Film Contracts: What You Need To Know (5 Downloadable Templates)
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Webinar hosted by: Jordan Barel
Producer, Writer, Publisher, Entertainment Attorney at Loaded Barrel Studios
Jordan Barel began his career as a short filmmaker before creating his own entertainment company, Loaded Barrel Studios, publishing graphic novels. His work has won numerous international awards, including the Independent Publishing Book Awards (2012, 2013), The LA Book festival, the Geekie Awards ®, and many others. His studio currently tours around the country and sells their graphic novels in several languages around the world. The company was founded as a way to translate comics to films, leading Jordan to option his books and screenplays with producers such as David Uslan, Brendan Deneen, Jeffrey Erb, and Aaron Berger. He’s developed at studios such as Chatrone, Unique Features, and Leomark Studios in the independent film space. Currently, several of his books are optioned to film companies. Previously Jordan was an Entertainment Attorney who has worked in Business Affairs for New Line Cinema, Generate, Alloy, and AMC. He switched from legal to creative and served as the Television Coordinator for Verve Talent & Literary Agency working with all of the company’s TV writers on their pitches and presentations for staffing season. Currently, Jordan works in development for Producer/Actor Paul Scheer and Abominable Pictures in their comedy and TV department. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
"Very informative and complex concepts were broken down so folks without a law degree could understand them." - Elisha B.
When you are putting together a deal as a writer, producer or filmmaker there are many things to think about when it comes to your contracts - between option agreements, purchase agreements and negative pickups it's important you understand what deal you're getting yourself into before you start development.
Your Stage 32 Educator is entertainment attorney Jordan Barel, who's a California attorney that has worked with AMC, New Line Cinema, Generate and Alloy. He is also a producer who develops projects based off IP and started out as the television coordinator at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.
You will cover three different types of contracts: purchase agreement, option agreement, and negative pickup. Jordan will discuss terms in both a legal and practical matter so that you get the information needed to be prepared to negotiate your next agreement. Such things will include material and boilerplate terms, what can or can't be negotiated, and how lawyers themselves will be reading and reviewing your agreement.
This will be an in-depth, but accessible, legal discussion walking you through each part of a standard purchase and option agreement.
Plus! You'll get 5 contract templates to download!
What You'll Learn
Topics Covered:
- Types of Contracts
- Purchase Agreement - When someone buys your script
- Option Agreement - when someone buys the right to develop your script
- Negative Pickup - when someone buys your film (producers only)
- Clauses
- Standard - basic contract language
- Material - the language you need to look out for
- Boilerplate - comes with every contract (but there are still traps!)
- Negotiations
- What can you negotiate?
- What can't you negotiate?
- Questions
- What to ask to find the red flags before signing
- What to ask for based on your specific needs
- Attorney
- When to call one in
- When to save your money
- What are templates?
- Examples & Templates
- Option Purchase Sample Agreement
- Option & Literary Purchase Agreement
- Option & Purchase Agreement - Underlying Rights
- Motion Picture Writer Agreement
- Sample Work-Made-For-Hire Agreement
- Q&A with Jordan
About Your Instructor
Jordan Barel
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Reviews Average Rating: 5 out of 5
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Janet Goodman This webinar reiterates for me the importance in hiring an entertainment attorney who will wade through those contracts. -
Zlatan Mustafica Little all over the place, but generally okay. For those who are not used to "legal speak", this probably came down to "get yourself a lawyer" - plain and simple. But it can be helpful to those individuals with some legal knowledge in highlighting and explaining certain areas of the contract world as done by Jordan.
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