Understanding the Business of Entertainment

Chapter 12Entertainment Contracts

Introduction

Having examined profit participations, let’s now look at other important terms usually included in contracts for rights acquisition, for writers, directors, actors and producers. We’ll start with option/purchase agreements, since these are often the very first agreements negotiated in connection with an entertainment project.

Please note that the contracts discussed in this book are all film-related contracts. Why make this choice? Because many readers may be interested in independent filmmaking and might one day be directly responsible for negotiating several kinds of contracts. Making an independent television show is nearly impossible, so for those of you who end up in television, odds are you ...