Working with Freelance Crews, Done Properly
Hiring and managing freelance camera, sound and production staff for individual projects.
Tomas Lindqvist
Where most projects go wrong
The usual mistakes:
- Verbal agreements on rights
- Unclear overtime terms
- Assuming crew insurance covers your project
- Late payment to freelancers
What good looks like instead
- Agree rights, rates and hours in writing
- Confirm what equipment is included
- Check insurance cover before the shoot
- Provide briefs and call sheets in advance
- Pay promptly to keep good crews available
Why it matters
Most video work runs on freelancers, and clear terms prevent disputes over rights, hours and equipment.
The specs that matter
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Rights | ownership of footage must be agreed in writing |
| Rates and hours | overtime terms should be explicit |
| Equipment | kit hire is often separate from labor |
| Insurance | crew and equipment cover should be confirmed |
Knowing when to hand it over
Tip: Bring in help when building a regular freelance crew.
Where this comes from
- U.S. Copyright Office — Circular 30 Works Made for Hire
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Business insurance
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
Working on something like this?
We take on Video Editing & Production work for teams who want it done once, properly. Tell us what you are building and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right studio for it. Start a project.
Where to go next
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
