Motion Picture Distribution Agreements
This article will cover the key provisions of an agreement to distribute filmed entertainment, usually made between a producer or licensor (“Producer”) of a motion picture and a distributor (“Distributor”). These agreements are critical to the process of filmmaking; without them, films would not be viewed by the public.
1) Picture
This provision covers the specifications of the film to be delivered by the producer to the distributor. Will it be a color picture or black and white? What type of film will be used? (35 mm vs. 16 mm) How long or short must the film be? For feature films, it is typical for the distributor to require that the film be no shorter than 90 minutes and no longer than either 105 or 120 minutes. Producers with a bigger name, and hence more leverage, however, may be able to negotiate for more freedom when it