Home/Film & TVFilm & Television/Producer Agreement

Producer Agreement

For a production company, studio, network, streamer, brand, or financier hiring an independent producer to run a film, series, or video project — covers the producer's fee, payment schedule, deliverables, approval rights, credits, and who owns the finished product.

Want to hire an outside production company to physically produce the project instead? See the Production Company Agreement.

Drafted by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

More about this contract

How would you like this contract?

Pick an option to continue.

$50

Custom Contract

Answer a few guided questions and we'll create your contract with your answers built in. E-sign or download when you're done.

Answer a few questions

About 2 to 5 minutes

$50

Editable Template

Download a blank version in Word or PDF that you fill out yourself. Every spot to fill is highlighted in yellow.

Get the blank template

Download instantly

Is this the right contract for your project?

This contract is built for hiring a producer to develop, package, or oversee a film, show, or video. It fits projects that need a clear producer role, a set fee and any back-end, agreed credit, defined approvals, and clear ownership of the work.

Good fit for

Production companies or studios hiring a producer
Filmmakers bringing a producer on to package a project
Financiers engaging a producer to oversee a production
Projects that need clear credit and ownership terms
Producers setting their fee, back-end, and approvals

You may also need

Production Company Agreement - when a company will deliver the full production
Director Agreement - when hiring a director for the project
Investor Agreement - when raising money from investors
Distribution Agreement - when releasing the finished project
Non-Disclosure Agreement - before sharing private project details

Before you start

It helps to have these details on hand before you create your contract:

The producer's name and role
The project title and format
The producer fee and payment timing
Any back-end or profit share
How the producer will be credited
Who owns the project and underlying rights
Which decisions the producer can approve
Whether the role is exclusive and for how long

What's Inside This Contract

Production services

Sets the producer's role, duties, and what they deliver on the project.

Compensation

Covers the producer fee, payment timing, and any back-end or profit share.

Ownership and intellectual property

States who owns the project and the underlying rights.

Representations and warranties

Confirms each side has the right to enter the deal and meet its promises.

Insurance

Sets the insurance the production carries for the work.

Term and termination

Covers how long the deal lasts and how it can end.

Disputes and general provisions

Covers standard terms such as notices, how disputes are handled, and signatures.

Points Worth Negotiating

The producer fee and any profit share
How the producer is credited
Who owns the project and underlying rights
Which decisions the producer can approve
Whether the role is exclusive and for how long

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a producer agreement?

It hires a producer to develop or oversee a project. It sets the fee, any profit share, credit, and who owns the work.

How is a producer paid?

Through a fee, plus a share of profits or back-end on some deals. The agreement sets out both and how profit is calculated.

What is the difference between a producer agreement and a production company agreement?

A producer agreement hires an individual producer for their services. A production company agreement hires a company to deliver a full production.

Who owns the project?

Ownership is negotiated. Most deals give ownership to the company or financier, with the producer paid a fee and credit. The agreement states this clearly.

What should I have ready before creating it?

Have the producer's role, the fee and any profit share, how the producer is credited, who owns the project, and which decisions the producer can approve.

Should I choose the custom contract or the editable template?

Choose the custom contract to answer a few questions and have it filled in for you. Choose the editable template if you prefer a blank version with labeled fields to complete yourself.

What are common warning signs in a producer agreement?

These are common issues to watch for in any producer agreement:

Unclear ownership of the project
Vague description of producer duties
No clear credit terms
No definition of how profit is calculated
No termination terms

Create Your Contract Browse all Film & Television Contracts