Actors working for percentage contracts

J

jchenier

Well-known member
Can anyone point me in the direction of samples of contracts that give actors a percentage of profits in return for working on a project. I'm getting closer to shooting and have verbal agreements with my cast in place, but I'm looking for some guidance to put something in writing. I'm going to go the legal route, but I'd like to have something to start with BEFORE I visit the lawyer (contract guy, although not entertainment).

Anyone?

Thanks,
Justin
www.beyondtimemedia.com
 
they are hard to find because they are laughable and nobody wants to show anybody what they signed so they could be in a movie !!!! many are worded almost like a NDA so you can't let others see the agreements ...
from my experience !
why bother with a "% of profits " legal mumble jumble...
IMO just write one up and take the $$ you would have spent on a lawyer and treat them to better lunches ...
contracts are always written so there are no net profits ...
i have always found that the more pages in a contract the less likely there will ever be net profits ..

why not give them deferred payment at 3X SAG rate. if you are not a LLC or corporation then they do NOT own a piece of the action and therefore would not have any liability if something goes haywire .. you could add in addition to deferred that if it earns over X $$ then X % would be divided between cast & crew ..

the only time i've ever received point share $$$ has been on hand shakes never a written contract...
 
I remember reading a thread on % for actors and everyone saying thats not how you should pay them because it could lead to the biggest headaches if by chance you do make it big with the movie.
I think what was said was that they just should get a day rate. The problem with % is that you run into really complicated taxes and you create a ton of paper work that you have to handle should the movie take off.
Another one of the reasonings was that they are just hired as actors and have no ties to the project so why pay them for all the hard work you did as producer, writer, director or what have you. If you are going to give them % then why not give the same deal to everyone that works on the peice.
There were other things said but these are the 2 that stood out to me.
 
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