The Independent Filmmaker/Producer/Investor must have good Legal Advice. Without the advice to keep the paperwork in order the Independent Filmmaker/Producer/Investor’s Project may not get Exhibition. Without exhibition there will be no revenue.
Lawyers have a fiduciary duty to their clients. This means the lawyer should be putting the client’s interests first, ahead of what is convenient or profitable for the Lawyer. When hiring an entertainment Lawyer, it is advisable to retain someone who specializes in the field. A real estate Lawyer may think it exciting to dabble in entertainment law but he may not have the specialized knowledge that an experienced entertainment Lawyer possesses. Within the entertainment arena, some Lawyers do a lot of litigation while others may restrict their practice to deal making and drafting agreements.
Before retaining a Lawyer, you should carefully review the Retainer Agreement. The rate a Lawyer charges is often negotiable and many Lawyers charge a lesser rate to low-budget independent filmmakers. Communication can be by email.
This Agreement is drafted in plain English that is easy to read and comprehend. This is a four page, eighteen clause legal Agreement. The Agreement may be filled in on your computer or printed out and filled in later.
This Agreement is part of the Producer’s Deal, and the Investor’s Deal.
$99.00
Client Name: ____________________________________________
(Print Names)
Lawyer Name: _______________________________________________
Lawyer Firm: ______________________________________________
Project Name: __________________________________________________
Project Genre: _________________________________________________
(film, music video, stage production, game show, etc)
Herein this Agreement the independent Filmmaker is called the “Producer”.
This Accountant-Client Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between the above named and undersigned, “Client”, and above named and undersigned “Lawyer”.
1. This Agreement will not take effect, and the Lawyer will have no obligation to provide legal services, until the Client returns a signed copy of this Agreement and pays the deposit called for under Clause 5 below.
2. The Client hires the Lawyer to provide legal services in connection with entertainment counseling, negotiation and contracts for the above named “Project”. The Lawyer shall provide those legal services reasonably required to represent the Client and shall take reasonable steps to keep the Client informed of progress in any and all negotiations and contract work and to respond to Client’s inquiries.
3. The Lawyer’s services will not include litigation of any kind, whether in court, in administrative hearings or before government agencies or judicial arbitration.
4. The Client shall be truthful with the Lawyer, cooperate with the Lawyer, keep the Lawyer informed of developments, abide by this Contract, pay the Lawyer’s bills on time and keep the Lawyer advised of the Client’s address, phone/cell number, email and . . . (continued)
