Release Form Tips for Indie Films

Video Transcript

"So if you're shooting, you know, shooting a feature or a documentary or a short, if you're doing it just for yourself or if you’re doing a for a film festival, if you intend to sell this or get a broadcast or whatever, whoever you tape, whoever you put on video must sign a release form. And this is basically is just a simple form that says that they're allowing you to shoot them; they don't have a problem with it. And usually on mine, I make it as simple as possible. Just tell them basically, that all they get out of it is... like with the documentary, they get no payment or anything, but they will get credit in the documentary and also they will get a copy of the finished program. And usually, people are happy with that. If you're paying them anything for actresses, make sure it's in the contract. But whoever you tape, make sure that they sign this thing. Because although you may never use it, there's always the case where, you know, down the line, you don't have a release from somebody. And then you finish this film, and they are in it throughout it, and then they tell you: "I don't want to be in it. I don't want you to release it. I didn't sign anything, so you can't do it." That's when you need it. So that they cannot do this to you down the line. If you're going to work all this time on this project, you don't want it to be messed up by such a simple thing as having them sign a release form. Sometimes, I've had actors that, you know, before the production when I try to have them sign the release form, they won't sign it. And I don't know why they won't sign it. It's all very clear and I explain the production to them, and they are cast in the movie. And they just do not want to sign the release form. Well, don't use that actor. That wasn't my preference; I'd rather have used them. But because down the line, I suspected that you know, they're doing this because maybe they're going to cause a problem down the line. It just wasn't worth it. Because I just didn't want that shadow kind of overhanging me. So again, one of the most important things is when you're shooting anybody, whether it be somebody for a documentary, an actor, whoever, make sure to get a release form."