AN ACTOR INQUIRES
An Actor Inquires is a section devoted to actors and the questions they have about the business and legal aspects of the film and theatre industry. In a nod to Stanislavski and his book, An Actor Prepares, these blog posts are meant to prepare you about the other equally important areas of the acting profession. A talented actor who knows his or her craft AND the business is a force to be reckoned with. If you have questions for future postings, please e-mail them here.
“If I choose to work in a nonunion film (one that is not SAG-AFTRA), what key contract terms or clauses should I look out for to
protect myself?”
Here’s something
that any working actor can tell you: there are many more nonunion roles than
there are SAG-AFTRA roles. So, actors, in a quest to build their credits, gain experience,
make themselves visible and hone their craft will take on a nonunion role if
they find it in their interest to do so. Whether they should or not is another
story but assuming they do there are some things an actor should look out for
to protect themselves from unscrupulous or sleazy producers.
• Put it in writing. While it is true that
oral agreements are enforceable, if it’s not on paper, your job to prove you
were promised something for your work in a production becomes that much harder.
So make sure that anything you are promised winds up in the document you sign.
If it’s not, then don’t sign until it is.
• If the contract has a clause that your image
or work can be used in whatever form for perpetuity understand that that means
they can do anything they want with the images they shoot of you. Forever. Ask
that it be limited to non-pornographic purposes or to be used ONLY for the
production or the marketing of that production. If they use it for some other
project, you should be paid for that, in my opinion.
• In addition, producers tend to add clauses
that state that your work or image can be used in “any medium known or unknown
throughout the universe” (or something like that), which gives them the right
to use your work or image in any medium without having to pay you extra for it
(besides any aforementioned compensation or residuals, if any, already stated
in the contract).
• Also beware of any audition release forms
that give a producer the right to use your audition footage in whatever way
they wish. It’s one thing to have the
acting you did for a movie appear in a trailer (which is to be expected), but your
acting for an audition is less polished and more intimate which means you might
not want that footage released to the public.
• Pay attention to clauses that limit what
future work you can do because of a conflict. This could come up in cases where
you work in a commercial for a particular product/service and the clause is put
in there to prevent you from working for a competitor product/service. Even
though you might not be able to change this clause, at least understand that it
means you can’t work for a competitor’s commercial. However, to be fair, this
clause should be limited to a certain time period and geographical area.
• If the script calls for sex or nudity, check
to see if the contract provides for a clause with restrictions on who can be on
the set during the shoot, how the footage is to be used and whether or not
nudity/semi-nudity is required.
When it comes to
contracts, the first thing is awareness; actors need to know what they are
signing. The second thing is whether or not the actor can get something changed
or removed from a contract. The truth is that an actor’s ability to have
clauses modified or removed comes down to how much leverage the actor has.
Famous actors, actors desired by producers to play a specific role and actors
demanded by certain investors for a role all have leverage and can get their
way if they ask for it. However, even if you don’t have that kind of leverage, if
you feel strongly about something, don’t be afraid to speak up. You’d be
surprised to know how much a director or producer is willing to address your
concerns. And if they don’t, then at the end of they day, you don’t have to
sign the contract. It all depends on how much you want that role.
Danny Jiminian is an attorney who specializes
in Entertainment Law, Intellectual Property, Business Law and Nonprofits and
practices out of New York. For a free consultation, reach him at his website.
Matter
included here or in linked websites may not be current. It is advisable to
consult with a competent professional before relying on any written commentary.
No attorney client relationship is established by the viewing, use, or
communication in any manner through this web site. Nothing on this blog or blog
posting is official legal advice; it's just information and opinion. If you
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