Release forms. Help! Any other forms, paperwork, required by distributors?

Four walling is renting out a theater to give a public viewing of your movie. If you can get someone to pay to see it, you've had your public showing.

There are several theaters in and around the L.A. area that will do this. I believe that several of them also have the capability to project material other than film.

Some people also rent these theaters to invite industry professions to a free viewing along with dinner and drinks in the hopes of interesting people in their film.

Not an endorsement, but CineSpace is an example of a theater that specializes in this. I seem to remember speaking to them a couple of years ago and they seemed pricey, but there are quite a few independent theaters that are willing to do this.

Possibly a more reasonable option would be the Landmark Theatres (which include the Landmark Theatre, the Nuart Theatre where there was a RED presentation and the Regent Theatre.)
 
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Yea... I was afraid I might be mistaking the term. Thanks.

Now if you don't need/want to invite possible distributors/buyers to watch your film you could always enter it into a million obscure festivals till one accepted it.

I need to find out more about how to sell a feature. I am planning on filming a horror with an original concept, nothing completely out of the ordinary but defenitely something that hasn't been done... definitely not something like snakes on a plane, lol...

I have heard tons about different companies but I know WAY too little about the subject. Anyone got a good thread or tips where I can start my homework?
 
Hmmm....


Business Wise:

Clearance and Copyright by Michael Donaldson

From Reel to Deal: Everything You Need to Create a Successful Independent Film by Dov S-S Simens


Artistically and Technically:

Producing Great Sound for Film and Video, Third Edition by Jay Rose

Hollywood Camera Work's The Master Course In High-End Blocking And Staging


These are just starters but very damn good for a solid foundation.


And of course:

A Guerilla in the Midst | An exploration into the art of no budget films by Stan "The Man" Harrrington!
 
For sound also check out "AUDIO Postproduction for Digital Video" by Jay Rose

"Hollywood Camera Work" DVD set is also in my list.
 
Help still.

Help still.

Okay guys I appreciate the 7 pages of responses. Although, no one answered clearly my original question.

Please can someone answer the following question. I will make this very clear;

i want to use union SAGA, AFTRA, actors, as well as non union actors.

I offered meal/ copy/ credit to all and they accepted, even the Union actors.

They just want to be in the film, period.

Theatrical and DVD distribution or non may occur, and I will pay them 0 regardless if its a success or not.

I'm a non union director/ writer of the film.

Would a standard actor release be enough for all actors, including the union actors, or do I need a special type of release for the union actors, even though they are willing to work non union.

I need to get the paperwork filled out this weekend;

Would I be safe using the following, a NDA and Actor Contract from the following website, please check out.
http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htm

There is no money for a lawyer, its this or nothing, unless anyone else has other more valid contracts or NDAs, thanks.
 
No need to call SAG then, just get a standard (but good!) waiver. I STRONGLY suggest you also say to them something and so so in front of someone else... just cause I would... I mean... if they get caught in a feature they could get in a LOT of trouble even if they had no other strikes against them. The better your movie does the higher chances they will have of getting caught... if someone loses their ability to be in SAG for life you will need to be able to look them in the eye and tell them I told you so... this is something that could piss someone off more than you imagine... just be careful, even if it isn't your falult at all... you don't want a crazy broke actor with too much time on their hands thinking YOU ruined their career and sure shot at winning an Oscar... so level with them, in front of others if you can, and cover your ass as well as you can.

At the end of the day THEY are the ones with obligations that they agreed to on a signed document, NOT you... so... I just hope for them that your movie sucks, lol... no offense of course... well I don't hope your movie sucks, I hope it is brilliant, for them too, but I hope that hardly anyone sees it if it does get released... and if it does I hope it flies under the SAG radar... I do not know how likely a feature is likely to be missed by SAG. You might want to look into that if you somehow find a way to get information on that...?

If you were paying the SAG talent the daily $100 plus health plan and other fees ($14) and taxes to the government, then you do have to call SAG and tell them about your film... they will ask you to sign the ULB contract if it is a feature, and they will assign a representative that will be telling you exactly what to do and sending you all the paperwork you will need... very simple stuff. The payments would be performed weekly and you would be sending to SAG the filled in time sheets and check for $14 portion weekly. Anyhow, the assigned rep would be there to make sure you know how to do all of this. This can be cheap enough for you to consider doing it I hope... if you do just try to stay away from overtime and meal penalties.
 
Yep, Roberto pretty well covered it...you can sign any contract you want...I think it was stated pretty clearly...you can do what you want...the only risk is the actors regardingn their standing with the union...that is not your problem really, it's theirs...If you want a contract with them so they promise never to ask you for anything then, as I said inn an earlier post, it is entirely between you two. I think all the other talk is to show you that there are inexpensive options so that everyone benefits in the end without anyone risking anything...it would be pretty sad if the career of an actor is limited or jeopardised because of a film they did gratis... Just stuff to think about...
 
Clint Nitkiewiz Hernandez said:
Okay guys I appreciate the 7 pages of responses. Although, no one answered clearly my original question.

Please can someone answer the following question. I will make this very clear;

i want to use union SAGA, AFTRA, actors, as well as non union actors.

I offered meal/ copy/ credit to all and they accepted, even the Union actors.

They just want to be in the film, period.

Theatrical and DVD distribution or non may occur, and I will pay them 0 regardless if its a success or not.

I'm a non union director/ writer of the film.

Would a standard actor release be enough for all actors, including the union actors, or do I need a special type of release for the union actors, even though they are willing to work non union.

I need to get the paperwork filled out this weekend;

Would I be safe using the following, a NDA and Actor Contract from the following website, please check out.
http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htm

There is no money for a lawyer, its this or nothing, unless anyone else has other more valid contracts or NDAs, thanks.
Click to expand...



You are asking for legal advice.


I can only discuss legal information that conforms to the disclaimer in this thread.


1st. You are welcome.

2nd. We answered your question repeatedly and in detail.

If you want to use a SAG actor under SAG terms use a SAG contract.

If not... then just use whatever contract you feel covers your interest in the manner you want them covered.

A contract is a contract is a contract.... it's the details withing that give it any worth.

One point you should be particularly aware of is that if you have a minor or person who doesn't have the capacity to contract, you need to have their guardian execute the contract for them. It is the guardian's responsibility to protect them so you must afford them every opportunity to do so.

Also, in many jurisdictions in order to have a valid contract you need to have an exchange of value. I would pay them a token sum. Maybe $10.


There are many good resources on contracts. You merely need to find one that covers your interest as you see fit.
 
stan harrington said:
...it would be pretty sad if the career of an actor is limited or jeopardised because of a film they did gratis... Just stuff to think about...
Click to expand...

This is why I think you might want to make sure they are not going to wig out on you if you chose to go this way... I hope their SAG status is not compromised.
Saying "most" of the work out there is SAG work is an severe understatement, so not being able to do SAG work is as big of a deal as you could imagine for actors.
 
Well said.

Well said.

Wow thanks so much you guys, I know you guys are experts in the subject at hand, and thanks for basically summarizing everything in a nutshell that I can use by this weekend. Whewww. I dont want to screw up an actors career at all, it makes me think of not using any SAG actors whatsoever. But the SAG actors that auditioned, damm they were good.

Why are they doing this to themselves?

They say they will act in my film, and they simply won't tell SAG? How in the world does that work? What if it gets theatrical, and on DVD and it's big. How can SAG not know as they claim? Should they act under a different name, or how can they be safe and still act in my film, and possibly to even get credits?

This is very tricky.

Thanks guys.
 
They are not doing anything to themselves.

They are merely trying to work and make a name.

Just because you are in SAG doesn't mean you will make it or even get work.

SAG benefits the working actors the most.

Don't worry about them.

Let them worry about them.

If you give them bad advice you will be the bad guy.

Bad advice is any advice given or not that they decide not to like.

Just do your job.

Let them do theirs.

They are grown ass people.

They can manage.
 
You are most certainly right that just because you are in SAG doesn't mean that you will make it...ALTHOUGH, if you are not in SAG (or lose your status with them) you almost guarantee a life of very few opportunities...and not very good ones, most likely. Any actor will tell you the struggles and anguish they feel just to get in...because they know that getting an agent is virtually impossible without being SAG...to lose that status undoes everything they worked for...I am not saying it will happen...I am just saying that this is the risk (for the actor).
 
Agreed Stan.

But you have to respect that actor's decision to work or to not work under a SAG contract just as you have to respect a producers decision to use SAG contracts or not.

Hopefully SAG will allow a contract where actors can have equity in the film as opposed to just pay.

I personally would not have someone work for "free" per se unless it was a nonprofit job or a student film.

Other than that, the actors talent and skill is essential and they should be compensated accordingly.

Otherwise, why are they in the film?
 
Where do you live? If you are not in LA or say NYC... well then even if you are in a big city like Miami or Chicago, etc... there are VERY limited opportunities to show what you are made of... and sadly, they are probably banking on the movie not getting much distribution, possibly by assumption based on where this movie is getting made if it isn't LA or NYC... even here, if you are approached by someone with little or no budget the odds are in your favor for not getting caught as you assume that the film will not amount to much... for you I hope the opposite is true. for them I hope they are right.

It is a gamble... people with strong desire and ambition take gambles, and odds are they are doing just that.

Why participate if you are hoping the film will not make it? Just for your reel and resume. It adds an other line on your resume and a feature is most likely going to help their reel a lot. Casting directors will look at them in a different way if they submit a reel, and this will be true even if they never ever heard of the movie.

So if they are gambling to get ahead quickly just understand it and level with them. That way if you get DVD release and some recognition and they all end up getting caught by SAG and banned, well you will be able to look at them in the eye which might stop them from going ahead and stabbing you with a fork at a dinner... lol... heheh.... I am sorry for the picture but you know what I am saying :)
 
Absolutely I respect that actors choice to do whatever they want...I actually have nothing against working for free either...it's not the money, it rarely is...it is the risk of losing your status...something that I personally wouldn't risk...and SAG will not recognize anything done outside of their own umbrella... It doesn't stop many from doing these jobs and rarely is anyone brought to task for it, although I seem to remember hearing in the news during the strike about a couple of people were struck, and they were just the little guys...someone else might remember more details on that...ethics, principles, right and wrong aside...I am just stating that that is the status quo.
 
Right. And I absolutely agree wit your assessment and respect your knowledge and judgment.


How can you work for free under a SAG contract with it's minimums?
 
only if it is a short film (under 35min.) and even then if the Film sells (I think regardless of how much money) you are obligated to pay them $100 plus the other fees and penalties and overtime for each day like in the ULB
 
You cannot...what I meant was that I don't do those low budget jobs for the money...I am sure actors are doing it for reel or for credtis...after tax the $100 is only $85 anyway...

sorry for the confusion...although the shorts agreement allows deferred payments...I am not very familiar with it though.
 
Also I shoot 4 hours or less at a time to avoid penalties when I am producing a film...I am very guerilla as you might have guessed...
 
the original post? ah, yes, I forgot :-)

the original post? ah, yes, I forgot :-)

the original question was what contract to sign ... ?

well, yes, sign any contract, but:

1) if you want to sell this film, the distributor won't buy it because you used SAG talent and you don't have a SAG contract

2) if this is a home movie, ok. Or if you send the movie for festivals, again, no problem

3) if you put the movie on youtube, etc., again, no problem

4) if you want to put it up for sale on a website, they won't accept it, because they don't want to get sued

5) if you use SAG talent, and a distributor really likes the film, the distributor will pay ALL the union fees, and that money comes out of what the distributor pays

6) there are other legal hassles when you use SAG talent in a non-union movie, too many to mention

In my opinion (and this has been a real learning experience for me too), your best bet is the ULB agreement.

Look at it this way, it's only good until June 3 of this year. It may never be renewed. This could be the only chance to make a SAG movie for peanuts :violin:
 
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