Practical Examples
- Day to day support for a production company
- Acquisition of a film library (large one off transaction)
- Providing the service of a full business affairs department for a film and TV distributor / content aggregator
- Providing all business affairs work for an independent film
Our services
Service Example 4: Providing all business affairs work for an independent film
The producer of an independent film needs professional business affairs support but is working with a limited budget. We discuss the film’s requirements and agreements needed and agree a fixed fee for the work.
In practice we’d send a checklist detailing all the agreements and issues (and who does what) but the following gives you an idea of how this might work.
Agreement |
How its completed |
|---|---|
Key finance agreements, for example:
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Our UK/US execs would be on hand to deal with the key issues and attend any meetings. Drafting and revisions could be handled either in by UK, Indian execs or a combination. Our execs in India would also handle related documents (such as lab access letters, bank mandates). |
Underlying rights and key talent |
As above, our UK/US execs would be on hand to deal with the key issues and attend any meetings. Drafting and revisions could be handled either in by UK, Indian execs or both. |
HoD agreements, writer’s agreements |
We would prepare drafts for production company approval. Our execs in based in India would email drafts, re-draft agreements and respond to any comments in consultation with UK/US exec and the production company. |
Crew agreements |
We can handle these directly or the production team can (with our input where needed). |
Title reports and copyright registration |
A full title report (SDD Global’s Accumark) can be part of the package (or alone for a flat fee of $US400) which is less than half of the cost reports from other providers. Our reports are recognized and accepted by all major media insurance. |
Chain of title review |
Our execs in India can review chain of title documentation (and a legal opinion can be provided by SmithDehn as indicated below). |
Clearances and licensing |
Day to day clearances and licensing can be done by the production company, by us or a combination (e.g. by the production company with our input where required). |
Other (e.g. US work permits) |
US Work permits are usually obtained by both Smith Dehn and SDD Global working in tandem. |
Delivery |
We can handle paper delivery as required (chain of title, copy agreements, schedules of agreements, schedules of approvals and credits, title reports, copyright registrations, lab access letters etc). |
Smith Dehn (our sister law firm) can also: |
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