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Crew Deal Memo

For a production hiring any crew member — cinematographer, editor, sound designer, gaffer, production designer, etc. A short-form deal covering rate, dates, credit, equipment, and overtime.

Drafted by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

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Feature	Custom Contract	Editable Template
Best for	Most users	Editing everything yourself
How it works	Answer guided questions	Fill highlighted fields yourself
Word and PDF	Yes	Yes
Built-in e-signature	Yes	No
Time required	About 2 to 5 minutes	Depends on your edits
Price	$50	$50

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Is this the right contract for your project?

This contract is built for hiring a crew member for a production. It fits short, clear engagements that need a set role, rate and overtime, work dates, any kit fees, and clear ownership of the work created on the job.

Good fit for

Producers or production managers hiring crew
Department heads bringing on crew members
Crew members confirming their rate and dates
Shoots that involve kit or equipment fees
Productions that need clear ownership of work product

You may also need

Producer Agreement - when hiring a producer for the project
Production Company Agreement - when a company will deliver the production
Actor & Performer Agreement - when casting actors for the same shoot
Director Agreement - when hiring a director for the project
Non-Disclosure Agreement - before sharing private project details

Before you start

It helps to have these details on hand before you create your contract:

The crew member's name and role
The department and reporting line
The rate and overtime terms
Any kit or equipment fees
The work dates and expected hours
Who owns the work created on the job
Travel and expense reimbursement

What's Inside This Contract

Term and schedule

Sets the work dates and expected hours for the crew member.

Compensation

Covers the rate, overtime, and any kit or equipment fees.

Credit

States how and where the crew member is credited.

Work product and intellectual property

States who owns the work created on the job.

Production obligations

Covers conduct, safety, and on-set responsibilities.

Term and termination

Covers how the engagement can end.

Disputes and general provisions

Covers standard terms such as notices, how disputes are handled, and signatures.

Points Worth Negotiating

The rate and overtime terms
Any kit or equipment fees
The work dates and expected hours
Who owns the work created on the job
Travel and expense reimbursement

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a crew deal memo?

It is a short agreement that records a crew member's role, rate, dates, and key terms for a production.

What is a kit fee?

A kit fee is extra pay for a crew member who brings their own equipment or tools to the job. The memo states whether one applies.

How is overtime handled?

Overtime is negotiated. Memos set a base rate plus overtime after a set number of hours, and the memo confirms the terms.

Who owns the work a crew member creates?

The production owns it when the memo says so. This is handled as work made for hire, which the memo states clearly.

What should I have ready before creating it?

Have the role and department, the rate and overtime, any kit fee, the work dates and hours, and who owns the work product.

Should I choose the custom contract or the editable template?

Choose the custom contract to answer a few questions and have it filled in for you. Choose the editable template if you prefer a blank version with labeled fields to complete yourself.

What are common warning signs in a crew deal memo?

These are common issues to watch for in any crew deal memo:

No clear rate or overtime terms
Vague work dates or hours
Unclear ownership of work product
No mention of kit or equipment fees
No safety or conduct terms

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