Legal Responsibilities

Legal Responsibilities

Actors

Anybody that takes an active role in the film has to sign a release form. This release form allows me to use their performance in my film as well as any related marketing. I must ensure all my actors sign this release as they will be used in the footage as well as possibly for the marketing.

Secondly, there must be an agreement of Terms of Engagement. This decides how much of the actors time the producer is entitled to, such as X amount of days a week. An agreement for any post production needs of the actor or for retakes must also be discussed and settled. My actors would have a term of engagement for a couple of weeks.

Thirdly, I must agree remuneration. This is an agreement on pay and how the actor will be paid. Since it is is a shorter filming period it is likely that I pay them at the end of their shooting period, when they have shot all of their scenes. There must also be an understanding of health, and the actor must stay away from any activity that could potentially render them unable to perform.

Location

Taking on a location manager is one suggested idea. Even if untrained, this person takes sole responsibility for finding suitable filming locations as well as making sure they are safe and legal to use. Filming agreements should always be made with the landowner beforehand, instead of just meeting them on the day and trying to work something out there. The land agreement must ensure that additions and alterations to the premises are allowed, as well as making sure that we have the right to call the land by a different name in the film. Our desired location is on private ground so we will have to require permission of the landowner to film.

Insurance

Insurance is needed in the UK for any type of production, wether it is international or domestic. Public liability Insurance is required in order to receive permission to begin filming. This insurance would cover my production if the filming caused any type of harm or injury to the actors or producers, as well as covering any damage done to property.