Protecting my time investment

[mikedz]

Soon I will be directing, shooting and editing a music video for my friends unsigned band.

I'm happy to do it for free as a favour but I also want to protect my investment. If the band becomes successful then I would like to be able to insist on some sort of creative control of future videos once money will becomes involved. How would I go about this - should get the band to sign a contract?

I do trust my friend but I also know how ruthless and persuasive record companies can be and so I'm sure they would get there own way unless I have something on paper.

Cheers.

 

[directorik]

You can put anything you want in a contract. "Some sort of
creative control of future videos" is quite vague. You will need
to know exactly what you want. And because record companies
are (as you put it) ruthless and persuasive then the contract
will a need serious look by a very knowledgeable entertainment
attorney.

What you call "ruthless and persuasive" is often called good
business. A band that becomes successful is seen as a money
maker by the record company and they will do anything they
can to protect that investment. Very often that means they
and their advertising agency want a top, well established video
director to have creative control and not the guy who directed
a video for them when they were unsigned.

You're right. Get it on paper, get it written well by an attorney
who specializes and get each member of the band and their current
manager to sign it.

 

[Lord of Light]

I agree with directorik.

Also, try and build a good relationship with the band. Don't just do music videos. Film them at concerts, take band photos, or whatever. That way if they become successful, then chances are they'll come back to you to make another, professional video. If you get successful, then you can go back and get them recognition.

 

[mikedz]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to decide exactly what I want and make sure it is clearly in the contract.

Unfortunately i'm not in the financtial position to get a lawyer to put together a contract so i'm going to have to go down the DIY route. Is there anywhere I can download examples of contracts or templates so that I can modify them for my own use?

Many thanks.

 

[directorik]

I don't know of any contract templates that will tie
you creatively to a band's music videos regardless
of what the record company wants.

What you want to do is very unusual. That's why
you are going to need a lawyer in this case. Asking
for future creative control is so vague only an
experienced lawyer would be able to come up with
wording. "Creative" can mean so many different
things and is not a legal term.

You might need to draw up a contract that requires
the band (and the future record company) to hire
you as the director for all future music videos and
give you final cut.

Are you sure that's what you want to put on the
band? What if that kind of future creative control
over a huge marketing tool (the music video) is a
deal breaker for the band? As I mentioned before,
most record companies have dozens of established,
experienced, known directors they have contracts
with. What if the band actually lost a deal because
of your creative control/final cut deal over all future
music videos?

Just something to think about. And something to tell
your friend and his band mates, too.

 

[Blade_Jones]

That could actually HINDER a band if they have some prior agreement in which their future videos MUST be directed by so and so. Unless you are a name director, why would a band want to be handcuffed by a small time director? I would ask for deferred $$ payment if and when they get signed. Seriously though, who watches music videos anymore these days? What value does a low budget music video have other than to stick up on YouTube??? I haven't seen a video aired on MTV or VH1 in like 10 years.