Question, If I put together a documentary for internal purposes and somewhere down the road a network channel (NBC, Military, Discovery Channel etc) wanted to air it and I was NOT seeking any financial compensation would there still need to be release forms and legal paperwork on both ends?

Does seeking "Rembursment for the purchase of equipment" constitute financial gain on my end and if so how does that change the direction of the film?

This question is promoted from the Music I am using as well as thoes people in the film.

Thanks, Chris

You will need releases from everyone who appears in the film. You will also need to have the music rights cleared. Depending on the source of the music, this could get pretty tricky. If you are using stock production music, then there will be a procedure for clearing the rights when you purchased it. Often this is a 'step' deal, with the price going up depending on the level of broadcast release.

Hello Richard, as far as releases go, anyone who appears in the film as in "On camera where one could pick them out of a crowd?!??"

Chris

The answer is yes. Discovery and all the other networks require releases from interviewees, stock footage and music clearances, and work for hire paperwork from everyone you employed on the shoot/edit.