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At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
The Area Standards Agreement (ASA) covers IATSE film and TV production work in designated U.S. areas, distinct from the IATSE Basic Agreement. These areas are classified as “Maryland,” “Non-Maryland,” “DC,” “Maine,” and “National.”
Applies to productions in:
Example: A grip from Georgia working on a shoot in Florida gets Maryland rates.
Applies to productions in:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan (outside Southeastern MI), Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada (outside Las Vegas), New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh only), Puerto Rico, San Diego (CA), South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Example: If a Georgia production moves to Iowa, workers get Non-Maryland rates.
Job classifications have a very wide range of titles. See the Rate Finder for the list.
The IATSE Long-form Sideletter for the West Coast outlines specific labor rules and conditions for members who are involved in long-form, high-budget television productions filmed on the West Coast. This sideletter, a result of negotiations between IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), acts as an addendum to the primary IATSE Basic Agreement. Find more information like job classifications, scale rates, and more in our Rate Finder tool.
The IATSE Videotape Agreement is a collective bargaining agreement between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It outlines the terms and conditions of employment for below-the-line entertainment workers in the videotape and live television production industry. This includes various productions such as live television programs, talk shows, awards shows, and sports broadcasts.
Updated in 2024, the agreement now includes improved wages, enhanced benefits, and new protections, notably those addressing AI technology. It operates in conjunction with the Basic Agreement to safeguard workers' interests.
The East Coast can get a little tricky if you’re used to working with West Coast agreements.
IATSE Local 52—Motion Picture Studio Mechanics (From Dept Heads Drapery, Electrician, Grip & more. See Rate Finder for more job classifications.)
IATSE Local 52—Motion Picture Studio Mechanics (From Dept Heads Drapery, Electrician, Grip & more. See Rate Finder for more job classifications.)
IATSE Local 52—Motion Picture Studio Mechanics (From Dept Heads Drapery, Electrician, Grip & more.)
IATSE Local 161—Script Supervisors and POCs (See Rate Finder for detailed occupational codes, job classifications, and more.)
IATSE Local 161—Script Supervisors and POCs (See Rate Finder for detailed occupational codes, job classifications, and more.)
IATSE Local 764—Theatrical Wardrobe (Think Broadway. East coast Wardrobe Heads and more.)
IATSE Local 798—Make-Up and Hair Stylists (East Coast heads of departments and additional stylists, see more here.)
IATSE Local 829—United Scenic Artists (From Art Directors on the East Coast to Journey Scenic Artists.)
The Basic Crafts Agreement comprises a set of collective bargaining agreements between several Hollywood unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). These agreements, frequently negotiated in conjunction, establish the wages, benefits, and working conditions for many "below-the-line" film and television crew members.
Key aspects of these agreements and the unions involved include:
IATSE and Basic Crafts agreements are complex, and with so many locals and sideletters to navigate, keeping them straight is no small task. Whether you’re working on the East Coast, West Coast, or anywhere in between, reliable rates are essential for both paying your crew and planning your budgets.
The Rate Finder tool makes it easy to pull the right rates fast—and we’ll continue to share more educational content to help you stay informed and confident in every production decision. Give it a go.
Navigating union contracts can feel like decoding a new language—especially when you’re trying to reliably pay your crew, stay compliant, and/or budget. Remembering the details across IATSE’s many agreements, plus the Basic Crafts contracts, can be tough, so we’ve put together this quick overview to help you keep track. Each section includes a brief summary of what the agreement covers and how it connects to job classifications—all of which you can explore in the Rate Finder.
The IATSE Basic Agreement is the master contract between IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). It establishes the minimum wages, benefits, and working conditions for crew members across live and recorded entertainment on the West Coast. It covers things like rest periods, meal penalties, health and retirement benefits, and more recently, protections against artificial intelligence.
Beneath the Basic Agreement are a number of specific locals, each representing different crafts and departments:
Covers roles ranging from prop makers to drapers. See the Rate Finder for the detailed list of job classifications.
Includes first aid staff and grips, from supervisors to head camera crane operators. Job classifications are available in the Rate Finder.
Represents camera crew from directors of photography to still photographers. Explore the Rate Finder for the complete list of roles.
Covers production mixers, supervising engineers, and other sound professionals. The Rate Finder has all classifications for this Local.
Includes dailies colorists, music film editors, foley artists, librarians, and more. See the Rate Finder for a complete breakdown.
Represents costumers such as drapers, shirtmakers, cleaners, and others. Job classifications are detailed in the Rate Finder.
From department heads to wigmakers, this Local covers all makeup and hair professionals. Check the Rate Finder for classifications.
Represents rigging technicians, chief lighting technicians, and more.
Includes head paint foremen, decorators, color mixers, and additional crafts.
Covers art directors, illustrators, matte artists, scenic/title/graphic artists, set designers, and model builders.
Includes script supervisors and continuity roles. Use the Rate Finder to see detailed classifications.
Focuses on teachers and welfare workers, most often connected to productions with minors. The Rate Finder contains classification details.
Represents costume designers, including those working in television (half-hour and more). Find classifications in the Rate Finder.
The IATSE Low Budget Theatrical Agreement applies to films produced on smaller budgets. It establishes budget tiers (Ultra Low, Tier One, Tier Two, Tier Three, etc.) that scale minimum wages and fringes according to a project’s total budget. Productions that exceed tier caps by more than 10% may need to make retroactive adjustments up to Basic Agreement rates.
This agreement makes union crews more accessible to low-budget producers while ensuring essential protections for workers.
