Release Forms -- Model / Talent / Location etc.

Patrick Coker · November 15th, 2002, 07:45 PM

I tried it out and it works fine on my Mac, thanks a lot. And I will follow through with my promise when I get the package, LOL.

Richard Alvarez · November 25th, 2002, 01:36 PM

Bruce is correct,"Compensation" is indeed necessary for the contract to be binding. "Valuable consideration" is another form of compensation. THis can be anything they accept.

Chris Korrow · November 25th, 2002, 03:49 PM

Bruce wrote;
>as long as you have not used the footage , picture, image, etc. to harm a person or their reputation or presented them in an untrue light.<

What about Saturday night live & such when they put bogus questions to a presidents speech and make him look foolish? Are public forums open market?

And do documentaries fall under the same laws. Say interviewing someone on the street, or a collage professor for a "professional opinion"?

Chris

Brian M. Dickman · November 25th, 2002, 04:30 PM

Indigenous Pictures has a couple of different releases (Minor, model, location, and musician releases) all ready to go in PDF format, as well as other various handy video tips.

http://www.indigipix.com/videotips.htm

Richard Alvarez · November 26th, 2002, 08:25 AM

I find this book to be a useful starting point.

"Contracts of the Film And Television Industry" by Mark Litwak

Becky McMillen · November 26th, 2002, 11:11 AM

Now I know where to go. I'll try those sources.

Will Fastie · March 31st, 2003, 05:05 PM

As I was searching for release samples, I happened upon this thread. There is one point in here that may be confusing.

For a contract, consideraton is necessary.

However, a release is supposed to work in exactly the opposite direction, which is to avoid the necessity for consideration. You want the person(s) to say, in effect, "You don't owe me anything, now or ever." That's a lot stronger than a release for which you pay even $1.

I'm not a lawyer, so use the appropriate grain of salt.

One thing I did ask my IP attorney about was having a release signed by parents for footage of a minor child. His report to me was that there was no statute covering this and that once the child reached majority, the child could sue anyway. Weird.

Will

Adrian van der Park · April 1st, 2003, 05:19 AM

Dylan,

those releases are kinda sketchy under canadian and british columbia law.

For a complete CYA, get the women in film producers handbook.
A friend lent me hers and it's chock full of stuff that is directly applicable for you.

http://www.womeninfilm.ca/producers_wb.html

Basically, if you have non union actors, then you might be able to enforce that release if it ever came to nastyness.

However, if you get the handbook, you'll see that there are releases for using union actors with deferred payment etc.
If you are serious enough to use releases, then I also recommend that you keep a tally of your total expenses for the project. Because if someone says you made money, then you can show all your expenses and say you have yet to turn a profit. ;)
Making money and profit are entirely different things, and most deferred payment scemes, at least the good ones, allow you to pay actors after you turn a profit.

Adrian

Dylan Couper · April 2nd, 2003, 01:31 AM

So far, I'm non-union, so I'm not as worried about it.
That's actually a fairly old post. I think someone since posted better releases, which I've switched to. Although I haven't had to use one for a while now.

Michael Estepp · May 13th, 2003, 06:56 PM

Does anyone have some stardard release forms? Or know what info has to be on them?
Thanks
Michael

Dylan Couper · May 13th, 2003, 07:10 PM

What type of release forms?

Check out the business forum FAQ

Alex Knappenberger · June 7th, 2003, 09:12 PM

Hey, is there some kind of form I can print out and have people sign that appear in my videos, stating all the legal stuff and all? Where could I find this to print out?

Thanks.

John Locke · June 7th, 2003, 09:20 PM

Hi Alex,

You'll find several standard releases here...including talent, location, etc. (It's an RTF file)

Alex Knappenberger · June 7th, 2003, 09:33 PM

Thanks. My simple mind doesn't understand some of it though.

Where it says "Therefore, in exchange for________________I hereby freely and without restraint consent...."

In exchange for what? Screen credit? Money?

"Whereas _____________________ (the "Producer") is engaged in a project (the "Video/Film"), and"

Do I sign there? heh.....i'm retarded.

Chris Hurd · June 7th, 2003, 10:00 PM

Usually you throw a buck (at least) to whoever is in it. When I got releases, I'd have a clipboard and a bag full of one dollar bills. The point is that they're compensated. Doesn't matter that it's just a dollar. Legally, they've been paid.

November 15th, 2002, 07:45 PM	#16
Patrick Coker Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn,New York Posts: 169	works great I tried it out and it works fine on my Mac, thanks a lot. And I will follow through with my promise when I get the package, LOL. __________________ ...all I need is a crumb!

November 25th, 2002, 04:30 PM	#19
Brian M. Dickman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 148	A couple more release forms Indigenous Pictures has a couple of different releases (Minor, model, location, and musician releases) all ready to go in PDF format, as well as other various handy video tips. http://www.indigipix.com/videotips.htm

November 26th, 2002, 11:11 AM	#21
Becky McMillen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Scottsbluff, NE USA Posts: 43	Thanks! Now I know where to go. I'll try those sources.

April 1st, 2003, 05:19 AM	#23
Adrian van der Park Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London, England Posts: 87	Dylan, those releases are kinda sketchy under canadian and british columbia law. For a complete CYA, get the women in film producers handbook. A friend lent me hers and it's chock full of stuff that is directly applicable for you. http://www.womeninfilm.ca/producers_wb.html Basically, if you have non union actors, then you might be able to enforce that release if it ever came to nastyness. However, if you get the handbook, you'll see that there are releases for using union actors with deferred payment etc. If you are serious enough to use releases, then I also recommend that you keep a tally of your total expenses for the project. Because if someone says you made money, then you can show all your expenses and say you have yet to turn a profit. ;) Making money and profit are entirely different things, and most deferred payment scemes, at least the good ones, allow you to pay actors after you turn a profit. Adrian __________________ Adrian van der Park VFX modeler London, England

April 2nd, 2003, 01:31 AM	#24
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	So far, I'm non-union, so I'm not as worried about it. That's actually a fairly old post. I think someone since posted better releases, which I've switched to. Although I haven't had to use one for a while now. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

November 25th, 2002, 01:36 PM	#17
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Bruce is correct,"Compensation" is indeed necessary for the contract to be binding. "Valuable consideration" is another form of compensation. THis can be anything they accept.

November 25th, 2002, 03:49 PM	#18
Chris Korrow Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Whidbey Is, WA Posts: 326	Bruce wrote; >as long as you have not used the footage , picture, image, etc. to harm a person or their reputation or presented them in an untrue light.< What about Saturday night live & such when they put bogus questions to a presidents speech and make him look foolish? Are public forums open market? And do documentaries fall under the same laws. Say interviewing someone on the street, or a collage professor for a "professional opinion"? Chris

November 26th, 2002, 08:25 AM	#20
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	I find this book to be a useful starting point. "Contracts of the Film And Television Industry" by Mark Litwak

March 31st, 2003, 05:05 PM	#22
Will Fastie Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jarrettsville, MD Posts: 353	As I was searching for release samples, I happened upon this thread. There is one point in here that may be confusing. For a contract, consideraton is necessary. However, a release is supposed to work in exactly the opposite direction, which is to avoid the necessity for consideration. You want the person(s) to say, in effect, "You don't owe me anything, now or ever." That's a lot stronger than a release for which you pay even $1. I'm not a lawyer, so use the appropriate grain of salt. One thing I did ask my IP attorney about was having a release signed by parents for footage of a minor child. His report to me was that there was no statute covering this and that once the child reached majority, the child could sue anyway. Weird. Will

May 13th, 2003, 06:56 PM	#25
Michael Estepp Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 95	Release forms? Does anyone have some stardard release forms? Or know what info has to be on them? Thanks Michael

May 13th, 2003, 07:10 PM	#26
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	What type of release forms? Check out the business forum FAQ __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

June 7th, 2003, 09:12 PM	#27
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Release forms? Hey, is there some kind of form I can print out and have people sign that appear in my videos, stating all the legal stuff and all? Where could I find this to print out? Thanks.

June 7th, 2003, 09:20 PM	#28
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Hi Alex, You'll find several standard releases here...including talent, location, etc. (It's an RTF file) __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

June 7th, 2003, 09:33 PM	#29
Alex Knappenberger High School Student Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA Posts: 609	Thanks. My simple mind doesn't understand some of it though. Where it says "Therefore, in exchange for________________I hereby freely and without restraint consent...." In exchange for what? Screen credit? Money? "Whereas _____________________ (the "Producer") is engaged in a project (the "Video/Film"), and" Do I sign there? heh.....i'm retarded.

June 7th, 2003, 10:00 PM	#30
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Usually you throw a buck (at least) to whoever is in it. When I got releases, I'd have a clipboard and a bag full of one dollar bills. The point is that they're compensated. Doesn't matter that it's just a dollar. Legally, they've been paid. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!