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Director Agreement

Engage a director — services, compensation, credit, creative controls, and ownership.

Who It's For

  • Producers formally engaging a director.
  • Production companies securing chain of title.
  • Directors confirming their deal in writing.

What It's For

  • Sets the director's services, fee, and schedule.
  • Fixes credit, creative controls, and final cut.
  • Assigns the work to the production as work-for-hire.

Parties

Engagement

Compensation

Credit & Creative Controls

Ownership & Additional

Preview

DIRECTOR AGREEMENT

This Director Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of [effective date] by and between [producer / production company] and [director name].

  1. 1. Engagement & Services

    [producer / production company] ("Producer") hereby engages [director name] ("Director") to render directing services in connection with the motion picture presently entitled [production name] ([description of the picture]). Director shall render the following services: [directing services].

  2. 2. Term

    Director's engagement shall commence on or about [start date] and continue through [engagement period]. During this period Director's services shall be exclusive during principal photography.

  3. 3. Compensation

    As full consideration for Director's services and all rights granted, Producer shall pay Director a fee of [fee], payable as follows: [payment schedule].

  4. 4. Credit

    Provided Director renders all required services, Producer shall accord Director credit substantially as: [credit], in the main title, separate card. Casual or inadvertent failure to comply shall not be a breach of this Agreement.

  5. 5. Creative Controls; Final Cut

    Director shall be afforded the opportunity to prepare and deliver one (1) Director's Cut of the Picture in accordance with the post-production schedule. Thereafter, Producer shall have final cut, subject to delivery requirements, any required ratings or classification, and all applicable legal requirements.

  6. 6. Work Made for Hire; Ownership

    All results and proceeds of Director's services hereunder shall be deemed a work made for hire for Producer, and Producer shall be the sole author and owner of all right, title, and interest therein, including all copyrights and all rights of every kind, throughout the universe, in perpetuity, in all media now known or hereafter devised. To the extent any such results and proceeds are not deemed a work made for hire, Director hereby irrevocably assigns them in their entirety to Producer. Director waives all so-called "moral rights" and rights of droit moral to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

  7. 7. Representations & Warranties

    Director represents and warrants that Director is free to enter into this Agreement and to render the services herein and is not subject to any conflicting obligation; that all services, materials, and contributions furnished by Director shall be original to Director or fully cleared for use; and that Director shall comply with all applicable laws and with Producer's reasonable safety, conduct, and on-set policies.

  8. 8. Additional Provisions

    [additional provisions]

  9. 9. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

PRODUCER

Signature: ____________________

Printed Name: [producer / production company]

Date: ____________________

DIRECTOR

Signature: ____________________

Printed Name: [director name]

Date: ____________________

TEMPLATE ONLY — NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Consult a qualified entertainment attorney before executing this or any agreement.

Filmmaker Genius — Document Library. Template only; not legal advice.