Film and TV Contracts

Get permission from a property owner to use their site as a location in a film or TV production with this template Location Permission and Release form.

• The property owner gives the production company permission to use the property as a film location and releases the producers from future claims for loss or damage.
• The production company can use the location for filming for the period of time specified in the Release.
• The property owner consents to letting the production company bring in the necessary equipment and personnel to complete the shooting.
• Never ever film on private property without getting consent. That's why you need this Location Permission and Release Form for your movie or TV production.
• Available in MS Word format.

If any items or equipment on a film shoot are lost or damaged, this Loss and Damage Report form should be filled out and submitted to your department head.

• Crew members can use the Loss and Damage Report to file a report of theft, loss or damage to sets, props, costumes, tools, set dressing, greens or equipment during the film shoot.
• The form will then be used as backup documentation for an insurance claim.
• The report lists the person(s) responsible (if known) and any witnesses to the incident.
• The department head is responsible for submitting the report to the production manager.
• The Film Production Loss and Damage Report form is an essential part of the insurance claim documentation. Download this free sample and give copies to all departments.
• Available in MS Word format and fully editable so you can customize it to fit your needs.

Acquire the services of a make-up artist to do character and special effects make-up for a motion picture with this Make-Up and Special Effects Agreement.

• The make-up artist is retained as an independent contractor, not as an employee.
• The make-up artist is responsible for maintaining and storing the effects for a specified period of years after shooting wraps on the film.
• The make-up artist will consult with the producer at all stages of designing and completing the make-up effects.
• In addition to a fixed fee, the contractor will be paid a percentage of the merchandising net profits from exploitation of the effects.
• The producer agrees to pay SAG scale compensation for crew required for set operations, and SAG pension and health ⁄ welfare plan contributions.
• The make-up artist is responsible for paying all of its employees, and for supplying all materials and supplies used to create the make-up and special effects.
• All rights (including all proprietary rights) in and to the effects are the property of the producer, and the producer agrees not to disclose details of the design or manufacture of the effects, except as required for merchandising or for subsequent productions.

Download this Make-Up and Special Effects Agreement template and create specialized contracts for your film shoot without spending all of your budget on legal fees.

Sign up non-union employees to work on your film project with this USA Motion Picture Crew Deal Memo (Non-Union).

• The crew member's employment is to be exclusive to the production.
• The Deal Memo is not a guarantee of employment or a guarantee that the producer will use the employee's work in the motion picture.
• Overtime must be approved beforehand. No compensation is paid for days not actually worked, including sick days and holidays.
• The producer will provide transportation, accommodation, meals and per diem for out-of-town locations.
• The employee will not be reimbursed for the use of his/her vehicle and mobile phone unless approved by the production manager.
• Provisions for box / kit rentals. The producer is not liable for loss or damage unless caused by the producer's negligence.
• The employee's services are provided on a "work made for hire" basis, and all proceeds belong to the producer. The producer has the right to use the employee's name and likeness for press kits and promotional materials.
• Drug and alcohol use at work is grounds for immediate dismissal.
• The employee will receive a screen credit at the producer's discretion.
• This contract is governed by U.S. laws.

This Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement template favors the film's producer instead of the distributor.

• The producer grants the distributor exclusive rights to distribute, license and exploit the picture in all countries throughout the world except for the United States, its territories, and English-speaking Canada.
• These rights extend to theatrical, home video, free and pay television distribution, exhibition, marketing and exploitation.
• The rights granted do not include the right to produce other pictures, or sequels or remakes, or any TV series, programs or other ancillary rights to the picture. The ancillary rights and all other rights in the film are reserved to the producer.
• The producer has paid or will pay all production costs, taxes and charges with respect to the picture.
• The distributor will pay a non-refundable advance guarantee upon execution of the Agreement.
• Gross receipts will be allocated firstly to the distribution fee, then to recoupment of any advance and recoverable delivery expenses, market and promotional expenses incurred by the distributor. The net proceeds will be paid to the producer.
• The producer will have a lien and security interest on the gross receipts and distribution contracts. As security for payment of the producer's share, the distributor grants a lien and security interest over all of the distributor's interest in the picture and in all proceeds realized by the distributor from exploitation of the picture.
• The file includes a Schedule of Delivery Requirements and a Schedule of Minimums.

Most distribution deals are heavily weighted in the distributor's favor. This Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement changes the deal in favor of the producer instead.

Have you found an investor to put production money into your feature film? Put it in writing with this Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement.

• The investment funds will be paid into an escrow fund, to be released to the production company only after certain conditions have been met, including execution of the film completion guaranty.
• The investor will be repaid its investment amount, plus interest, from net profits of the film's domestic theatrical release. The investor will also participate in the net profits over and above its investment, up to a specified percentage.
• The investor will have approval rights with respect to the budget, casting, producer, director, and distribution of the film.
• A movie will never get off the ground if you don't have the money to make it. Download the Motion Picture Investor Financing Agreement for your contracts library.
• Available in MS Word format and fully editable to meet your specific needs.

Prepare a Motion Picture Lock Agreement with this free template for film producers.

• This is a simple 1-page contract available in MS Word format.
• Downloadable, fully editable.
• This is a free generic form that can be used anywhere.

License the film merchandising rights to a distributor with this Motion Picture Merchandising Agreement template.

• The distributor gets an exclusive license within the defined territory to manufacture, advertise, distribute and sell merchandise that incorporates names, characters, and events from the film
• In return, the distributor will pay the film producer a guaranteed minimum compensation amount (a fixed amount paid as an advance against the percentage royalty), and a percentage royalty based on the current wholesale price of the licensed products.
• The producer must approve all products, packaging, labels, advertising, display materials and copyright notices to be used in connection with the licensed products.
• The distributor agrees to protect the producer's property rights and goodwill, and acknowledges that all goodwill and all rights to the materials created by the distributor are the exclusive property of the producer.
• All licensed products must carry the producer's copyright and/or trademark notices (as applicable).
• The distributor must carry standard product liability insurance and advertiser's liability insurance during the term of the Agreement.
• Upon termination of the Agreement, the distributor will have a 90-day period to dispose of all products already manufactured, so long as the Agreement was not terminated for cause.

This Motion Picture Merchandising Agreement template is available as a MS Word download, which is fully editable and customizable to fit your needs.

Prepare a Theatrical Distribution Agreement for a single motion picture with this standard form template.

• The distributor gets exclusive and unrestricted rights to the theatrical, television and home video exhibition, distribution and exploitation of the picture, in all languages and versions, including music rights, dubbed or titled versions, and the right to edit the picture as the distributor deems necessary.
• The distributor also gets ancillary rights, including literary and music publishing rights, merchandising, soundtrack recording rights, and the right to produce additional pictures, sequels or remakes of or based on the picture.
• The producer reserves non-theatrical distribution of the picture for its own use.
• The producer has paid or will pay and discharge all copyright claims and all other claims and rights with respect to the picture and all elements, including music, contained in the picture.
• The distributor will have no contractual obligation under any contract or license made by the producer in connection with the picture.
• The distributor will not be responsible for any payments to performing rights societies, unions and organizations, or for payment of any taxes or other amounts owing in connection with the distribution or exhibition of the picture.
• The distributor will have complete, exclusive and unrestricted control over the distribution and exploitation of the picture (directly or through any sub-distributor or licensee).
• The producer will be responsible for securing any necessary import permits or licenses.

1. Delivery Manifest,
2. Definition of Gross and Net Receipts,
3. Certificate of Authorship,
4. Short-Form Assignment,
5. Certificate of Origin.

This standard form Motion Picture Theatrical Distribution Agreement is a comprehensive and customizable template that includes all the paperwork you need to get the deal done.

Prepare a Production Budget Summary for shooting a music video with this 8-page worksheet template, which contains sections for:

• above the line expenses (story and music rights, producer, director, cast, miscellaneous expenses);
• production expenses (production staff, camera, set design, construction, striking, set operations, electrical, set dressing, props, visual and special effects, make-up, hair, wardrobe, locations, transportation, atmosphere, tests);
• post production expenses (picture editing, sound editing, lab, music).

The Music Video Production Budget Summary is set up in MS Excel to calculate your totals when you enter the figures. Fast, easy to use - download it for your next video shoot.