Posted on October 20, 2009 in Contracts and Law, General Screenwriting | No Comments
by Skip Press
Dollars and Sense
~~ Monica P. asks: What does it mean to be offered $XX ‘against’ $YYY, for your screenplay? For example, does one price ‘against’ another mean that the writer is paid $XX now, with an additional $YYY later if the film is actually produced? Or does it mean that you’ll either be [...]
Posted on October 6, 2009 in Contracts and Law | 2 Comments
Don’t Just Make Your Points, Define Them!
by Jeremy Juuso
Points? Points? What on earth are those things people keep promising me when I work on a film?
A friend of mine said recently she ran into a name actor at Crate & Barrel. She’s a bit new to producing and had actually been pursuing this actor through [...]
Posted on October 6, 2009 in Contracts and Law | 1 Comment
Every person that works in film will at some point have to create a contract. Here are a few simple reminders of what to include:
…In the world of freelancing, the entrepreneur has to take on a number of tasks for themselves that would normally be handled by a separate department at a bigger company. Most [...]
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Posted on September 30, 2009 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
Saw this on the Pro Tools blog. Sadly sometimes things are funny because they’re true. Can you relate?
VIA: zeorge497
Produced by Scofield Editorial, Inc.
Casting Agency: Artistic Enterprises
Casting Director: Michelle Moore
Video Store Customer: David Meek
Video Store Clerk: Nick Krcek
Restaurant Customer (Male): Andy Guerdan
Restaurant Customer (Female): Andrea Gregory
Server: Landon Mitchell
Chef: Ron Pinkney
Hair Stylist: Chris Cones
Salon Patron: Anna [...]
Posted on September 23, 2009 in Contracts and Law | 2 Comments
Do you need permission to use every single trademarked item in your shot? Michael C. Donaldson may have an answer that will surprise you.
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Posted on August 6, 2009 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
Mark Galsor and Jesse Saivar tackle the question – how binding is a letter of intent when it comes to producers?
…A true letter of intent is as binging as your To Do list, or at least it should be. You intend to do the things on your To Do list, but if you don’t [...]
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Posted on April 27, 2009 in Contracts and Law, Featured | 62 Comments
Looking to make a film but need a little help with the paperwork? We’ve painstakingly searched the internets and collected 588 free forms and contracts to help get you started.
Now before we start, everyone repeat after me: “THIS ARTICLE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PROPER LEGAL ADVICE”
You probably won’t need all of these forms for [...]
Posted on April 15, 2009 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
Eric M. Greenfield of Flowtv discusses the real legal facts filmmakers and producers must consider for “Based On a True Story” dramas and “Reality TV.”
…Based on a true story.” “Inspired by actual events.” “The [insert name of real person here] story.” Well, maybe.
Networks love to market a telefilm’s roots in actual events and real people. [...]
Posted on November 30, 2008 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) has put together a group of “boilerplate” contracts and forms for their television commercial production company members. You can find more information here.
Contracts:
aicp.next New Media Contracts and Riders
Standard Commercial Production Agreement
Sequential Liability Addendum (Members-Only Service)
Forms:
Permit Checklist
Location Code of Professional Responsibilty
Filmmakers Code of Conduct [...]
Posted on August 24, 2008 in Contracts and Law | 1 Comment
From: Center for Social Media
Download full report (PDF)
INTRODUCTION
WHAT THIS IS
This document is a code of best practices that helps creators, online providers, copyright holders, and others interested in the making of online video interpret the copyright doctrine of fair use. Fair use is the right to use copyrighted material without permission or payment under [...]
Posted on August 22, 2008 in Contracts and Law | 1 Comment
In this article attorney Thomas A. Crowell covers the basic legal issues of filming logos, images, designs and other copyrighted materials.
…When the director yells “action,” what the camera captures can spark lawsuits. All it takes is one suddenly inspired art director to place an uncleared Warhol print on the wall of the hero’s apartment or [...]
Posted on August 7, 2008 in Contracts and Law | 1 Comment
By Jon M. Garon
Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, PC
This is part of a series of book excerpts from Independent Filmmaking, The Law & Business Guide for Financing, Shooting & Distributing Independent & Digital Films designed as an introduction to the many legal issues involved in the filmmaking process.
To obtain the right to make a movie [...]
Posted on July 28, 2008 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
By Jon M. Garon
Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell, PC
This is part of a series of book excerpts from Independent Filmmaking, The Law & Business Guide for Financing, Shooting & Distributing Independent & Digital Films designed as an introduction to the many legal issues involved in the filmmaking process.
A typical film company of even modest size quickly [...]
Posted on July 13, 2008 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
I’ve found one of the most overlooked aspics of indie filmmaking is legal paperwork, even though it is as necessary as sound and images. It can be overwhelming trying cover all of your legal bases. Here is a great checklist from Entertainment Attorney Mark Litwak to help you make sure an overlooked item [...]
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Posted on July 13, 2008 in Contracts and Law | No Comments
What are Deal Memos, are they contracts, what should they contain and what else should I know about them? Fred Ginsburg answers these questions and more in this informative article.
…Deal Memos are the term that independent producers use for employment contracts. Since the word “contract” implies something legally detailed and binding, the term [...]
