Why Film Crew Don't Talk About Money (And What It Costs Them)

Every day on set, we talk about our spouses, our kids, and our pets.

But we almost never talk about money.

Is it taboo?

The only money talk I usually hear is somebody complaining that their last paycheck was late.

And I think that silence is costing freelance film crew more than we realize.

Talking openly about film crew day rates, saving money, and investing can help us make better decisions, reduce financial stress, and put ourselves in a position to say no to the jobs that make our Spidey sense tingle.

So here are four reasons why we need to start talking about money on set. Along the way, I'll tell you a story from my childhood that shows just how deep this taboo runs.

Whether you're just starting out, already saving, or even investing, this is for you.

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1. We're Taught to Save, Not to Grow

Here's where it all starts.

Childhood.

When I was 12, I had a paper route. My parents made me save every dime.

They gave me a ledger. I wrote everything down, and I kept my money hidden under my bed in a box where nobody would ever find it.

By the time I was 14, I had about $1,500 saved up.

I bought an old speedboat. I fixed it up, and suddenly I was the kid taking all the other kids water skiing.

And that felt amazing.

My parents weren't wrong.

They taught me discipline. They taught me how to save.

But the part nobody taught me was how to let my money grow.

I knew how to put money away. I didn't know what to do with it after that.

If I'd learned about interest-earning savings accounts and investing earlier, I could have started building those habits while I was still young. Even keeping some of my savings in an account that earned interest would have been a different way of thinking about money.

That could have been my turning point.

The moment I learned not just how to save money, but how to make my money grow.

But it wasn't. I had to wait until just a few years ago to really figure that out.

So here's what you can do differently.

Don't wait.

If you have savings sitting in an account that barely earns interest, take a look at high-yield savings accounts. Compare the terms, make sure the account is appropriate for your needs, and let even small amounts start earning interest.

You don't have to start with a lot of money. The important part is learning what your options are.

And this childhood lesson shows up in a completely different way when we're working on set.

2. Silence About Day Rates Keeps Crew Underpaid

Most crew members never ask what other people are charging.

Why?

Because it feels rude. We don't want to rock the boat.

But here's the truth.

Producers like me are talking about money all the time.

We know the budgets. We negotiate with clients. We compare rates.

So when crew don't talk about money, they're often left guessing.

And a lot of the time, they guess low.

Not talking about money doesn't automatically make you polite. Sometimes it just means you don't have the information you need to negotiate a fair day rate.

And here's the counterintuitive part.

The times I've seen crew actually talk openly about rates on set, something surprising often happens.

Instead of conflict, there's relief.

People realize they've been charging more or less than others doing similar work. They get a clearer picture of what their skills and experience are worth.

That information helps them make better decisions the next time a producer calls.

And let me be clear.

This isn't about bragging.

It's not about how much money you've made or what your net worth is.

It's about being able to have a normal conversation with someone you trust.

Maybe you ask another camera operator how they figure out their rate. Maybe you compare notes about overtime, kit rentals, or what a particular type of job normally pays.

Nobody has to share information they're not comfortable sharing.

But when we treat the subject as something we can't even mention, we create a disadvantage for ourselves.

If you want to get paid fairly in the film industry, you need to understand what your work is worth.

And that means money conversations shouldn't start and end with complaints about late checks.

3. Avoiding Money Talk Creates Financial Blind Spots

Because nobody talks about money, a lot of crew members don't even know what's possible.

The easiest example is a high-yield savings account.

Let's say you've got $1,000 sitting in a big bank account paying 0.01% interest.

That works out to about 10 cents a year.

Ten cents.

That's like doing a 12-hour day on set and getting paid in loose change.

Now imagine that same $1,000 in a high-yield savings account earning 4%.

That's $40 a year in interest, before taxes, assuming the rate stayed the same.

Same $1,000.

Different account.

And you haven't had to work an extra day.

Those rates are examples, not a promise of what banks are paying today. Savings-account rates can change. The point is to know what your money is earning.

And this isn't gambling. You're not buying a stock or making a risky bet just to earn savings interest.

You're simply comparing where you keep your money.

Even if you only have $50 to start, you can begin learning how these accounts work and what different banks offer.

Don't just take my word for it.

Do your own research. Look up high-yield savings accounts, compare the interest rates and fees, and understand any requirements before opening one.

And if you already have a high-yield savings account or you're already investing, don't skip this lesson.

The point is bigger than one kind of account.

What other financial opportunities have you never heard about because nobody around you talks about them?

Maybe it's how a coworker handles an irregular paycheck.

Maybe it's how another crew member budgets during a slow season.

Maybe it's how somebody got started investing for retirement.

There is a lot we could learn from one another.

But if we never have the conversations, we never find out.

Which brings me to the biggest reason to break the silence.

4. Talking About Money Builds Freedom

Money isn't evil.

It isn't shameful.

It's just a tool.

When crew members talk openly about rates, saving, and investing, we start to normalize it.

We make it easier for the rest of our crew friends to learn earlier than we did.

We build a better film industry where financial growth is something people understand instead of something everybody avoids discussing.

And once you strip away the shame, money becomes a lot simpler.

It's numbers.

Numbers that can buy you options.

Options that give you freedom.

Freedom to take the projects you love.

Freedom to say no when you need a break.

Freedom to walk away from a job that doesn't feel right.

And maybe, eventually, the freedom to retire earlier than you thought possible.

That's why I care about this.

I want freelance film crew to be able to earn more, stress less, and build wealth. And part of getting there is being willing to learn from each other.

My Challenge: Start One Money Conversation on Set

So here's my challenge to you.

The next time you're on set, talk to at least one crew member about something you've learned about money.

It could be as simple as:

Hey, I opened a high-yield savings account. You should check out how they work.

Or ask someone you trust how they figured out what day rate to charge.

Or share a money tip that genuinely helped you.

You don't have to share your bank balance. You don't have to tell everybody how much you're worth.

Just start a conversation.

And don't just read this article and move on.

If you've opened a high-yield savings account, started investing, or had your first real money conversation with someone on set, I'd love to hear about it.

Each step makes this real. Each action builds momentum.

This challenge isn't just about opening more accounts.

It's about breaking a silence that's been holding crew back for decades.

The more comfortably we can talk about money, the more we can help one another understand day rates, protect our freelance income, save during busy months, and plan for the future.

And when more film crew understand their money, more of us can build careers with actual choices instead of constant financial pressure.

This can be your turning point.

That's not a wrap. We're just getting started.