Ever wonder why some things cost what they do? When it comes to producing a television commercial, cost is always a factor. Why do television commercials cost what they do?
Locally, a thirty second commercial can range from $1200 to $7500 and up. Nationally, it’s more than ten times that amount – why? The next time you watch a movie or a television program checkout the list of names and titles rolling by at either the beginning or, especially at the end.
Credits right? Well, yes and no. Yes, they give credit to all of the talented and creative people who made what you watched. But don’t think of that list of names as just the credits. Think of it as payroll. Here’s an example.
Once you see it from a payroll point of view, you may begin to understand why the movie or television program cost what it did. Even a simple thirty second television commercial is no different.
The creative professionals involved may include one or more Videographers – the camera guys. Sometimes commercials are shot with more than one camera.
Then there’s there’s generally a Sound Tech and the Director and/or Producer. As the classic television commercial used to shout – wait, there’s more! After everything is recorded, it has to be edited by a Post Production Editor.
If the script calls for a voice over, a Voice Over artist needs to be selected and hired. Even the music has to be paid for whether it’s from a Music Library or Original Music.
On more complicated scripts, there are also the following: Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Post-Production Editor and, a Graphic Animator/Designer and a Post-Production Encoding Tech. Sometimes, specialized production equipment or Post-Production facilities need to be rented for On-line and Off-Line HD, Graphic Design and Animation.
Everything is billed at an hourly or Per Diem rate and does not include food, travel or lodging fees. So, the simpler the script, the less it may cost.
That’s why Spectrum Marketing Group’s (starter) television commercial rates are offered as packages from the standard Pan & Scram stating at $999 to the Places & People and up to the Story Script package topping out at $4999. Contact us today to discuss your next television commercial.