Producing : Any issue letting DP use shots for reel before film is released/sold? by Danny Villanueva Jr.

No issues that I know of.

No footage or behind the scenes photos should be released, or used, until your film is released theatrically or on DVD/Digital.

I'm curious as to your reasoning behind that, Lindberg. A DP reel is used to show a potential employer style and execution. A couple of shots used in a reel cannot harm the releasability of a movie. In most cases it can take over a year from production to release yet the DP will want to find more work during that time.

I know sometimes stills and even trailers are released online during festival runs before distributors pickup a film.

To clarify, and avoid confusion - yes, promo materials can be used - behind the scenes stills and video and even cutting your own trailer - to attract a distributor; footage for actors/DP reels shouldn't be used until the movie is released (you can, as a producer or director authorize its use), but it's discouraged since what's used in the reels may give away story points, twists and revelations. So having that go out in reels before a film is released can have a negative impact that's why it's not done. I was at an event where Shane Hurlbut, the DP on Terminator Salvation & Act of Valor, was presenting. He talked about the challenges on his latest movie, and flat out said he was 'given permission to use the footage here today'.

So it isn't so much that no footage or behind the scenes photos should be released, or used, until your film is released but more that a producer should be careful. Is it discouraged to allow some footage for a DP's reel as long as no story points, twists and revelations are given away? Even at that event, the DP was given permission so it seems that in most cases it's okay to do so.

If you have the footage use it. Reels are only to provide excuses for not hiring you. In decades I have NEVER been asked what project shots were from. If part was from a not yet released picture how would anyone know as they will not have seen the picture?

Frankly most people demanding reels have no clue as to what they are watching and why footage was chosen for a reel. And they don't ask.

I have shot 47 released features. Produced a few too. Any smart DP gets use of footage spelled out in his contract, so this is ironed out before the shoot, not after.

That said, since there has in the last decade become a lessened respect for a DP and her or his contribution to the movie once it's "in the can", it's one thing to define things like access to footage, or supervision of color grading, in a contract; it's much different to enforce that clause once you have wrapped.

A DP may be able to specify they get a personal clone of RAW files for demo purposes after release; not everyone will go for this, no doubt, but if you can leave set with footage you know you can cut and grade to best advantage later, you are way ahead.

At least in this digital era you are not asking for an expense incurred to get footage; when we shot on negative it could be rare to get current footage for a reel; you'd sometimes have to pay to screen a print for a producer considering you.

Royce, do you see any issues with distribution if a producer allows the DP of their unreleased feature to use some of the footage for their reel?

I love feeds that just turn into an education.