Somebody wants to use my short movie for a TV show

M

Movie_Dude_3

Well-known member
I just got a message from somebody through Vimeo asking if he could use my short movie, 'Entity' for a "cable access tv show here in Minneapolis about student short films". The guy gave an address to send to in Bloomington, so it seems legit.

I did the short flick about three years ago, and it was done on a consumer JVC miniDV. I just want to know what I should ask for - paperwork? A signature? More information on the TV show? It sounds like a good oppurtunity, but my Ackbar senses are sounding off a little bit, could be a trap.
 
Always get everything in writing, even if you aren't receiving money for it. Make sure the paperwork contains all details pertaining to the project - what your film is going to be used for, what kind of distribution he is looking at for his show and how your film fits into that, all the details. Then make sure he signs it, and you sign it if you're comfortable with it.
 
Here's the deal, he sent me last night:

"Sure no prob - It's a cable access show, so no one makes any money. I'm spending my own money to produce it and I'm not getting any money back in any way, shape or form, so there's no need to sign a release.

It hasn't started yet, we're taping the first 6 episodes on June 29th. The show will be a half hour and consist of showing student shorts and my interviewing local student film makers about their films.

In the Minneapolis area, each city has it's own cable access channel, so it will air on all the channels that want to run it - at whatever time / day they can fit it in. Since I'm not editing the shorts, it will air after 11pm so as not to violate FCC regulations on profanity, etc.

After each episode airs, I'll be posting the complete episode online, so folks outside the Twin Cities can see it, too.

Any other questions?"
 
even if you're giving it away for free, it's still a form of distribution and exhibition and the terms and limits of that deal need to be spelled out.
 
Thanks guys for the feedback. I told him thanks but no thanks, I won't go ahead with anything without the proper paperwork.
 
jambredz said:
even if its legit...i don't like how he starts off at all. duno why
Click to expand...

I think its you don't have to sign a release form... is what gets you...

1. I would make sure that you're not liable for anything...
2. That you're only allowing him to air the show this one or two times... that you still retain all rights to your short etc...
 
If he's going to showcase local student filmmakers, I wonder why he's interested in your film since you live in Florida.
 
It just sounds like a kid who liked your movie and wanted to use it in a show he's excited about producing that's probably going to get a total audience of 2.

So long as he puts his signature on a piece of paper saying he won't sell your film to anyone, I'd let him have it. It's not going to hurt you for people to see your film.

That's my perspective anyway. :)


//edit: heck, it doesn't even need to be paper. He can email it over. If I can sell content internationally to TV stations over email, I doubt you should be too worried here.
 
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