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Filmmaking Dictionary: Letter D / Dry Hire
What Does Dry Hire Mean?
Dry hire means hiring equipment without an accompanying operator or crew supplied as part of that hire. The production arranges the people who will transport, prepare and operate it. Camera, lighting, sound and grip equipment can all be supplied this way.
The term describes a service arrangement. It does not define which accessories are included, whether delivery is supplied or how support is handled. Those details belong in the quotation and rental agreement.
Dry Hire vs Equipment with an Operator
A crewed package combines equipment with the services of an operator or technician. Some suppliers call this wet hire, although terminology varies between industries and regions. Describe the required service clearly instead of relying on the label alone.
A cinematographer hiring their personal camera to a production may quote labour and equipment separately. That arrangement needs its own written scope; it should not be assumed to include an assistant, lighting package or unlimited working hours.
What to Confirm in the Package
- Exact equipment models and the accessories required to use them.
- Batteries, chargers, power supplies, cables, media and mounting hardware.
- Pickup, return and any delivery arrangements.
- The agreed rental period and how extra days are handled.
- Technical support, fault reporting and replacement arrangements.
- Insurance, responsibility for loss or damage, and other contract requirements.
For example, a camera-body quote can look complete until the crew discovers that the chosen lens mount, recording media or power option is not included. Compare the complete working package rather than the headline item alone.
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Who Operates the Equipment?
The production needs crew with the appropriate competence for the actual equipment and task. Familiarity with a similar camera or lighting fixture does not settle every setup requirement. Some rental houses require an orientation, a checkout or evidence of experience for particular equipment.
Specialist equipment may have additional operating, training or authorisation requirements. Dry hire does not remove those requirements or make the supplier responsible for supplying an operator that was never booked.
Preparation and Handover
Use a prep day or agreed checkout to confirm the system works together. Test the intended recording configuration, power and accessories, and report missing or damaged items before leaving the rental house. Keep an accurate inventory of what was received.
Identify who collects, signs for, transports and returns the equipment. A production can lose time when everyone assumes another department has booked the vehicle or arranged an early pickup. Coordinate those responsibilities with the production manager or designated rental contact.
Budgeting the Whole Job
Dry hire may offer flexibility, but the rental price is only part of the cost. Crew, prep, transport, storage, consumables and return logistics can all affect the budget. Compare a dry-hire package with a crewed service using the same scope.
Read the supplier’s actual terms for cancellations, overtime support, late returns and damage. One company’s weekend or weekly rate structure does not establish an industry-wide rule. Record agreed changes to the booking so the crew and supplier are working from the same information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dry hire include delivery?
Only if the quote or agreement includes it. Collection and return are often separate arrangements.
Does it mean the equipment comes without accessories?
No. A dry-hire package can include a complete set of accessories. The defining point is the absence of an included operator, not an incomplete kit.
Is dry hire always cheaper?
Not necessarily. Compare the total cost of equipment, crew, prep and logistics for the same job.
Related Terms
- Kit Rental — payment for equipment supplied to a production.
- Prep Day — scheduled preparation before shooting.
- Production Manager — coordinating production resources and logistics.
- Deal Memo — documenting the terms of an engagement.
- Production Coordinator — supporting bookings, information and production administration.
Browse terms beginning with D or return to the filmmaking dictionary.