This Deal Point Checklist is designed to highlight areas of importance when entering into a Director Agreement. Attorney Michael Norman Saleman offers these Deal Point Checklists as a courtesy to users of this website. Contact Mr. Saleman if you need help with any of your project’s legal documentation.
Download (Director-Agreement.docx
) and use this checklist when negotiating a Director Agreement to assist you in reaching an agreement on major deal points. Return this Word document with the details to facilitate the drafting of your agreements.
- Name of Project
- Start and End Dates (Term of Agreement)
- Services Rendered
- Pre-production
- Principal photography
- Post-production
- Supervise re-writes
- Location Search
- Assist Producer
- budget
- Exclusive During Principal Photography
- Post Production
- Exclusive or Non-Exclusive
- Cooperate with Editor
- Retakes, changes, dubs, added scenes, trailers, soundtrack, other languages
- days and dates available
- how many required
- Compensation
- Fixed
- When Paid
- Flat Fee alternative
- Deferred
- Contingent (Back-End) profit participation
- net or gross
- how defined
- Conditions Precedent
- Pay or Play
- DGA Director (need to follow DGA Agreement re salary)
- Credits
- where
- size of type
- “Film By” credit as well?
- paid ads
- Expenses
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Living Expenses/Per Diem
- Food
- Verification of Expenses/Vouchers and Receipts
- Name and Likeness Consent
- Publicity Restrictions
- Director’s Incapacity Issues
- when can Production Company Terminate
- Right of examination
- Insurance on Director’s Life
- Remake and Sequel Rights
- First Refusals
- Approvals (who has final approval)
- cast, budget, schedules, screenplay, locations, editor, titles,
- Selections
- which personnel may director hire
- restrictions on salaries to these individuals
- consents of Production Company
- Changes to Screenplay and Schedules
- Creative Control
- Advertising and Distribution Consultation Rights
- Final Cut
- who has
- running time limitations
- rating goal
- cover shots
- censorship cuts
- director’s cut vs. studio cut
- dubbing
- Cover Shots
- Dailies
- Production Company has right to view
- Television Cover Shots