Talent release responsibility

DGW

DGW

Well-known member
Hi, all...
I have been asked by a marketing firm out of state to shoot a live wrestling event in my hometown and then to supply the footage to them on a hard drive for them to produce a finished product. I will be using (4) P2 cameras each of which will be capturing around 2 hours of footage from 4 different angles. Shots will include the audience and wrestlers from two Universities. The marketing firm tells me that they will be handling all the releases and permits.

Do I have any liability here in filming this event and supplying them with footage for which my Company personally will have no releases for people in the footage? This is an open to the public live event. I hate to assume that the marketing firm will obtain releases for anything in the footage that they use, but they claim that they will.

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
I'm no lawyer, but as I understand it, you could very well be held liable. My advice is to discuss this openly and candidly with the company hiring you, and make you they state plainly in your contract the extent of your liability. Even then, I can't be sure you're safe. Only a qualified attorney can truly answer that one.
 
This is a work for hire where they own the footage and final product? If that's the case you're no different than a producer hiring a DP for a shoot. The DP has no liability for the production, why would you?
 
Yes, they would own the footage (although I would be selling it to them). Snazzy - I felt that way also but just not sure. I will be meeting with my attorney tomorrow as a precaution. Thanks both for your input.
 
Please post what you find. If you're selling it to them then I would say that you absolutely have to worry about the release and not them. They would be fools to purchase the material if you don't have releases.
 
They are hiring me and my crew to shoot the footage. They will be supplying a director to ensure we capture the footage, camera angles, CU's, etc. that they need. They will take the footage at the end of the event and edit, produce and deliver a marketing promo to their customer. That's the scenario. I will post any updated legal info I receive. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top