As filmmakers, we tend to overlook some important aspects of our calling. One of the most important aspects of making a movie is a legal one - getting our cast and crew to sign release forms.
Everyone who works with you on your project needs to sign a release form. Let me repeat that: EVERYONE WHO WORKS WITH YOU ON YOUR PROJECT NEEDS TO SIGN A RELEASE FORM. Your best friend. Your mother. Your dog. It doesn't matter. Get them to sign on the dotted line. It's that simple. ...
Recently, I worked with a fellow filmmaker who ran into trouble with one of his actors a week before the opening of his feature film; the actor pulled some prima donna crap and wanted his scenes edited out of the project. Fortunately, the filmmaker had everyone - including this particular actor - sign a release form before shooting began, and averted a major crisis.
Release forms shouldn't be limited to just your cast and crew - if you're shooting your movie in or around specific locations (public or private, it doesn't matter), make sure you have some location release forms handy to be signed as well. You don't want a location manager to come up to you after you've finished the Next Great American Movie and tell you that you didn't have permission to shoot in his/her home, business, church, strip club, etc. Get it in writing.
There are lots of free examples of pertinent release forms on the internet that you can download; take the time to look around and find which ones fit your needs for your project. If you do this, I can assure you that you'll be spending money on your project rather than paying lawyer's fees. ...
Happy shooting!
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