Legal Issues

[JJS1138]

I just realized that we may need to start thinking about some legal issues.

For example, releases. If this project goes as well as we all hope and there are shots at film festivals or some sort of distribution, not having releases for actors, locations and so forth on-hand could prevent these from happening (especially distribution). Maybe having a general release from each filmmaker, stating that they have acquired all necessary permissions, may work, but I'm not sure.

[Filmmaker82]

Hi,
okay - first of all let me just say that we don't know where this project is going...we have no way of knowing if it will ever be distributed or just make a lot of media buzz but I agree that preplanning is essential so lets all try to come up with a standard legal form that we would use to sign our actors and location master on allowing us to show what we shot at our disposal - there must be an easy way to do this right?
Any ideas anybody?
Oded.

P.S.
there will probably be a need for two forms - one, that you would sign whoever you shoot on and another that you would sign yourself and send to me allowing me to show the footage - right?

[Yan]

Yes,

All the filmakers and people who appear in it needs to sign release forms. The problem that you may encounter (say this film gets made and it gets distributed) is that although the people have agreed to be in your movie they might be offended that a photo of them appear in some magazine for publicity or they might turn around and say "I didn't authorize my photo to be used on the poster" or whatever. A lot of people want to be in movies, but they get upset when they see thier face plastered in a magazine they don't like or unfortunately say this film gets a bad review or some smartass copy writer writes an unflattering line beneath it like "This complete moron sceams in fear from "The Coming." It happens and if you have a release form, well what happens is they have no legal recourse.

Also for film makers you might want to make out contracts of some kind saying they are working for you film and providing footage of your film and you are again authorized to use this any way you want. I know it's all better to work in an "honour" system, but people get nervous and stuff and recently someone literally stole my idea for my documentary and is selling it as if it's her own. things happen!

Yan

[astralpictures]

There's a simple solution to this. Oded should create a contract and email it out to all of the filmmakers on this project giving him right to use our footage. As for actors, we should all come up with our own release forms and make sure we send them in with the footage. Maybe Oded shouldn't accept any footage where the actors havent signed a release form. The forms can be very basic, just saying that the actor gives permission for us and Oded to use their image on screen and for promotional uses. Also add something about how the actor can not demand any profit from the film if there is any. Basically anything to protect ourselves.

[Filmmaker82]

sounds about right,
Yan - thanks again for providing me the "template" for the contract, I'll be sure to mail it to everyone just as soon as I'm done rewriting it to fit our project.
Oded.

[crackedvision]

Oded,

How's that contract coming?
I haven't been on in a few days, so I'm a bit late coming to this thread...
If you need any help, I just made up the release forms for the talent for my feature...

Let me know!
~ Stephen

[Filmmaker82]

HI Stephen,
I'd appreciate it if you can send me a copy of the contract you wrote for your feature, I will be going to Berlin tomorrow night for work so I won't be online for several days but feel free to send it to [e-mail].
BTW - I'd appreciate it if anyone here could soread a few messages to the threads here telling everybody that I will be in Berlin from tomorrow night til thrusday and so I will not be able to answer posts until then.
Thanks a bunch everybody!
Oded.

[Jeff Hahn]

send me one too!