Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
A Practitioner's Guide to Key Provisions In Film Director Agreements
Film remains a director's medium, considering that the director will always give shape and vision to the writer's words. Further, the director is frequently involved in the creation of the script, so that his or her vision may be more readily realized. The cost of first-time independent films is going down, as smartphones may be used to create all the footage. As the ability to tell a story in short form becomes more readily accepted, the director's influence may be more important than the financier's or the other talent.
This article discusses many of the principal terms of an agreement between an independent film production company and a film director.
Loan-Out Corporations
As in any agreement, an understanding of who the parties are to the agreement is essential. While many films are financed through a variety of sources, and with funding from multiple companies, it is unlikely that the party engaging the director to perform services would be any company other than the one that is actually, physically producing the picture. Equity investors or lenders are not typically engaging the director. In turn, the production company must also own the rights to the script, engage the line producer, other producers, the actors, the unit production manager and other personnel, all of whom will provide services to the production company to create the single motion-picture copyright. A theatrical motion picture contains contributions from possibly hundreds of people and companies, each of whom must sign an agreement granting rights in their contributions as a "work made for hire" to the production company under the U.S. Copyright Act.
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.
CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys
Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.