Last Updated 3 months ago
Definition
A Deal Memo is a short-form written agreement that outlines the basic terms of employment for a cast or crew member on a production. It typically includes pay rate, job title, dates of employment, overtime terms, and essential personal or payroll information.
Deal Memos are not meant to replace a full contract. They exist to get people hired, paid, and working quickly, especially in fast-moving productions where formal contracts may come later—or not at all.
In practice, the Deal Memo is the document that answers one simple question: What exactly did we agree to?
Purpose of a Deal Memo
The primary purpose of a Deal Memo is clarity and protection—for both the production and the individual.
Deal Memos are used to:
- Confirm pay rates and employment terms
- Establish job title and responsibilities
- Define start and end dates
- Set overtime, kit fees, or special conditions
- Create a paper trail for payroll and accounting
Without a Deal Memo, disagreements become verbal, memories get selective, and problems escalate fast.
How Deal Memos Are Used
On Smaller or Independent Productions
On indie, commercial, or short-form projects, the Deal Memo may be the only written agreement a crew member ever receives.
In these cases, it often includes:
- Flat day or weekly rate
- Expected hours
- Overtime rules (or lack thereof)
- Payment schedule
- Credit terms
Because of this, Deal Memos carry real weight—even if they’re informal.
On Union or Larger Productions
On union shows, Deal Memos are used to:
- Confirm individual terms within a larger collective agreement
- Record negotiated rates above scale
- Capture special conditions not covered elsewhere
The full union agreement still governs employment, but the Deal Memo personalizes it.
Who Uses Deal Memos
- Producers: Formalize employment quickly
- Production Managers / Coordinators: Handle paperwork and payroll setup
- Accountants / Payroll: Verify rates and terms
- Cast & Crew: Protect agreed compensation and conditions
- Unions (when applicable): Reference individual terms
If payroll doesn’t have a Deal Memo, expect delays—or mistakes.
What a Deal Memo Is Not
- It is not a full long-form contract
- It does not override union agreements
- It is not optional if you want clean payroll
- It is not something to sign without reading
Signing a Deal Memo blindly is a rookie move. If something isn’t written down, assume it doesn’t exist.
Why Deal Memos Matter
Deal Memos are where professionalism shows up early. Productions that skip them often reveal deeper organizational problems—usually followed by late payments, “confusion” about rates, or retroactive changes.
For crew, a signed Deal Memo is leverage. It’s proof of terms when disputes arise and the fastest way to shut down arguments about what was promised.
If a production hesitates to issue a Deal Memo, that’s a red flag. Serious shows paper their deals.
Related Terms
- Call Sheet – Daily production schedule
- Payroll – Payment processing for cast and crew
- Union Agreement – Governing labor contract
- Contract – Long-form legal employment agreement