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From script to screen, protect every deal along the way

Professional film and TV contracts for filmmakers, studios, investors, actors, directors, writers, and crew. We've got you covered at every stage, from development through financing, production, and distribution.

Every contract has been drafted and reviewed by a Harvard Law entertainment attorney.

Find the right contract

Producer Agreement

Hire an independent producer to run your film, series, or video project — fee structure, deliverables, approval rights, credits, and IP ownership.

Production Company Agreement

Hire an outside production company to physically produce your film, series, commercial, or branded content — fixed budget, payment milestones, deliverables, approvals at script, casting, rough cut, fine cut, and final master, IP ownership, insurance, and optional completion bond and audit rights.

Actor & Performer Agreement

Hire an actor or performer — day rate, overtime, travel, credit, and residuals.

Director Agreement

Hire a director — creative control, director's cut, compensation, and backend participation.

Screenwriter Agreement

Hire a screenwriter — treatment, drafts, revisions, payment schedule, and credit.

Crew Deal Memo

Short-form hire for any crew member — rate, dates, credit, equipment, and overtime.

Composer Agreement

Hire a composer for an original score — spotting, demos, publishing rights, and screen credit.

Appearance Agreement

Book an actor or entertainer for a one-time appearance — premieres, conventions, fan events, and press tours.

Actor Endorsement Agreement

For actors partnering with a brand — campaigns, sponsorships, premieres, and press tours. Covers endorsement rights, deliverables, exclusivity, and compensation.

Social Media Manager Agreement

Hire someone to manage your social media accounts — posting schedules, content calendars, analytics, and account access.

Stylist Agreement

Hire a wardrobe stylist, hair stylist, or makeup artist — rate, kit fee, credit, and cancellation terms.

Option & Literary Rights Agreement

Option a book, article, or life story for adaptation — option fee, purchase price, and rights.

Location Agreement

Film on private property — location fees, access hours, restoration, and insurance.

Life Rights & Depiction Release

Option a real person's life story for a scripted film, series, or podcast — option fee, purchase price, fictionalization rights, releases, and consultant role.

Documentary Subject Release

Get an interviewee's consent to record and use their participation in a documentary or non-fiction podcast — broad release, editorial control, and optional withdrawal window.

Sync License Agreement

License music for your film, TV show, commercial, or game — sync fee, territory, and usage terms.

Hired Services Agreement

Hire a photographer, videographer, editor, designer, or other creative professional for production stills, BTS coverage, key art, posters, or trailer cuts.

Venue & Facility Rental Agreement

Rent a soundstage, studio, or location — access times, equipment, insurance, and deposits.

Merchandise Licensing Agreement

License film or TV IP — title, key art, and characters — to a merch vendor that designs, produces, and sells branded goods, with royalty splits and approval rights.

Merchandise Manufacturing Agreement

Produce film/TV release merch — branded apparel, posters, and collectibles using key art and approved artwork, with licensed-IP warranties for studio-owned IP. You'll own and sell the goods.

Distribution Agreement

License a finished film to a distributor — fees, advances, windowing, and reversion rights.

Investor Agreement

Raise private financing for a film — investment amount, recoupment priority, profit waterfall, executive producer credit, and audit rights.

Event Participation Waiver

On-set extras, stunt rehearsals, casting calls, and film school workshops — risk acknowledgment, medical authorization, and media release.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

Keep scripts, budgets, casting, and deal terms confidential.

LLC Operating Agreement

Form a production company — ownership percentages, profit splits, and governance.

How to choose the right film or TV contract

Find the situation that fits your project, then open the contract type that may be relevant.

Common Deal Situations

Find the situation that matches your deal and go straight to the contract that fits.

Key Terms To Understand

Chain of title: The paper trail showing who owns each right in a project, from source material through every contract, proving you have the rights to make and sell it.
Option: A temporary, often exclusive right to develop or buy material within a set window, usually for a smaller upfront fee.
Purchase price: The amount paid to fully acquire rights if an option is exercised.
Life rights: Permission from a real person to portray their life or story, often with a release of certain claims.
Work made for hire: An arrangement where the company paying owns the work from the start, rather than the writer, director, or crew member.
Deliverables: The specific items a person must hand over, such as drafts, footage, cuts, or final masters.
Approval rights: The right to review and sign off on key creative or business decisions before they are final.
Credit: How and where someone's name appears on the finished project and in marketing.
Location release: Written permission to film at a specific place, with terms for access, conduct, and restoring the space.
Sync license: Permission to pair a piece of music with visual content like a film, show, or video.
Insurance: Coverage that pays for certain losses, injuries, or damage during production.
Indemnity: A promise by one party to cover certain losses or legal costs the other party faces because of the first party's actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contracts do I need before starting production?

Cover four things: the script (a Screenwriter Agreement or Option & Literary Rights Agreement), the people you hire (Producer, Director, Actor, and Crew agreements), the places you film (a Location Agreement), and any music you use (a Sync License Agreement). Lining these up early protects your right to finish and sell the project.

What is chain of title?

It is the paper trail showing you own or have licensed every right in your project, from the source material through each contract. Buyers and distributors require it before they take on a film.

Do I need a location agreement?

Yes, whenever you film on property you do not own. A Location Agreement sets access times, fees, conduct, and how you restore the space, and it gives you written permission to use the footage.

Do I need a separate agreement for actors and crew?

Yes. Actors and crew sign different agreements suited to their roles, covering pay, credit, usage rights, and ownership of their work.

Can I use existing music in a film or video?

Only with permission. A Sync License Agreement covers pairing a recording with your visuals. Using music without clearance leads to claims or takedowns.

What are common warning signs in film and TV agreements?

These are common issues to watch for in any film and TV agreement:

Ownership of the script or project is left unclear
Option or literary rights are missing
Actor, crew, or location paperwork is missing
Music used without a license
Deliverables are vague or undefined
No timeline for approvals
Credit terms are unclear
No written permission for real people, locations, or third-party materials

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