Protect Your Film: Work for Hire Legal Agreements

You've finally got funding for your indie film, but have you protected your script?

The film industry is built on ideas, and protecting your intellectual property is critical. Without proper legal agreements, you risk losing control over your work. As an indie filmmaker, I've been through the struggle of making a low-budget movie. Protecting your script is crucial, and that's why I find the topic so valuable.

WHY IT MATTERS:

A Work for Hire Legal Agreement ensures that you, the producer, own the rights to the script. It protects your investment and gives you the power to decide how the film is made.

THE BIG PICTURE:

When hiring a screenwriter, it's important to understand the concept of a Work for Hire Legal Agreement. This agreement stipulates that the writer is creating the script as an employee of the producer, and therefore, the producer owns the copyright. This agreement must be signed before the writer starts working on the script.

ZOOM OUT:

In the film industry, intellectual property is king. Without legal agreements, writers could potentially claim ownership of the script they wrote, leading to legal battles and even halting the production of a film.

ZOOM IN:

In the film "Juno" (2007), written by Diablo Cody, a Work for Hire Legal Agreement was used to protect the script. The production company, Mandate Pictures, owned the rights to the script and was able to control the final product.

ACTION ITEMS:

• 👉 Draft a Work for Hire Legal Agreement before hiring a screenwriter.

• 👉 Make sure the agreement is signed before the writer begins working on the script.

• 👉 Consult with an entertainment lawyer to ensure the agreement is legally binding.

SEE IT IN PRACTICE:

• 🎬 "The Florida Project" (2017), directed by Sean Baker, with a budget of $2 million.

• 🎬 "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006), directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, with a budget of $8 million.

• 🎬 "Whiplash" (2014), directed by Damien Chazelle, with a budget of $3.3 million.