Music Video Production Agreement
Short Description
A comprehensive legal template for contracting a music video. Annotated with accompanying notes....
Description
VIDEO PRODUCTION AGREEMENT This agreement (“Agreement”), effective as of _____, 2015, is between __________ (“Artist”) with an address of __________________, and _____________ (“Producer”), with an address at _____________________________. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, Producer has recognized expertise in video production; and WHEREAS, Artist wishes to engage Producer to record a music video featuring Artist performing a song titled “_____________” (the “Video”). NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. PRODUCTION SERVICES 1.1. Producer shall provide Artist with the video recording and production services (hereinafter “Production Services”) described within this Agreement. 1.2. Principal photography shall begin on ____________, 2015. Producer shall make Delivery, as defined herein, of the Video to Artist no later than _________, 2015. “Delivery” shall consist of delivery of (i) a fully edited sound synchronized video master, and (ii) all other recorded elements created during production including but not limited to all audio tracks, video footage and outtakes. Delivery will not be deemed to have occurred until Artist accepts the Video as suitable for commercial exploitation. 1.3. Producer shall provide the Production Services to Artist promptly with the degree of skill, attention and due care that is standard practice within the professional Production Services industry. 1.4. Producer and Artist agree that the budget attached in Schedule A shall represent 100% of the funds required to produce the Video (hereinafter “Budget”). This amount represents the Producer’s total anticipated costs and profit. The Budget should include all costs for producing the video including producer and director fees as well as post production editing costs. For examples of music video budgets ranging from “shoestring” to “commercial/studio” budgets, see http://garrettgibbons.com/musicvideobudgets . 1.5. If the Producer hires a director (hereinafter “Director”), the Director shall be an employee of the Producer for purposes of the production and Delivery of the Video. 1
1.6. All employees and representatives of Producer providing the Production Services hereunder to Artist during the Term of this Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes (including all compensation, taxes and employee benefits) to be employees or representatives solely of Producer, and not to be employees or representatives of Artist or to be independent contractors of Artist. 1.7. The Video shall depict content to be included in a treatment or script to be approved by Artist prior to principal photography. 2. GRANT OF RIGHT: WORK MADE FOR HIRE This clause transfers all rights to the person (or company as the case may be) commissioning the Video. 2.1. Production Services provided by the Producer and any other person providing such Services shall be deemed to be provided on a “work made for hire” basis as that term is defined under the U.S. copyright law. The Video and all other materials created or contributed by the Producer including all footage, outtakes and audio tracks (the “Materials”), shall be the sole property of Artist throughout the universe, free from any claims whatsoever by Producer; and Artist shall have the exclusive right to register the copyright(s) in such Materials in her name as the owner and author thereof and to secure any and all renewals and extensions of such copyright(s). 2.2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Artist and any person authorized by Artist shall have the unlimited exclusive right, throughout the universe, to manufacture or create copies of the Video or any other Materials by any method now or hereafter known, or any work derived from the Video or the Materials and to sell, market, transfer or otherwise deal in same under any trademarks, trade names and labels, or to refrain from such manufacture, sale and dealing. 2.3 Artist or any Person authorized by Artist shall have the right throughout the universe, and may grant to others the right, to reproduce, print, publish, or disseminate in any medium the name, portraits, pictures, likenesses and biographical material concerning Producer and Director any other person providing Production Services, as news or information, or for the purposes of trade, or for advertising purposes, in connection with promotion marketing and sale of the Video. As used in this Agreement, “name” shall include, without limitation, any professional names. 3. COMPENSATION 3.1. The Parties agree that the Effective Date of this Agreement shall be as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement (hereinafter “Effective Date”). The parties acknowledge that the total amount of the attached Budget is___________ Dollars ($_____). 2
Within five (5) days of the Effective Date, Artist shall pay Producer 50% of the Budget, that is, _________ Dollars ($_____). The second payment of 25%, that is, _________ Dollars ($_____), shall be due upon completion of principal photography. The third and last 25% payment of ________ Dollars ($_____) shall be due upon Delivery of the Video and other Materials to Artist. 3.2. Overages. In regard to overages to the Budget, Producer shall not charge Artist any monies in addition to the approved Budget without Artist‘s prior written approval. 4. NOTICES Notices, reports, accountings or other communication which Producer or Artist may require or desire to send to the other must be delivered either by: Certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties at the addresses first written above or other address to be designated by Producer or Artist as the case may be; or Electronic mail at the following addresses: (i) for Artist: _________@___.com (ii) for Producer: ___________@___.com 5. ASSIGNMENT Producer may not assign this Agreement or any right or obligations under this Agreement. Artist may assign this Agreement or any of her rights or obligations hereunder to any person, firm, or corporation including a corporation in which Artist is a principal, provided that (i) Artist shall remain responsible for any payments required to be made under this Agreement, and (ii) the assignee has the necessary cash on hand to make any payments required under this Agreement. 6. WARRANTIES AND INDEMNIFICATION 6.1. Producer warrants and represents that he has the legal right to enter into this Agreement including the legal right to sign on behalf of the Director. Producer further warrants and represents that (a) all content contributed by the Producer shall be original and not interfere with or violate any rights of any third party; and (b) no content appearing in the Video, including artwork or photography, will interfere with or violate any rights of any third party. 6.2 Producer warrants and represents that he shall provide valid signed releases from any third party performing or appearing in the video, and that he shall, if legally required, secure valid signed location releases from any location appearing in the video. Acceptable forms of release are attached hereto as Schedule “A” and “B” respectively. The attached releases may be used as Schedules A and B. Note that the releases allow the Producer to assign the rights secured in the releases to the Artist. 3
6.3. Producer and each of his representatives, employees, contractors, agents and representatives hereby release, indemnify and agree to hold harmless Artist and her agents and representatives from and against any and all losses and/or damages which arise out of the Production Services. 7. TERMINATION Artist may terminate this Agreement upon written notice in the event of a material breach by Producer, including late delivery of the Video, if such breach is not cured within 2 days of notice thereof. If such breach is not cured within that time, Producer shall not be entitled to any additional payments and, upon notice by Artist, Producer shall refund to Artist any monies previously paid. 8. MISCELLANEOUS 8.1. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted under the laws of the state of ________ without regard to its choiceoflaw rules, and the parties shall submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that state. Since the Artist is the party paying money in this Agreement, the Artist should have the right to decide in which state any dispute arising from the Agreement should be litigated. 8.2. Relationship of Parties. Producer and Artist shall have the relationship of independent contractors. Nothing herein shall be construed to place Producer and Artist in the relationship of principal and agent, employer and employee, master and servant, partners, or joint venturers, and neither party shall, either expressly or by implication, have represented themselves as having any authority to make contracts in the name of, or binding on, each other, or to obligate the other in any manner. 8.3. Complete Agreement. Producer and Artist acknowledge that this Agreement represents the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the Producer and Artist with regard to the subject matter herein, and that it supersedes any proposal or prior agreement, whether oral or written, and any other communications between the Parties relating to the subject matter of this agreement. 8.4. Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be found invalid or unenforceable, then such provision shall not invalidate or in any way affect the enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement. UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED: [ARTIST’s NAME] 4
_______________________________ [NAME OF PRODUCER] _______________________________ SS #____________________________ If the Producer is a production company or LLC (“Production Company”), the president or managing partner should sign the personal guarantee below: In order to induce Artist to enter into this Agreement, I hereby agree and acknowledge that (a) I have read all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and (b) I shall be personally bound by all the terms and conditions in this Agreement applying to the Production Company, and that I shall be personally liable for any breach of this Agreement by Production Company. PRESIDENT OR MANAGING PARTNER _______________________________ Print Name: _____________________ Position: ________________________
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PERSONAL RELEASE To ______________ (“Producer”) Address I understand that Producer is producing a video containing the performance of a song titled “_____________” (the “Video”). For good and valuable consideration, including my desire to appear in the Video, I irrevocably grant to Producer, his licensees and assigns the right to film, videotape, portray and photograph me, my likeness and my performance, and to record my voice and other sound effects, and the right to use them or any portion thereof, and my name and any biographical facts which may have been provided to Producer, in connection with the production of the Video and the advertising, promotion and publicity therefor, and all rights of every nature whatsoever in and to all films, video, portrayals, photographs, performances and recordings produced hereunder (“Material”), including without limitation all copyrights therein and renewals and extensions thereof, and the exclusive right to reproduce, exhibit, distribute and otherwise exploit the Material in whole or in part in perpetuity throughout the universe in all languages, in any and all versions (including digitized versions) and forms, and in any and all media now known or hereafter devised. Independently and apart from any consideration accruing to me hereunder, I hereby release Producer and Producer’s authorized designees from, and covenant not to sue Producer and Producer’s authorized designees for any claim or cause of action, whether known or unknown, for libel, slander, invasion of right of privacy, publicity or personality, or any other claim or cause of action, based upon or relating to the exercise of any of the rights referred to herein. I understand that nothing herein will require Producer or Producer’s designees actually to produce or utilize any Material hereunder. This grant is irrevocable so that Producer may proceed in reliance thereon. This instrument contains the entire understanding of the parties, may not be changed or terminated except by an instrument by Producer and me and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of ______, provided that the courts of the state of __________ shall have exclusive jurisdiction to resolve any disputes arising from this Release. Dated:______________________ Authorized Signature ______________________________ [Print name] 6
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