contract for a partnership on a film at DVinfo.net

John Abbey · May 23rd, 2011, 10:22 PM

I have been asked by another production company to work together on a film that I have already been working on myself for a year and half. The other person is a good story teller and editor, and I am a good shooter. He wants to get my footage to date and start working on turning it into a decent film. My question is what is the best way to write up a contract that states all footage is mine, and he can only use it for editing our film together. If things go south I dont want him taking my footage and using it for his own purposes, anymore than he would like it if I took his story idea and used it without him. I am of course nervous about handing over all my work to a new person I don't really know (but the guy has a good track record). anyone been in this situation before and have some insight and experience. I want it all in writing before moving forward..thanks much

Brian Drysdale · May 24th, 2011, 09:23 AM

I suspect you need to write a co-production agreement outlining the terms between both parties and in the event of the production collapsing what's going happen to each of your work to date. You may have to define what constitutes a "production collapsing" and what happens to the "joint work" itself at that point.

John Abbey · May 24th, 2011, 01:32 PM

good idea, that was the direction I was going...

Adam Gold · May 24th, 2011, 01:38 PM

I would be very, very suspicious and paranoid if I were you. Make sure you get a good lawyer involved. I just have a very bad feeling about this. I've just seen this type of thing go bad too many times when you do all the work and he gets all the credit and money down the road.

May 23rd, 2011, 10:22 PM	#1
John Abbey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 133	contract for a partnership on a film I have been asked by another production company to work together on a film that I have already been working on myself for a year and half. The other person is a good story teller and editor, and I am a good shooter. He wants to get my footage to date and start working on turning it into a decent film. My question is what is the best way to write up a contract that states all footage is mine, and he can only use it for editing our film together. If things go south I dont want him taking my footage and using it for his own purposes, anymore than he would like it if I took his story idea and used it without him. I am of course nervous about handing over all my work to a new person I don't really know (but the guy has a good track record). anyone been in this situation before and have some insight and experience. I want it all in writing before moving forward..thanks much

May 24th, 2011, 09:23 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: contract for a partnership on a film I suspect you need to write a co-production agreement outlining the terms between both parties and in the event of the production collapsing what's going happen to each of your work to date. You may have to define what constitutes a "production collapsing" and what happens to the "joint work" itself at that point.

May 24th, 2011, 01:32 PM	#3
John Abbey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 133	Re: contract for a partnership on a film good idea, that was the direction I was going...

May 24th, 2011, 01:38 PM	#4
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: contract for a partnership on a film I would be very, very suspicious and paranoid if I were you. Make sure you get a good lawyer involved. I just have a very bad feeling about this. I've just seen this type of thing go bad too many times when you do all the work and he gets all the credit and money down the road. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."