be confirmed or released till sometimes weeks later.”
“It is discouraging being on a pencil for a long time, keeping the time free just to be dropped at the last minute.”
“Earlier confirmation of bookings really helps planning and allows me to update you with any issues.”
Supporting Artists admitted that they decline enquiries out of principle if the location is too broad;
this is especially true of “London” but also other cities too.This means that we’re missing out on great faces if we only have the vaguest of locations to work with.
“I understand a lot of productions are secretive, but just saying London really doesn't help. London's a big place. I don’t know if I’m signing up for a 15-minute drive or a 2-hour drive.”
“If I see ‘London’, I decline. Even ‘North/East/South/West/Central London’ is better than just ‘London’.
Supporting Artists really like ‘What 3 Words’ (W3W) to help navigation.
Many now expect the W3W code alongside the exact postcode of the parking and crowd base locations.
They can understand that their call-times may not be confirmed until late the evening before, but they don’t believe that’s true of the crowd-base location.
“When accepting a booking it would be very useful to include a W3W of the exact crowd location.
Any Availability check needs to include at least the first half of a postcode - especially if in London.”
Vague or last-minute costume briefs cause stress and frustration.
Sometimes the Costume department sends out the next day’s brief incredibly late in the evening, forcing SAs to scramble to find suitable options.
“Send costume details as early as possible, maybe a seperate email if waiting for a late call time”.
“I hate finding out at 8pm that my wardrobe doesn’t match the costume brief. Or I’m forced to do late-night laundry and ironing. I dread becoming a burden for Costume to deal with. Please, just give us some time to prepare!.”
“If you could persuade productions to give us the costume information earlier than the night before that would be fab."
Providing the following information sooner reduces the likelihood of drop-outs and no-shows:
Whether the scene will be shot inside or outside (to prepare with thermals, thick socks, coats on standby etc.)
Whether the day will be a Continuous or Standard Day.
An Estimated Wrap alongside their Call Time.
“The less I know about a shoot, the more likely I am to decline and prioritise other work.Too many times I’ve been surprised with an exterior night shoot or a rain machine or a summer scene shot in the winter.”
“SAs are the only ones on set not given an estimated Wrap time. Why? Also we are often not told if we will be inside or outside until we find out on the day.”
“It would be good to know if it’s a continuous or standard day, the hours for the work day, the likelihood of going beyond these hours.”
Please don’t sit on information just because you’re waiting for the call times to be confirmed. I can be planning travel logistics, my wardrobe options, my child care cover etc.”
Supporting Artists LOVE it when a Crowd AD makes a speech in holding at the beginning of the day explaining what the nature of the scene is and what is to be expected.
It puts everyone on the same page, reduces questions and makes them feel like they’re in a safe pair of hands.
As SA's, we never get given the call-sheet. So we arrive at each crowd holding blind, where gossip is rife and information is currency. It makes such a difference when a Crowd AD stands up in front of everyone and tells us what’s in store, how many scenes are on the call sheet, when lunch is expected, when wrap is estimated for etc.”
“I like being introduced to all the crowd PAs, it makes approaching the crowd team and building an affinity with them so much easier.”
“ My favourites crowd PAs are the ones that treat us like teammates. We’re all there to get the same scenes done after all.”
“I have worked with many great crowd ADs and have been well looked after. They are very pleasant, professional people who work extremely hard and are being pulled in different directions.”
Your Feedback
What about you? What requests, advice and wisdom would you impart to our Supporting Artists?
We’d love to publish a blog that compiles the thoughts and suggestions of several Crowd 2nd ADs. Your comments can be published anonymously.
Please provide more info about shoot date in terms of estimated wrap and what the role might entail!”
Supporting Artists don’t understand why they have to wait for the confirmed call-time to be told everything else, such as
Artists want the exact location as soon as possible after booking so they can plan their logistics. They can understand that their call-times may not be confirmed until late the evening before, but they don’t believe that’s true of the crowd-base location.
‘What 3 Words’ (W3W) is really popular amongst the SAs. Many now expect the W3W code alongside the exact postcode.
“When accepting a booking it would be very useful to include a W3W of the exact crowd location. Any AV needs to include a postcode - especially if in London.”
Vague or last-minute costume briefs cause stress and frustration.
Sometimes the Costume Department sends out the next day’s brief incredibly late in the evening, forcing SAs to scramble to find suitable options.
“If you could persuade productions to give us the costume information earlier than the night before that would be fab."
“Send costume details as early as possible, maybe a seperate email if waiting for a late call time”.
SAs really appreciate being told in advance whether the scene will be shot inside or outside.
They want to prepare with thermals, thick socks etc. if necessary but many have reservations about shooting outside for long hours.
SAs really appreciate an Estimated Wrap being given with their Call Time.