Every movie is going to involve multiple agreements between producers and creative talent. No matter which side of that equation you land on, everyone needs to understand this process and have a working knowledge of the various contracts that are used for story & script development so the chain of title is complete when it is time to distribute.

This workshop will cover the most common legal situations encountered by independent filmmakers. What contracts are necessary for optioning an existing screenplay or novel? What contracts and deal points are needed when hiring a writer for a polish, rewrite, adaptation, or complete original script? Learn all of this and more to know what to consider for your negotiations and to have your chain of title complete. 

By the end of this workshop, you'll know how to:

• Understand a standard option & purchase agreement with standards for fees, option periods, and purchase prices; 

• Understand the basics of a contract to hire a writer; and 

• Avoid the mistakes that will sabotage your movie project in the future with distributors and studios.