Film Locations Glossary
Monitor fee
What is a monitor fee?
A monitor fee is the charge for a permit monitor, police officer, fire safety officer, or other required official attending a location, usually billed at an hourly rate with a minimum call.
Because the requirement is set by the permit rather than by the production, it is a cost that cannot be negotiated away once the conditions are issued. Overtime on a long day multiplies it across every required official.
Example
A monitor, two officers, and a fire safety officer at hourly rates with four-hour minimums is a four-figure day before a single frame is shot. A fourteen-hour day at overtime multiplies it across all four.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
A per-location line in the budget, set by the permit conditions rather than by negotiation.
Common mistake
Budgeting one official and getting four. A monitor, two officers, and a fire safety officer at minimum calls is a four-figure day before anything is shot.
Related questions
- What are monitor fees on a film shoot?
- The hourly charges for permit monitors, police officers, fire safety officers, and other officials the permit requires, usually with minimum call periods.
- Can monitor fees be negotiated?
- Not really. The requirement is set by the permit conditions and the rate by the department, so the only variable is how long the day runs.