The Complete Film Contract Template Index

Phase 0 — Source Material & Underlying IP

Applies whenever the project isn't an original spec screenplay. Skip straight to Phase 1 if your material is wholly original.

Literary Property Acquisition

• Literary Purchase Agreement Available Now
• Publisher Consent / Reversion Confirmation Coming Soon
• Underlying Rights Chain-of-Title Memo Coming Soon

Life Story Rights

• Life Story Rights Agreement Coming Soon
• Depiction Release Coming Soon
• Consultant / Technical Advisor Agreement Coming Soon

Format / Existing IP License

• Format License Agreement Coming Soon
• IP License & Merchandising Carve-Out Coming Soon
• Territory & Term Restrictions Schedule Coming Soon

True Events / News-Based Story

• Legal & Factual Vetting Memo Coming Soon
• Fair Use / Newsworthiness Opinion Letter Coming Soon

Basic Contractual Agreements

• The Confidentiality Agreement (NDA) Available Now

Phase 1 — IP Acquisition & Script Development

Establishing an unbroken origin story. If the base rights or screenplay assignments are flawed, the entire chain of title is compromised from here forward.

Underlying IP Acquisition

• Option & Purchase Agreement Available Now
• Short-Form Option Agreement Coming Soon
• Quitclaim Deed Coming Soon

Reserved Rights Tracking

• Reserved Rights Schedule (exhibit to Option Agreement) Coming Soon

Writer Agreements

• Writer Employment Agreement (Non-Union) Available Now
• Certificate of Authorship (COA) Available Now
• Work-for-Hire / Assignment Addendum Coming Soon

Co-Writer / Rewrite Chain

• Successive Writer Agreements Coming Soon
• WGA Separated Rights Notice Coming Soon

Early Script Clearances

• Script Clearance Report Coming Soon
• Legal Script Analysis / Annotations Coming Soon

Script Copyright

• Form PA Application (U.S. Copyright Office) Coming Soon
• Certificate of Registration Coming Soon

Phase 2 — Entity, Financing & Production Setup

Where the production entity, the money, and the guild security agreements all get structured — and where lenders and guilds start taking security interests in the film itself.

Corporate Setup

• SPE LLC Operating Agreement Available Now
• Articles of Organization Coming Soon
• Certificate of Good Standing Coming Soon
• Loan-Out Inducement Letter Available Now

Financing & Equity

• Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) Coming Soon
• Subscription Agreements Coming Soon
• Co-Production Agreements Coming Soon
• Loan Agreements & Promissory Notes Coming Soon

Tax Incentive / Rebate Compliance

• SOP - How to Obtain and EIN from the IRS Available Now
• State or Foreign Film Tax Credit Application Coming Soon
• Loan-Out Withholding Compliance Certifications Coming Soon
• Qualified Spend Audit Engagement Letter Coming Soon

International Co-Production

• Treaty Co-Production Agreement Coming Soon
• Certificate of Nationality / Co-Production Status Coming Soon
• Reciprocal Copyright Recognition Opinion Coming Soon

Union & Guild Setup

• SAG-AFTRA Security Agreement Coming Soon
• WGA Security Agreement Coming Soon
• DGA Master Security Agreement Coming Soon

Completion Bond

• Completion Guarantee Agreement Coming Soon
• Intercreditor Agreement Coming Soon
• Takeover Agreement Coming Soon

Phase 3 — ATL & BTL Production

Securing strict work-for-hire language and moral rights waivers across every human being who touches the production, cast through crew.

Above-The-Line (ATL)

• Director Agreement (Non-Union) Available Now
• Producer / EP Agreements Available Now
• Producer / Dept. Head Long Form Agreement Available Now
• Lead Actor / Cast Agreements Coming Soon

Below-The-Line (BTL)

• Crew Deal Memos Available Now
• Independent Contractor Agreements Coming Soon
• Production Services Agreements Coming Soon

Stunt Performers & Coordinators

• Stunt Coordinator Agreement Coming Soon
• Stunt Performer Deal Memo Coming Soon
• Safety/Choreography Sign-Off Coming Soon

Minors on Production

• Minor Services Agreement Coming Soon
• Coogan Trust Account Confirmation Coming Soon
• Studio Teacher / Welfare Worker Compliance Records Coming Soon

Locations & Real Estate

• Location Agreements Available Now
• Real Property Releases Coming Soon
• Municipal Production Permits Coming Soon

On-Screen Releases

• Standard Appearance Release (Talent/Interview) Available Now
• Background Extra Releases Coming Soon
• Artwork / Prop / Trademark Clearances Available Now

Phase 4 — Post-Production & Clearances

Every edit, mix, and piece of licensed or AI-assisted content needs its own paper trail before the picture is locked.

Post Personnel

• Editor Agreement Coming Soon
• Sound Designer / Mixer Agreements Coming Soon
• VFX Studio Work-for-Hire Contracts Coming Soon

AI-Generated & Synthetic Media

• AI/Synthetic Content Disclosure Schedule Coming Soon
• Training-Data & Output Ownership Warranty Coming Soon
• SAG-AFTRA Digital Replica Consent Coming Soon

Original Score

• Composer Agreement Available Now
• Certificate of Authorship (Music) Coming Soon

Licensed Music

• Master Use License (Sound Recording) Coming Soon
• Synchronization (Sync) License Available Now
• Publisher / PRO Clearances Coming Soon

Third-Party Media

• Stock Footage / Archival Licenses Coming Soon
• Film Clip / TV Clip Licenses Coming Soon
• Still Photography Clearances Coming Soon

Phase 5 — Chain of Title Finalization & Delivery

Assembling the final legal delivery binder — the document a distributor's legal department will actually tear apart before wiring an advance.

Film Copyright

• Form PA / VA Application (Completed Motion Picture) Coming Soon
• U.S. Copyright Registration Certificate Coming Soon

Title Clearance

• Title Search Report Coming Soon
• Title Clearance Opinion Letter Coming Soon
• MPA Title Registration Bureau Confirmation Coming Soon

Legal Opinion & E&O

• Attorney's Title Opinion Letter Coming Soon
• Fair Use Opinion Letter Coming Soon
• E&O Insurance Certificate Coming Soon

Lien Releases

• UCC-3 Financing Statement Amendments / Terminations Coming Soon
• Security Interest Releases Coming Soon

Final Delivery Package

• Master Chain of Title (COT) Binder Coming Soon
• Distributor Assignment of Copyright Coming Soon
• Certificate of Origin Coming Soon

Phase 6 — Distribution, Sales & Exploitation

Where the chain of title is stress-tested for real. Every grant sold to a distributor gets cross-checked against every underlying right acquired all the way back in Phase 0.

Sales Representation

• International Sales Agency Agreement Coming Soon
• Domestic Sales/Distribution Rep Agreement Coming Soon

Distribution Agreements

• Theatrical Distribution Agreement Coming Soon
• Home Video / EST-VOD License Coming Soon
• SVOD / Streaming Platform License Agreement Coming Soon
• Rigths Reversion Agreement Available Now

Delivery & Technical Compliance

• Delivery Schedule / Technical Specifications Coming Soon
• Closed Captioning / Accessibility Compliance Certification Coming Soon

Foreign Territory Registration

• Local Copyright/Neighboring Rights Registrations Coming Soon
• Foreign Collection Society Registrations Coming Soon

Phase 7 — Ancillary & Franchise Rights

Tracks exploitation beyond the single picture — the single most frequently mismanaged category once a project actually succeeds.

Sequel/Prequel/Remake Rights

• Sequel Rights Confirmation Coming Soon
• Option Extension or New Option Agreement (if lapsed) Coming Soon

Merchandising & Format Rights

• Merchandising License Agreement Coming Soon
• TV Format / Spin-off License Coming Soon

Soundtrack & Score Exploitation

• Soundtrack Album Agreement Coming Soon
• Music Publishing Administration Agreement Coming Soon

Library / Long-Term Rights Management

• Rights Expiration & Renewal Tracking Schedule Coming Soon
• Periodic UCC Lien Search Coming Soon

Bonus — Additional & Starter Templates

Cross-phase templates and the free starter pack — a good place to begin if you're not sure which phase your project is in yet.

All Phases - Free Trial

• The NonDē Film Starter Pack Available Now

Below-The-Line (BTL)

• The Music Supervisor Agreement Available Now

Corporate Setup

• The Joint Venture Co-Pro Agreement Available Now
• Holding Company LLC Operating Agreement Available Now

Asset Management

• The Asset Purchase Agreement Available Now

Writer Agreements

• The Addendum to Writer Agreement (Script Polish) Available Now