(Executive) Producer Employment Agreement
(Executive) Producer Employment Agreement
(Executive) Producer Employment Agreement
(Note: In this agreement, the term “Producer” with a capital “P” could refer to a studio,
production company or other financing entity that is engaging the producer’s services.)
DATE: __________
EMPLOYEE: __________
1. Development:
(e) "Set For Production": The Picture shall be "set for production" when the
final screenplay and budget have been approved by Producer the principal cast
members and director have been engaged and a definite start date has been
scheduled for commencement of principal photography.
2. Production:
(b) Production Services: Employee shall render such production services whenever
and wherever Producer requires in a competent, conscientious and professional
manner, having due regard for the production of the Picture within the budget
and as instructed by Producer in all matters, including those involving artistic
taste and judgment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) Employee shall not make any material changes in the final shooting script of
the Picture, or in the shooting schedule or budget, without Producer's
specified written approval in each case.
(ii) Employee shall not make or authorize any firm commitment for services,
rights, credits, facilities, equipment or materials, and shall not use, license or
record any music for the Picture, without Producer's specific written consent
in each case and all such services, rights, facilities, equipment, materials and
music shall be contracted for by Producer in Producer's name. The Picture
shall be produced at Producer's studios utilizing Producer's production
equipment and services or at such other studios and locations as shall be
approved by Producer in writing. All post-production work for the Picture shall
be performed at Producer's studios or post-production facilities utilizing
Producer's post-production equipment and services (including by way of
example, but not limited to, editorial rooms, video operations and rerecording
stages).
(iii) Employee shall not render, during the exclusive employment period (including
periods of suspension, subject to Paragraph 11 below), any services for
Employee's own account, or for others without Producer's written consent in
each case.
(iv) Producer shall have the right to review all script changes, artwork, dailies,
sound recordings and other materials created in connection with the Picture
at such times and places as Producer determines.
(v) Employee shall fully comply with all of Producer's legal clearance procedures
with respect to the content of the Picture including, but not limited to,
clearance of scripts, props, set dressing and other visual elements.
(c) Further Services: If, after the expiration or termination hereof, Producer requires
further services of Employee for retakes, added scenes, visual effects, looping,
post-synching, publicity interviews, personal appearances, stills and similar
services, Employee shall render such services, subject to Employee's next
professional availability, without additional compensation to Employee.
(d) Disposition of Assets: Everything purchased, built, designed or created for the
Picture (including, by way of example but without limitation, props, set dressing,
set pieces, wardrobe, vehicles, equipment and supplies of all kinds, and original
artwork such as sketches, storyboards, renderings, models and blueprints) shall
at all times be deemed assets of Producer. Employee shall not sell, give away,
promise or otherwise dispose of any such assets without the prior written
approval of Producer's senior management. At or before wrap all assets are to
be inventoried and returned to Producer either at Producer's studio or at such
other place as Producer may designate. Any disposition of assets by Employee
contrary to the foregoing shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
(i) $5,000.00 upon the later of commencement of Employee's services, and the
services of a writer engaged in connection with the Picture to be supervised
by Employee, and execution of this Agreement.
(ii) $5,000.00 upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in subparagraph 3(a)(i)
above and the earlier of completion of all development services required by
Producer from Employee hereunder, or abandonment of the Picture, or
Producer's setting the Picture for production.
(iii) 10% thereof on completion of dubbing and scoring of the Picture; provided,
however, if principal photography has not commenced by the date which is 9
months after the date of payment made under subparagraph 3(b)(i) above,
then said 10% shall be payable 9 months after the date of payment made
under subparagraph 3(b)(i) above.
(iv) 10% thereof on delivery of the answer print of the completed Picture, provided
Employee shall have completed all production services required by Producer;
provided, however, if principal photography of the Picture has not
commenced by the date which is 12 months after the date of payment made
under subparagraph 3(b)(i) above, then said 10% shall be payable 12 months
after the date of payment made under subparagraph 3(b)(i) above.
(a) General: If Employee's principal residence is more than 50 miles from a location
where Producer requires development or production services ("overnight
location"), Producer shall furnish and pay for, or reimburse Employee for the cost
of: (i) round-trip transportation, first class if available, by air if appropriate,
between such residence (or from wherever Employee then may be, if closer) and
(i) On the screen in all positive prints of the Picture, on a separate card (shared
only with other persons receiving credit in the same capacity).
(ii) In paid advertisements, in a size of type not less than 35% of that used for the
"Title”.
(b) General: References to the "Title" are to the regular as opposed to the artwork
title of the Picture. Any reference to the "main titles" are to the credits, whether
before or after the body of the Picture, where the "directed by" credit appears.
Credit will be given only if the Picture as first generally released was produced
substantially under the direct supervision of Employee as the sole [individual]
[executive] producer thereof, and only if this Agreement has not been
terminated for Employee's breach. No casual or inadvertent failure to comply
with billing requirements, nor the failure of any third party so to comply, shall be a
breach of this Agreement. The sole remedy for a breach of any of the billing
provisions of this Agreement shall be the recovery of damages in accordance
with the dispute resolution provisions set forth below, it being agreed that in no
event shall Employee seek or be entitled to injunctive or other equitable relief for
breach of any of the billing requirements hereof.
6. Rights:
(a) Ownership: All results and proceeds of every kind of the services heretofore and
hereafter to be rendered by Employee in connection with the Picture, including
without limitation all ideas, suggestions, themes, plots, stories, characterizations,
dialogue, titles and other material, whether in writing or not in writing, at any time
heretofore or hereafter created or contributed by Employee which in any way
relate to the Picture or to the material on which the Picture will be based
(collectively, "Material"), are and shall be deemed to be works made for hire for
Producer. Accordingly, Producer is and shall be considered the author and, at all
stages of completion, the sole and exclusive owner of the Material and all right,
(b) Alteration Rights: Employee hereby grants Producer the right to change, add to,
take from, translate, reformat or reprocess the Material in any manner Producer
may in its sole discretion determine. To the fullest extent allowable under any
applicable law, Employee hereby irrevocably waives or assigns to Producer
Employee’s so-called "moral rights" or "droit moral". Employee expressly
acknowledges that many parties will contribute to the Picture and other works
that will embody all or part of the Material. Accordingly, if under any applicable
law the above waiver or assignment by Employee of "moral rights" or "droit
moral" is not effective, then Employee agrees to exercise such rights in a manner
which recognizes the contribution of and will not have a material adverse effect
upon such other parties.
(c) Rental Right: Producer and Employee acknowledge and agree that the following
sums are in consideration of, and constitute equitable remuneration for, the rental
right included in the Rights: (i) an agreed allocation to the rental right of 3.8% of
the fixed compensation and, if applicable, 3.8% of the contingent compensation
provided for in this Agreement; (ii) any sums payable to Employee with respect to
the rental right under any applicable collective bargaining or other industry-wide
agreement; and (iii) the residuals payable to Employee under any such collective
bargaining or other industry-wide agreement with respect to home video
exploitation which are reasonably attributable to sale of home video devices for
rental purposes in the territories or jurisdictions where the rental right is
recognized. If under the applicable law of any territory or jurisdiction, any
additional or different form of compensation is required to satisfy the requirement
of equitable remuneration, then it is agreed that the grant to Producer of the
rental right shall nevertheless be fully effective, and Producer shall pay Employee
such compensation or, if necessary, the parties shall in good faith negotiate the
amount and nature thereof in accordance with applicable law. Since Producer
has already paid or agreed to pay Employee equitable remuneration for the
(d) Additional Documents: Employee will upon request execute, acknowledge and
deliver to Producer any and all documents Producer may deem necessary to
evidence and effectuate all or any of Producer's rights under this Agreement.
Employee hereby irrevocably appoints Producer as attorney-in-fact with full
power to execute, acknowledge, deliver and record in the U.S. Copyright Office
or elsewhere any and all such documents Employee fails to execute,
acknowledge and deliver after Producer's written request. The appointment shall
be a power coupled with an interest.
(e) Name and Likeness: Employee grants to Producer the right to issue and
authorize publicity concerning Employee, and to use Employee's name, voice,
likeness and biographical data in connection with the distribution, exhibition,
advertising and other exploitation of the Picture. Without limiting the foregoing,
Producer may use Employee's name, voice, likeness and biographical data in
connection with publications, merchandise, commercial tie-ins, and goods and
services of every kind if reference is made to the Picture or the literary property
or screenplay upon which the Picture is based, or any part thereof, or to
Employee's engagement hereunder, and if Employee is not represented as using
or endorsing any such item. Employee will not at any time issue or authorize
publicity or disclose any confidential information relating to this engagement or
the Picture or Producer (as distinguished from personal publicity relating solely to
Employee) to the press or media without Producer's written consent in each
case.
7. No Obligation to Proceed:
(a) General: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Producer shall
have no obligation to utilize Employee's services or to include the Material in the
8. Services Unique: Employee's services and the rights granted Producer under this
Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character
giving them a peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately
compensated in damages in any action at law. A breach hereof by Employee shall
cause Producer irreparable injury and Producer shall be entitled to injunctive and
other equitable relief to secure enforcement of this Agreement, but resort to such
relief shall not waive Producer's other rights.
10. Indemnification:
(a) General: Employee shall indemnify Producer against any and all liability,
damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, in
connection with any third party claim or action arising out of the breach of any of
Employee’s representations, warranties and agreements herein. Producer shall
indemnify and defend Employee against any and all liability, damages, costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, in connection with any
third party claim or action (other than those arising out of a breach of Employee's
representations, warranties or agreements hereunder or out of any criminal
misconduct or malicious or tortious acts by Employee) respecting material
supplied to Employee by Producer or incorporated into the Picture by employees
or officers of Producer other than Employee, or in connection with Producer's
development, production, distribution or exploitation of the Picture.
(b) Notice of Claim: Producer and Employee shall, upon presentation of any claim
or institution of any action covered by the foregoing indemnity provision, promptly
notify the other of the presentation of such claim or the institution of such action,
giving full details thereof. The indemnified party shall cooperate (without being
11. Contingencies:
(i) All periods that Employee does not render services hereunder because of
illness, incapacity or default.
All dates set forth or provided for herein shall be postponed for a period
equivalent to the period of such event and for such additional time as is
reasonably necessary for Producer to recommence its usual business
operations. Producer may lift any suspension and reimpose it for the same force
majeure event.
(ii) If a force majeure event continues for 8 weeks or more, or in the event
Producer shall have lifted any force majeure suspension and reimposed it for
the same event, then if such suspensions continue for 8 weeks or more in the
aggregate.
Upon any such termination, the payment of the fixed compensation which has
accrued under subparagraphs 3(a) and 3(b) as of the date of termination shall
constitute full payment by Producer for all services rendered and rights granted
to Producer hereunder, subject to Producer's rights hereunder, at law and in
equity. Producer shall pay Employee any outstanding balance then accrued and
unpaid.
(c) Employee's Services During Suspension and Right of Termination : If any force
majeure suspension continues for 2 weeks or more, Employee may render
services for Employee's own account, or for others during the continuation of
such suspension, subject to immediate recall on the termination of such
suspension. If a force majeure suspension continues for 8 weeks or more, or in
the event Producer shall have lifted any force majeure suspension and
reimposed it for the same event, then if such suspensions continue for 8 weeks
or more in the aggregate, Employee may terminate Employee's engagement by
written notice to Producer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such notice and
termination shall have no effect if within 5 business days after receipt thereof
Producer gives Employee notice that such suspension is ended.
(d) Work Permit: Producer may terminate this Agreement without further obligation if
any work permits or visas required in connection with Employee’s services
cannot be obtained in a timely fashion. Whether or not Producer in its discretion
agrees to obtain such a work permit or visa for Employee, the responsibility
therefore shall rest with Employee.
12. Insurance:
(a) Cast Insurance: Producer may secure life, health, accident, cast or other
insurance covering Employee, or Employee and others, and Employee shall
have no right, title or interest in or to such insurance. Employee will submit to
usual and customary medical examinations for Producer's insurance purposes
(including self-insurance) and will sign such applications or other documents
reasonably required. Employee may have Employee's own physician present at
any such examination at Employee's own expense. If any such examination
establishes a substantial doubt as to Employee's physical ability to complete
Employee's services hereunder, Producer may terminate this Agreement. If cast
insurance covering Employee cannot be obtained for normal premiums, normal
deductibles and without substantial exclusions, Producer may terminate this
Agreement. From the date 2 weeks before the scheduled start date of principal
photography until completion of all services required of Employee hereunder,
Employee will not ride in any aircraft other than as a passenger on a scheduled
(b) General Liability/E&O Insurance: Employee shall be insured by the errors and
omissions and general liability insurance policies for the Picture to the extent that
Producer obtains and maintains such policies and shall be subject to the terms,
conditions and restrictions of such policies and endorsements thereto.
13. Payments:
14. Assignment: Producer may assign this Agreement or loan or furnish Employee's
services to any parent, subsidiary or affiliated corporation of Producer, or to any
entity with or into which Producer merges or consolidates, or which succeeds to all
or a substantial portion of Producer's assets, or to any entity which produces the
Picture for release and distribution by Producer or which supplies financing or studio
facilities for the Picture, or which has the right to distribute the Picture, or which may
be or become the owner of the Picture or of the underlying literary property and
screenplay. Producer may assign and/or license any of its rights to the Material
and/or to use Employee's name, likeness and biographical data, and all
15. Miscellaneous:
(b) Notices: All written notices which either party hereto is required or may desire to
give to the other shall be given by delivering or mailing the same to the other at
the address shown on the face hereof, or at such other address as may be
designated in writing by any such party in a notice to the other given as
aforesaid. Notices to Producer shall be addressed to the specific attention of [
]. Notices shall be sufficiently given when hand-delivered or when
the same shall be deposited so addressed, postage prepaid, in the United States
mail and/or when the same shall have been transmitted by facsimile or similar
means and the date of said delivery or transmission, or 3 days after the date of
said mailing, shall be deemed to be the date of the giving of such notice.
The arbitrator will provide a detailed written statement of decision, which will be
part of the arbitration award and admissible in any judicial proceeding to confirm,
correct or vacate the award. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the neutral
arbitrator and the members of any appeal panel shall be former or retired judges
or justices of any California state or federal court with experience in matters
involving the entertainment industry. If either party refuses to perform any or all
of its obligations under the final arbitration award (following appeal, if applicable)
within thirty (30) days of such award being rendered, then the other party may
enforce the final award in any court of competent jurisdiction in Los Angeles
County. The party seeking enforcement of any arbitration award shall be entitled
to an award of all costs, fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in
enforcing the award, to be paid by the party against whom enforcement is
ordered.
(e) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”): In the event Employee provides any
services hereunder outside of the United States, Employee acknowledges that
he/she is familiar with the requirements of the FCPA and that a violation of any of
the provisions of the FCPA constitutes a criminal offense. Employee represents
and warrants that Employee has not and will not (i) make, authorize or promise
any offer, payment or gift of anything of value to any person, (ii) with the
knowledge that all or a portion of it will be offered, given or promised, directly or
indirectly to any government agency or officials, political party, leader or
candidate for government or political office a in foreign country, (iii) in order to
influence any such official, party, leader or candidate to assist Employee and/or
Producer (or related company) to obtain, retain or direct business or unduly affect
a decision.
The parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
PRODUCER
By: _____________________________
Its:
EMPLOYEE
________________________________
TURNAROUND PROVISIONS
You acknowledge and agree that unless you have exercised said Option by
complying with all of the foregoing requirements, you shall not have the right to, and
you shall not, develop or produce, nor shall you have the right to enter into any
agreement with any third party for the development, production, financing and/or