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Lack of video footage of our production otherwise great idea!...I'll have a watch of that though :)

Wouldn't that be ironic: making a successful film about someone getting blackmailed on a film and then making a successful film out of it. Hmmm.....

Right..well I'm being accused of this being a fictitious story now so I'll leave it. You're right though, there's only so much complaining I can do. I wouldn't say this is a common occurence as usually people sign forms to begin with. Also, if you're an employee the law changes to my side BUT...

This is so crazy, looks like its going nowhere. An incredible amount of money and time wasted because a bully can't get his way. Sorry to keep on about it but it's a real eye-opener at least for all those first time feature directors. One thing's for sure. If this gets shelved because of all...

To be given producer credit, full access to post-production and 10% of the film.

Well he owned and operated the camera so that's all academic I guess. He's now demanding a producer credit, it gets worse and worse.

Well most films you'd get the release forms signed in advance. I was way too naive and trusting on this occasion.

Spoke to another lawyer today and yes, without him signing over the image copyrights, he owns them. I'll have to negotiate an agreement with him to sign the copyright over apparently. The lawyer suggested I start with 0.5%....I don't think she knows how greedy this guy is.

SO IT'S HAPPENED: After him demanding to overlook and control post-production and me simply saying no, he's sent a long official email to me saying that he's not going to let me use the images, they're his, he owns them. Our relationship is now irreparable, I'm not sure of my rights, I need...

For some reason a page a half of this discussion got deleted so I'll update again: I've got the footage in hard copy and am going to continue post-production all the way down to the finish line. At that point, the DP does have the power to blackmail me for whatever he chooses in order to get...

For what it's worth, this is actually a feature film, not a short. It's also a feature with recognizable names in the UK and a strong creative backing so has every chance of being bought (and of course every chance not to!) However, what I've gathered now from talking to the lawyer and my own...

so...I spoke to an entertainment lawyer..apparently the producer and principal director has copyright to the footage but my concern here is that any possible distributor may still ask for a dp release form in which he could still hard ball me.. the lesson here: sign everything before anything!

He wasn't the producer but he WANTS to be the producer in post-production, effectively giving him control over the final product. He works freelance and this is his first feature as head DP. No way can I cut my losses 3 weeks into a feature shoot and start again. It's not financially or...

Sorry guys, but in the UK you can't use a DPs footage without them signing the copyright release form over first. I could in theory use the footage, make the film but it won't go anywhere unless I get a signed release from him.

With me. Locations and performance releases all signed to me. Script written by me. Footage shot with his camera. Data stored on my drives. Release not given unless I give him 10% plus Producer role. I do need to see an attorney I think.

He owns the camera and media cards but has been backing up to my drives every day so I'll have a physical storage of all the footage at the end but if he never signs that release form I can never use it. I simply don't want the guy co-producing my film that I've busted my balls for the last...

It's a feature! And it's not a case of being walked over but a case of me legally screwing up with a guy that seems to be on the border of blackmail.

It seems they are I'm afraid. Whoever shoots the footage, owns the footage. The worst case scenario is I get my money back but all that footage wasted in which case no-one wins. I know he can't use the footage himself but he can hold me to ransom over it until he gets what he wants.

To answer your questions: I've paid for everything. I wrote the script, cast the actors, organised locations, production, wired money to his account and I'd be paying for this post-production where he now wants to be the producer. I still owe him the last 1/3 of his fee and we have 5 shoot...

UPDATE: He's now come in saying: He'll give me the Director credit but he wants to be credited as producer and have control over post-production! Something that I'd be paying for! He also hinted that as I signed no contract he has a right to not only keep my footage but not give me my money...