Commercials

COMMERCIALS UPDATE - 29/08/24

Following a vote by the members of the Lighting Technicians Branch, new Rates for 

APA Member Commercials 

will be implemented from 1st September 2024.

23/24 rates, as outlined in the APA agreement below, will apply until 31st August 2024

We are pleased to report that some branch members have successfully negotiated higher rates with non-APA companies. 

Local negotiations for higher rates for non-APA companies are encouraged and will receive the full support of our branch

COMMERCIAL RATES 

from September 1st 2024

The following rates apply to all commercials from September 1st 2024 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.

*see LIGHTING DESK OPS section below

SATURDAY RATES 

from September 1st 2024

From September 1st 2024, 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.

*see LIGHTING DESK OPS section below

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The APA Recommended Terms For Engaging Crew on The Production Of Commercials PDF

1st September 2024  - PDF 

Whilst all other departments have "recommended terms", 

The BECTU Lighting Technicians Branch 

have an agreement with the 

Advertising Producers Association until Sept 1st 2027. 


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."


T&C's NOTABLE CHANGES

DAY TYPES AND BEST PRACTICE 

In our continued effort to reduce overly long shoot days and improve crew wellbeing, the APA have agreed to add the additional wording to our new APA agreement.

“Our recommendation and best practice for APA members is not to schedule shoot days to go beyond 12 hours (10 hours plus one hour for lunch plus one hour overtime)”

This is another step in the right direction towards encouraging better planning from production companies and avoiding overly long shoot days.

As with jobs that intend to pay under our agreed rates, jobs that plan on shooting preposterous hours should be reported to the Branch Mobile Phone  immediately so that we can engage the APA before the shoot starts.

TIME OFF THE CLOCK CAP 

“Crew shall not be engaged to work without at least a 10 hour break between call times i.e they may only be engaged to work one hour of TOC…”

This effectively caps time off the clock to a maximum of one hour and helps protect our members from egregious turnarounds between shoot days.

This means improved planning is needed to protect and maintain these turnarounds, especially if Electricians are driving technical vehicles. 

Moving forward, the branch advises that vehicles, generators and equipment are dropped off and/or collected by the lighting equipment supplier.

It must be recognised that production companies will often try to stack overtime towards the end of a shoot period in order to avoid TOC. 

In these cases it is vital that you contact the Branch Mobile Phone  so that we can challenge the APA and the production company directly, be it before, during or after the shoot.

LATE LUNCH BREAKS 

“If the first meal break does not commence within 6 ½hours of the main unit call, the day becomes a continuous working day…”

The maximum that a lunch break can be delayed is now 6 ½ hours from the unit call time. After this the day becomes a continuous working day.

As always, it is the responsibility of The Gaffer to work with the production to avoid lengthy pre-calls and to ensure that the lighting crew are fed in the morning.


NIGHT WORK

“All work commencing between 5 p.m and 5 a.m is considered as night work and pays double time for all hours worked with a minimum call of ten hours.” 

We have received numerous calls from our Members reporting that they were asked to work several hours of pre-call to facilitate night work and further hours after shooting has wrapped.

Lengthy pre-calls on night shoots are strongly discouraged by The Branch.

The Gaffer must make it clear with production that pre-calls entirely at the discretion of the Lighting Crew and are charged at double time.

The onus is upon the Gaffer to avoid pre-calls altogether by engaging a separate rigging crew working day hours.

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

RELATED INFORMATION

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

For idents and promotional work for 4 Creative or Channel 4, our Branch has historically observed the following Terms & Conditions agreement.

4 Creative/Ch 4 Promotions 

Updated July 2022 - PDF

We are in the process of renewing it for 2024.

Meanwhile, we recommend that you use the T & Cs above, with the rates below.

These rates apply to Channel 4 Creative/Ch4 Promotions jobs 

shooting Monday to Friday.

MUSIC PROMOS

Please see the Music Promos Page 

for Rates and Terms & Conditions.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding our new Agreement, believe that the APA terms are being broken, or anything else commercials related please contact the Branch Mobile Phone and a member of the Commercials Committee will be in touch.