The Intricacies of Shooting with Celebrities.
I've had the privilege of working on numerous ad films with celebrities. While this might sound glamorous and exciting (and trust me, it often is), it also comes with its unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to logistics and cost management.
The Clock is Ticking!
One salient point to remember when shooting with celebrities is that time is money – quite literally. Most celebrities charge per shift, typically a 6 to 8-hour window. This means we have to meticulously plan the shoot to maximize the time the celeb spends on set. Unfortunately for other actors or shots involved in the project, they sometimes have to wait until the celebrity's scenes are completed.
Hiring a Celebrity: The How-To
Hiring a celebrity for an ad film is relatively straightforward thanks to talent management companies. These agencies represent celebrities and can be contacted directly or through your own agency. However, while hiring might be simple, budgeting for such an endeavour can be quite complex.
Breaking Down the Costs
Several overhead costs can be associated with shooting an advertisement featuring a celebrity, beyond the production expenses. These added costs can vary based on factors such as the celebrity's status, demand, and personal needs.
Celeb Fee: This constitutes the bulk of your expenditure – the actual fee that a celebrity charges for their appearance in your ad film. Depending on their fame and popularity, this could range from thousands to millions.
Makeup: Celebrities need professional makeup artists who know how to enhance their features for camera. These services don't come cheap.
Stylists: Ensuring that our stars look flawless involves hiring stylists who select and coordinate outfits that perfectly suit them and aligns with our brand identity. And many celebrities won't agree to wear clothes that don't suit their style, unless it's required by the script. Again, not cheap.
Transport: If your shoot location isn't local for your star, transport costs will include airfare, accommodations, meals, and local transportation.
Vanity: Celebrities often require a private area like a vanity van where they can relax and prepare before and during the shoot.
Extra Costs: Think of these as the “hidden charges” – location fees, security for high-profile celebrities, catering services, etc.
Post-Production: Once the shoot wraps up, there are still costs associated with editing and finalizing the ad film. e.g., you may need to call the celebrity in question to a recording studio for voice over, or dialogues.
It's crucial to understand that these costs can fluctuate based on numerous factors, like location of the shoot, status of the celebrity, among others. Therefore, it's always prudent to get an upfront estimate before diving into a project involving celebrities.
Shooting ad films with celebrities is certainly not a walk in the park. It involves careful planning, coordination and budgeting but when done right; it can add significant value to your brand by leveraging their star power. As we say in showbiz — that's a wrap!