Contract for indie film?

[Scott Delish]

Well in a short film I am going to make this summer I have a big question... I'll be having a 16 yr old girl starring in it with one of my co-stars who is 18 and they are going to possibly kiss (It'll be digital) but I need to know, do I need a contract to even use her in a film if it's going to be in film festivals? If so does anyone have a contract that I could give to her parents for the use of her in my projects?

[George Kroonder]

Unless they have been emancipated anyone below the age of majority cannot enter into a contract. The age of majority in most states is 18.

You sould always obtain proper releases for talent as well as for (intellectual) property and locations, especially if you intend wider distibution.

George/

[Scott Delish]

Originally Posted by George Kroonder

Unless they have been emancipated anyone below the age of majority cannot enter into a contract. The age of majority in most states is 18.

You sould always obtain proper releases for talent as well as for (intellectual) property and locations, especially if you intend wider distibution.

George/

How would I go about this? I got rights to shooting locations and that stuff, but do I need her parents to sign something for her or what?

[Martin Pauly]

Originally Posted by Scott Delish

do I need her parents to sign something for her or what?

Yes. Her parents will need to sign a release on her behalf. Not just because of the "digital kiss", whatever that is, but because a release for all actors and extras is part of the regular legal documentation for a movie. If you want to distribute it later or show it at a festival, you may need all this paperwork.

I don't know if the kiss requires anything special. I know that for nudity or sex scenes, a separate rider is typically attached to the acting release, so that there's no question that the specific details of those scenes were disclosed and agreed upon. But for a simple kiss, I really don't know...

- Martin

[Scott Delish]

Originally Posted by Martin Pauly

Yes. Her parents will need to sign a release on her behalf. Not just because of the "digital kiss", whatever that is, but because a release for all actors and extras is part of the regular legal documentation for a movie. If you want to distribute it later or show it at a festival, you may need all this paperwork.

I don't know if the kiss requires anything special. I know that for nudity or sex scenes, a separate rider is typically attached to the acting release, so that there's no question that the specific details of those scenes were disclosed and agreed upon. But for a simple kiss, I really don't know...

- Martin

Actually they won't be kissing, but the positioning of the camera will make it appear as if they were, but a majority of the film won't have anything more than this.