Working Conditions in Norway

Permits

Norway is part of EFTA.

Working Hours

Working hours for a feature film shooting day is normally 10 hours: 7,5 normal hours and 2 x 50 % overtime + 30 minutes for lunch. This is when the working day start between 07.00 and 10.00.

The normal work period is between 06:00 and 21:00. (Working on location and/or shooting exterior). In a studio the normal work period is between 07:00 and 18:00.

Night Hours

If you work between 21:00 and 06:00 every hour is + 100 %, if these work hours are not called for in the script.

If you work between 21:00 and 06:00 and this is called for in the script (Example: Ext. Oslo City – Night), there is a flat 100 NOK “night fee” added pr. hour worked. If you reach 50% overtime, the 100 NOK “night fee” still applies, but if you reach 100% overtime, the 100 NOK fee no longer applies.

Overtime Monday – Friday

After 7,5 hours + 30 minute lunch, you will have to pay overtime as follows:

• 3 first hours: + 50%
• 3 next hours: + 100%
• For more than 6 hours of OT: – 200%.

Weekends

10 hours on Saturday is 50 %, the next hours 200 %. 10 hours on Sunday is 100 % every working hour, the next hours 200%.

Turnaround

A film worker has the right to a minimum of a 10-hour break between work shifts. If there is less than 10 hours, you will have to pay a turnaround penalty of 100% on the hours that are within the turnaround time.

Rates

Please refer to the following link: RATES (in Norwegian, but it shouldn't be too hard to guess). Rates are daily and vary depending on the experience of the crewmember (0, 3, 6 and 10 years in the business). All rates are in NOK.

Fringes: 26 % if you are an employee, 20 % if you invoice and have an own company. Please note: Crewmembers that are members of “Norwegian Film Union” will receive an additional 2 % pension plan on their fringes.

Compensation for travel when shooting on remote locations

The quick version: when the crew travels to locations outside Oslo, they will be paid on an hourly basis. The hourly fee is based on the crewmember’s normal salary.

Allowances

• Breakfast: 53 NOK
• Lunch: 212 NOK
• Dinner: 265 NOK
• ”Soda money” 50 NOK
• Mileage: 3,50 NOK per km.

Actors’ Rates

Daily: Minimum is 4.300 NOK but this is without additional compensation for rehearsals and costume/make up test and others. Costume/Make-up rehearsals: 300 NOK per hour. Script rehearsals: 480 NOK per hour.

If you want to make a total package deal that includes everything, the minimum daily fee is 6.400 NOK per day.

Usually an actor gets anything between 5.000 and 10.000 NOK including overtime. Post sync is normally half a day's pay.

On top of the daily pay actors get a buyout if they are members of the Actors Guild (6%)

Extras

NOK 500 - 1000 per day.

VAT Refund

A film production company will get a 25% VAT refund on most Norwegian services. Two interesting exceptions:

You cannot deduct VAT on food and craft services. Nor can you deduct VAT on vehicles that carry normal “White” licence plates. However, if you rent vehicles with “Green” licence plates, you will get a VAT refund on these vehicles and the fuel used by these vehicles. Vehicles with green licence plates are normally cargo vehicles used for transport of equipment.

Sources of Information

• Norwegian Film Commission: www.norwegianfilm.com/
• Producers' Union: www.produsentforeningen.no
• Actors Guild: www.skuespillerforbund.no