What drives the cost
Three things move the price more than anything else: how many days you shoot, how many people are interviewed, and how much pre-production work is needed before the camera turns on. A one-day, single-subject interview shoot with an existing brand can come in under $10,000. A 3-day documentary build with executive and operator interviews, multiple locations, and original music will run closer to $30,000 to $50,000.
Typical Chicago day rate
A standard 2 to 3 person crew in Chicago runs $3,500 to $7,500 per day, before edit. The wide range reflects the difference between a lean documentary crew and a fully outfitted commercial setup with a director, DP, gaffer, sound mixer, and a producer on set.
How to budget realistically
A useful rule of thumb: triple your raw production day cost to estimate the full project. That covers pre-production (script, location scouting, casting, scheduling) and post-production (editing, color, sound design, music licensing). Skipping pre-production is the most common reason a corporate video project goes over budget. Time spent before the shoot saves 3 times that in editing.
Chicago-specific factors
Filming in the Loop usually requires a permit, which adds $200 to $1,000 depending on location and street closures. Iconic exterior shots (Riverwalk, Wrigley, Willis Tower lobby) can carry separate location fees. Union crew is the default on commercial work above a certain budget; non-union is fine for documentary and corporate work and is what most B2B companies use.