This begins during the development phase of a project and is essential for the financing and use of a production. This article provides a general overview of some of the types of common contracts used by manufacturers in this situation. Download (Co-Production-Agreement-Television-Series.docx) and use this checklist when negotiating a Co-Production Agreement Television Series to help you reach agreement on important issues. Flip this Word document with the details to make it easier to write your agreements. If a producer orders an author to prepare an entirely new and original script or treatment, a “Writer`s Agreement” is probably the most appropriate type of contract. In this agreement, the producer instructs the author to write the screenplay on behalf of the producer with the producer who owns the script. Such a contract is produced when a television station wishes to produce a “risky” television program. As a general rule, this program is first presented to a focus group before embarking on a pilot project. A development contract includes the selection of parts and sites, IT budgets and, as noted above, a program test for a focus group. It is important to get legal advice at an early stage, specially tailored to your project. Keep in mind that it is much easier to ensure that the allocation of rights is correct from the beginning, instead of having to modify the agreements and re-export them later.
Some of the contractual reservations about the scope of the contract require the television network and the independent producer to delineate each other`s schedules, target groups, cost authorization procedures and much more. It is important to remember to negotiate the terms of the purchase component of the option and sale contract at the same time as the terms of the option. This ensures that conditions are clear and regulated from the outset, avoiding surprises and the risk of further agreement. For more information or to agree to a first consultation with one of our Wellington-based media lawyers, please contact Andrew Stewart, e-mail andrew.stewart@morrisonkent.com, phone (04) 495 8921. In most cases, the television network that funds the development program also owns it. However, there are exceptions that allow the independent producer to hold certain ownership rights. First, independent producers may face the advantage of negotiating for a portion of the rights to the program when the television network gives them a small payment in relation to the complexity of the program. It should also be noted that there will be a number of other rights that a producer will need to obtain throughout the production phase of the project in terms of music, stockfootage, etc. This list of deal checkpoints has been designed to highlight important areas when you enter into a co-production agreement for your TV series. Lawyer Michael Norman Saleman offers these point-of-sale lists as a courtesy to users of this site. Contact Mr. Saleman if you need help with the legal documents for your project.
