So you have your film fully completed, now what?

You copyright something with the copyright office.

http://www.copyright.gov/

Usually, when I want to, I just get my girl in the car and make a day of it in DC. I think it takes like forever through the mail, and when you do it in their office, you get something in hand that day that shows you applied. And they are very nice in the office down there.

But I don't know what your next steps are. Festivals?
 
Yeah I'm going right into the fests with this one and it's a learning exp. for my next film (the boxing film) that's just about completed....

Ok, so I'm on that site now and doing my DD on the forms. Thanks man..



So my next concern would be this:

I worked with the writer who I agreed to have as the producer on this film. I directed, DP'd, edited, sound, and just about everything else this short so who actually would own the film?

I might be wrong about this but I think she would own the screenplay being that she's the writter but I would own the film since I'm the filmmaker in total.

Am I wrong about that?
 
coffee said:
I worked with the writer who I agreed to have as the producer on this film. I directed, DP'd, edited, sound, and just about everything else this short so who actually would own the film?

I might be wrong about this but I think she would own the screenplay being that she's the writter but I would own the film since I'm the filmmaker in total.

Am I wrong about that?
Click to expand...

Contracts are very important...even with friends.

As the writer, she would own the screenplay outright. But if you didn't give her any money for the rights to the screenplay (or have a contract that states that she gives you the right to make a movie based on her screenplay for no money) then technically, you had no right to make that movie. If you had a verbal agreement that she would be made a producer then you should also have talked about profit sharing (though, with a short, there is probably very little chance that you'll ever see any money) and who owns what percentage of the movie. It's usually bad to go back, after everything has been done and try to negotiate.

Also, wo put up the money for the film? Was it all you or did she put in some?
 
rightfrog, thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure how it relates to my questions or maybe I just missed something there.
 
coffee said:
rightfrog, thanks for the link. I enjoyed reading it. I'm not sure how it relates to my questions or maybe I just missed something there.
Click to expand...

Sorry, didn't realize that your film was a short...thought you had a feature finished.
 
Finacially we both met half way on it all. I really did a majority of the production as well but I'm not going to fight that with her.

I'm going to call her and talk about some things right now.

Thanks man.

rightfrog said:
Contracts are very important...even with friends.

As the writer, she would own the screenplay outright. But if you didn't give her any money for the rights to the screenplay (or have a contract that states that she gives you the right to make a movie based on her screenplay for no money) then technically, you had no right to make that movie. If you had a verbal agreement that she would be made a producer then you should also have talked about profit sharing (though, with a short, there is probably very little chance that you'll ever see any money) and who owns what percentage of the movie. It's usually bad to go back, after everything has been done and try to negotiate.

Also, wo put up the money for the film? Was it all you or did she put in some?
Click to expand...
 
coffee said:
Finacially we both met half way on it all. I really did a majority of the production as well but I'm not going to fight that with her.
Click to expand...

Then I think that she would certainly be entitled to half the movie. You may have done all the production, but she wrote the script...I know it doesn't feel like the same thing, but without the script, there's no movie...just like without the production...
 
very true. i left a VM just now so we'll talk about it today at some point.

It went down like this:

she came up with most of the story
i finished and tightened the story up
we both produced it

I just needed to get some unattatched opinions on who actually should take ownership on what.
 
Yeah, I am not the best about this kind of thing with my shorts, but in general, you HAVE to get those contracts worked out IN WRITING. It will save everyone a lot of headaches. Plus, let's say IFC or someone picks up your short at a festival. Then the writer is like: "I changed my mind." Contention about ownership will basically screw any and all chances at distribution.
 
I'm so damn good at being prepared in advanced so avoid any issues. I'm 99.8% finished with this film and suddenly realized that I'm not the only one who was in on this film from the start. DOH! What the hell was I thinking?!?!

so, I'm just trying to do some damage control before any damage surfaces. Wish me luck, lol.


EDIT: Are there any agreement forms you guys have or know of that you could link me to or email me? I know I'll need to edit them to some degree but I need something to start from.

Thanks
 
This book has been so valuable to me in the industry:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/18...ref=sr_1_1/102-3133305-1238530?_encoding=UTF8

You can order it online, but a lot of Barnes & Noble/Borders carry it in the Entertainment/Film section.

And as for distribution, if you do get approached by IFC or Sundace to show your short on their network, they'll need to see all the contracts for the actors, crew, writer, director, everything before they will broadcast anything.
 
i always form an LLC for each film i make. for legal purposes, the LLC owns it and limits my personal liability for lawsuits, copyright infringement, etc.
 
cygnet74 said:
i always form an LLC for each film i make. for legal purposes, the LLC owns it and limits my personal liability for lawsuits, copyright infringement, etc.
Click to expand...

A good practice...a lot of people suggest this route, even though it's a lot of paperwork to do for each movie.
 
is there a trailer out coffee?


its alway important to have contracts before you start any production even if you're the best of friends. You'll never know till big dollars starts rolling in. Money makes some people stupid!
 
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