Contract between Television Advertising Production Company
and Actor to do Infomercial 1
Agreement made on the ________________ (date), between _____________________
(Name of Actor) of _____________________________________________________________
______________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code), referred to herein as Artist, and
______________________________ (Name of Production Company), a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the state of _______________, with its principal office located at
____________________________________________________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code), referred to herein as Production Company .
Whereas, Production Company (which term also includes its Affiliates) desire to produce
and distribute for television exhibition a long-form infomercial (referred to in this Agreement as
the Show ) for the promotion, distribution, and sale of __________________________________
______________________________ (name or describe products), hereinafter called Products ;
Whereas, Production Company desires to use Artist’s personal services, and Artist
wishes to provide to Production Company his personal services, for the production, distribution
and exhibition of the Show.
Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
I. Artist ’s Representation and Warranties
A. Artist represents and warrants that he has the right to render Artist ’s services to
Production Company and to grant rights to Production Company as provided.
B. Artist agrees to render testimonials and demonstration services for Production
Company under all of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this Agreement by playing the
role of testifier and demonstrator for the commercials, as more fully described in Section III .
II. Term
A. This Agreement shall commence on the date of this Agreement and shall
continue for a period of ______ (number) years from the completion of test marketing of the
commercial (the Initial Term ). Roll out , for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean that
Production Company continues to air the Show after all test marketing for the Show has
been completed. Test marketing, for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean airing the
commercial on broadcast or cable television for the purpose of testing audience response to
the commercial and the Products at a range of price levels.
1
This term refers to an information commercial (usually 15 to 30 minutes long) that is presented more like a talk show
than a commercial promotion. Infomercials are aired normally at fringe times (late night to early morning), and aim at
building awareness of a product or service by demonstrating its use and benefits. Typically, they include an attractive
direct response offer (with toll-free numbers) designed to elicit on-the-spot orders.
B. Upon the expiration of the Initial Term both Production Company and Artist shall
have the option to renew this Agreement for an additional _____ (number)- year period (the
Additional Term ).
III. Services
A. Production of the Show . Production Company shall have the right to use
Artist ’s services, and Artist shall render such services, as follows:
1. Artist shall perform all services necessary to his role as on-camera
performer, testifier, and demonstrator in the production of the commercial, and all
revisions and modifications of the commercial, as Production Company shall require in
order to produce the commercial at a high-quality level. Such services shall include but
not be limited to discussing the Products, reacting favorably to the Products, endorsing
the Products, moderating panel discussions, and performing such other on and off
camera tasks as Production Company shall reasonably request.
2. Artist shall cooperate with and participate in preproduction activities to the
extent necessary in Production Company ’s reasonable judgment for Artist to prepare
adequately for his role as Artist , on-camera performer, and host in the commercial
subject to Artist ’s professional availability. Such activities shall include but are not limited
to conferences with persons appearing in the commercial.
B. Availability.
1. Artist confirms the availability of Artist for the shoot days tentatively
scheduled for __________________________________ (list of dates).
2. Production Company shall notify Artist of the designated times and dates
on which Artist ’s services are required at least ______ (number) days prior to any such
date. Artist shall notify Production Company within ______ (number) hours of such
notice if Artist will not be available; provided, however, that Artist shall be available
unless he has a previously established bona fide professional commitment or an illness
that would prevent Artist from rendering Artist ’s services under this Agreement. In any
such event, Production Company shall reschedule the initial time and date for such other
time and date as Production Company designates based upon Artist ’s reasonable
availability. Artist shall maintain reasonable availability to fulfill his obligations under this
Agreement. Production Company shall use its best efforts to plan any shoots, reshoots
or other production activities in connection with the Show around Artist ’s previously
established schedule. At the time of execution of this Agreement, Artist shall provide
Production Company with a copy of Artist ’s schedule for a period of ______ (number)
months beginning on the date of this Agreement.
C. Damage or Destruction of Show. If, for reasons beyond Production Company ’s
control, any portion of the Show produced under this Agreement is damaged or
destroyed, then Artist shall render services for up to _______ (number) [number of days]
additional days to recomplete the damaged or destroyed portions of the Show, and Artist
shall be compensated for such reshooting at the rate of an additional $__________ per
day of reshooting.
IV. Ownership, Use, and Territory
A. All materials, works, writing, ideas, gags, dialogue, and sequences produced in
connection with this Agreement, including the Show, shall be and remain the absolute
and exclusive property of Production Company forever. Artist acknowledges and agrees
that he does not now have, nor in the future will he assert any right, title, or interest of
any kind or nature whatsoever in such materials and that Production Company has the
unlimited the exclusive rights throughout the world to use the Show in any and all media
now or later known or to refrain from such use.
B. During the term of this Agreement, Production Company shall have the full and
complete right to broadcast, use, reproduce, publish, copyright, and exhibit in any
manner the Show or any portion of it, and any versions or revisions of it, throughout the
world.
V. Name, Voice and Likeness
Production Company shall have the right to use and permit the use of Artist ’s name,
voice and likeness as used in frames from the Show and promotional footage for the show and
in connection with the Product packaging and advertising, promotion, and publicity of the Show
and the Products. Artist shall sign the Name, Voice and Likeness Release form attached as
Exhibit A upon the execution of this Agreement.
VI. Compensation
A. For purposes of this Section VI , Net Television Generated Order ” shall mean
Net Orders of the Products featured in the Show sold by Production Company in the United
States either from customers calling the “800” telephone numbers displayed in the Show or
from customers mailing in orders in response to addresses displayed in the Show, but not
including any Orders for which Production Company or its licensee does not receive
payment due to the following: (1) refunds made to purchasers of the Products for any
reason whether by check or by credit to purchaser’s credit card accounts or otherwise; (2)
credit card charge-backs; or (3) bad checks and uncollectible amounts.
B. In full consideration of Artist ’s performance of the provisions of this Agreement
and for all of the rights granted by Artist under this Agreement, Production Company agrees
to make and Artist agrees to accept the following payment:
1. $___________ payable upon commencement of principal photography.
2. A royalty of $___________ for each Net Television Generated Order
whether they occur during the term of this Agreement or afterwards. The royalties
shall be paid to Artist in accordance with Paragraphs C and D of this Section VI .
3. A royalty of $___________for each item of the Product sold through
direct mail, retail store, or discount store sales, if the packaging of the Product or
promotion contains Artist ’s name, image, or likeness.
C. Production Company shall: (1) compute Net Television Generated Orders for
each Broadcast Quarter (as defined below); (2) prepare a statement of the Net
Television Generated Orders actually generated in such Broadcast Quarter; and (3)
deliver the statement and pay any royalties due and payable to Artist within ______
(number) days of the end of each Broadcast Quarter . Broadcast Quarter shall mean the
three-month period commencing with the date of the roll out of the Show and ending on
the expiration of the calendar quarter immediately following such date and each three-
month period. The term month, as used in this Agreement, shall be defined to be based
on the industry standard broadcast calendar.
D. Production Company , in its sole discretion, may withhold the following amounts
from royalty payments otherwise due Artist :
1. From and after the first airing of the Show through the expiration of _____
(number) months following the roll out of the Show, an amount not in excess of
____________% of the royalties which would otherwise be due to Artist over
such period; and
2. Commencing with the ______ (number) month following the roll out of the
Show, an amount not in excess of ______% of the average of refunds, charge-
backs and other bad debt over a rolling _____ (number) -month period in order to
provide for future reductions from Net Television Generated Orders (the
Holdback ). Such withheld amounts shall continuously be applied against
reductions to Net Television Generated Orders and a quarterly reconciliation of
such reductions shall be prepared by Production Company and delivered to
Artist and any excess Holdback shall be paid to Artist . Any royalty payments
withheld under this Paragraph D (to the extent the Net Television Generated
Orders have not been reduced by refunds, charge-backs or other bad debt) shall
be paid to Artist within _____ (number) days following the cessation of sales of
the Products.
E. Artist shall have the right, twice in each calendar year, during normal business
hours and upon ______ (number) days’ prior written notice to Production Company and
subject to reasonable confidentiality requirements, at Artist ’s own expense, to audit the
books and records of Production Company regarding sales of the Products; provided,
that any such audit of Production Company’s books shall coincide with the end of one of
Production Company ’ s fiscal quarters. All royalty payments made by Production
Company to Artist shall become final and not subject to further review _____ (number)
year(s) after the end of such calendar year unless otherwise challenged by Artist
pursuant to this Paragraph E.
F. All payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be made to Artist at the address
set forth above. Notwithstanding the above, Artist shall have the right to request
payments to be sent to a different address, provided that Production Company is given
_____ (number) days’ written notice in advance from Artist .
VII. Independent Contractor
Artist represents and warrants that in performing his obligations under this Agreement,
Artist is acting as an independent contractor and, without limiting that status, Artist assumes
sole and exclusive responsibility for the collection and payment of all employer and employee
contributions and taxes under all applicable laws now in effect or later enacted and all
applicable collective bargaining arrangements, if any. In addition, Artist agrees to file any returns
or reports necessary in connection with such laws.
VIII. General Representations, Warranties, and Covenants
Artist represents, warrants and covenants that:
A. Competitive Protection. At any time during the period in which Production
Company is entitled to use the Show, Artist shall not: (1) render any service of any kind,
directly or indirectly, for any Competitive Product ; or (2) permit the use of his name,
photograph, likeness, endorsement, voice, or biographical material for any Competitive
Product in advertising or publicizing any Competitive Product or for any product or
service which uses copy which denigrates or is antithetical to the Show. For purposes of
this Agreement, Competitive Products shall mean ________________ (type of products)
products only. Notwithstanding the above, if Production Company fails to broadcast the
infomercial or use Artist ’s name, image, or likeness in connection with the promotion of
the Product within _____ (number) years from the date of this Agreement, Artist shall be
free to endorse competing products.
B. Right to Enter Agreement. Artist has full power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to perform all of the obligations under this Agreement without violating
the legal or equitable rights of any third party or the terms or provisions of any
Agreement or instrument, law, or regulation or other restriction to which either of them is
subject or bound.
C. No Commissions . Artist is solely authorized and empowered to act in
connection with this Agreement and Production Company shall not be under any
obligation for the payment of any commissions or fees to Artist , or to any other agent or
person on account of the use of the Artist in the Show as contemplated by this
Agreement other than the payments provided for under this Agreement.
IX. Default; Failure to Pay
Artist understands and agrees that Artist shall be responsible for providing professional
services and such responsible performance is essential to the successful production of the
Show and any nonperformance or material breach of any covenant, representation, or warranty
made by Artist in this Agreement would seriously jeopardize the Show and cause irreparable
damage to Production Company . In the event of any nonperformance by Artist or material
breach by Artist , Production Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement,
provided, however, that written notice specifying the event or events of nonperformance or
breach giving rise to such default and providing an opportunity for Artist to cure within _____
(number) days from receipt of such notice and the Artist does not in fact cure such
nonperformance or breach within such time period.
X. Review and Approval
Artist shall have the right to inspect or approve the Show or any aspect of it, including
but not limited to the promotion, distribution, and exhibition of the Show and the promotion,
distribution, and sale of the Products regarding the context in which his quotes are used.
XI. Testimonial Affidavits
Artist shall execute the testimonial affidavit, in the form of Exhibit B attached to this
Agreement, concerning Artist ’s use and representations of the Products. If and to the extent
Production Company shall require, Artist shall execute such other documents and instructions
as may be necessary to comply with legal or broadcaster requirements concerning the use of
testimonials and endorsements in advertising.
XII. Insurance
Production Company shall have the right to protect its interest under this Agreement by
securing life, accident, cast, or other insurance on Artist , and Artist shall furnish such
information, fill out and sign such forms, and undergo such examinations as may reasonably be
required. The proceeds and ownership of such insurance shall be solely Production Company ’s
and Artist shall not have any right, title or interest to the insurance. Artist shall have the right to
have a doctor of Artist ’s choice present at any such examination, at Artist ’s expense.
XIII. Death and Disability
A. In the event of Artist ’s death prior to the time Artist has fully and satisfactorily
completed the services required under Section Three, Production Company shall have
the right to terminate this Agreement as of the date of Artist ’s death. Such death shall be
treated as nonperformance for purposes of Section X . In the event of Artist ’s death
subsequent to the time Artist has fully and satisfactorily completed the services required
under Section III , Production Company shall have the right to either: (1) terminate this
Agreement; or (2) continue to promote, distribute and exhibit the Show and distribute
and sell the Products until the end of the Term, subject to its obligation to pay royalties
under Section VI .
B. If Artist becomes physically or mentally disabled prior to the time Artist has fully
and satisfactorily completed the services required under Section III , Production
Company shall have the right to either suspend or terminate this Agreement. If
Production Company exercises its rights to terminate this Agreement, any such
occurrence shall be treated as nonperformance for purposes of Section X . If Artist shall
become physically or mentally disabled subsequent to the time Artist has fully and
satisfactorily completed the services required under Section III , Production Company
shall have the right to continue to promote, distribute, and exhibit the Show and
distribute and sell the Products until the end of the Term, subject to its obligation to pay
royalties under Section VI .
Production Company ’s election to suspend may be exercised only by written notice
served not later than _____ (number) weeks after the date as of which the suspension is
started. Each suspension shall continue until ended by Production Company by written
notice. Unless Production Company otherwise notifies Artist , the period of suspension
shall be deemed excluded in computing the length of the Term.
XIV. Miscellaneous
A. Force Majeure. If , as a result of force majeure, such as ___________________
__________________________________________ ( describe events of force majeure),
Production Company shall be unable to use or reuse any of the materials produced
during any period of the term of this Agreement, then Production Company shall have
the right to extend the Term for a period equivalent to the force majeure period, without
any additional compensation.
B. Confidential Information. At any time during the Term, Artist shall not disclose
to any party (other than his accounting and legal advisers) or use in any manner any
confidential or proprietary information obtained under this Agreement, including but not
limited to any confidential or proprietary information relating to the Production Company
or its business or services, the Show or the Products, and Artist shall not disclose to any
party the terms of this Agreement.
C. Indemnity. Production Company agrees to indemnify and hold Artist harmless
from and against any and all claims, losses, suits, liabilities, obligations, costs,
judgments, penalties, and expenses of any kind (including reasonable legal fees and
disbursements) which may be obtained against, imposed upon, or suffered by Artist as a
result of any product liability action or action based on misleading or deceptive
advertising initiated by governmental or private entities stemming directly or indirectly
from Artist ’s performance of services in accordance with this Agreement. Artist agrees to
indemnify and hold Production Company , its licensee and affiliates and their respective
director, officers, employees, representatives, and agents harmless from and against
any all damages which may be obtained against, imposed upon or suffered by such
indemnified persons as a result of any material breach of any representation, warranty,
or covenant contained in this Agreement.
D. Rights and Remedies. All rights and remedies which Production Company may
have under this Agreement or by operation of law are cumulative and the pursuit or
waiver of one right or remedy shall not be deemed an election to waive or renounce any
other right or remedy Production Company may have.
E. Assignment. The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that
party and may not be assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or
other entity without the prior, express, and written consent of the other party.
F. Arbitration. Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved
by binding arbitration of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator,
each party shall select one arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The
third arbitrator so selected shall arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed
by the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and effect.
G. Interviews. Artist agrees that he will not authorize or release advertising or
publicity materials, nor will Artist give interviews which make reference to the details of
Artist ’s engagement under this Agreement, without Production Company ’s prior written
approval. Notwithstanding the above, Artist may, during interviews, respond, discuss,
and comment in a positive manner that Artist is associated with Production Company
and Artist may endorse the Products.
H. Notices. Any notice to be given by Production Company to Artist under this
Agreement will be deemed sufficiently given if in writing and delivered personally or
transmitted by confirmed facsimile or telex, or sent by certified mail to Artist at the
address set forth above. Any notice to be given by Artist to Production Company under
this agreement will be deemed sufficient if given in the manner set forth in this section to
Production Company at [address of Production Company ]. Any notice so transmitted,
delivered, or mailed shall be deemed to be given on the date it is transmitted or
delivered personally and _____ (number) [number of days] business days following the
date it is mailed.
I. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of ______________.
XV. Severability
The invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not and shall not be deemed to affect
the validity of any other provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the
parties agree that the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as if
they had been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement of the invalid provision.
XVI. Entire Agreement
This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and any prior
understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be
binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.
XVII. Modification of Agreement
Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in
connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if placed in writing and signed by each
party or an authorized representative of each party.
XVIII. In this contract, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes
feminine.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
__________________________________
(Name of Production Company)
________________________ By:______________________________________
(P rinted name) (P rinted name & Office in Corporation)
________________________ ________________________
(Signature of Artist) (Signature of Officer)