Agreement to Produce Television Series
Agreement (the Agreement) made on the _________________ (date), between
____________________ (Name of Producer) of _________________
________________________________________________________ (street address,
city, state, zip code) , referred to herein as Producer, 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, state,
zip code) , referred to herein as Company.
1. Definitions A.Person means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, joint venture,
unincorporated association or other entity.
B. Company means ____________________ (Name of Company).
C. Property means the characters and other intellectual property now or
hereafter developed by Company and all productions produced, distributed
and/or owned by Company.
D. Term refers to the minimum rights period pursuant to which a Property is
exploited.
2. Services Company hereby engages Producer to render exclusive producing and
consulting services to Company during the Term hereof. Producer will render such
services when, where and as reasonably required by Company and will comply with all
reasonable directions of Company relative thereto. The services to be rendered by
Producer hereunder include, but are not limited to, producing and consulting services
with respect to the development and production of all programming of Company at the
reasonable instruction of Company. Producer's primary responsibilities will be serving
as executive producer for the television series entitled ______________________
(name of show) , including consulting on key creative elements, scheduling, casting,
selection and supervision of key crew and post-production.
3. Term
A. Initial TermThis Agreement will commence on __________________ (date) and will
terminate on _________________ (date), hereinafter called the Initial Term,
unless sooner terminated, suspended or extended in accordance with the terms
provided for herein.
B. Extended Term
Company will have an exclusive and irrevocable option, exercisable in
writing on or before a date which is at least ______ (number) days prior to the
end of the Initial Term, to extend this Agreement for an additional _____
(number) year period ( Extended Term ), unless sooner terminated, suspended or
extended in accordance with the terms provided for herein.
The Initial Term and the Extended Term, to the extent exercised and in effect, are
collectively referred to herein as the Term.
4. Exclusivity During the Term, Producer agrees to render his services solely and exclusively
for Company, and will not perform services for any other person or business in
connection with any other entertainment industry project without the prior written
consent of Company.
5. Payment A. Base Salary
As full and complete compensation for all services rendered and the rights
granted by Producer to Company hereunder, Company agrees to pay Producer
and Producer agrees to accept a salary of $___________ for the Initial Term with
increases of $___________ and $___________ respectively for the second and
third years after the Initial Term, if Company exercises the options described in
Paragraph 3.B above. The Base Salary will be payable in equal monthly
installments on Company's standard payroll day.
B. Additional Consideration In addition to the Base Salary payable to Producer as set forth above,
Producer will be entitled to receive the following sums set forth below:
1. Residuals: With respect to all programming on which Producer
renders his services hereunder, Producer will be entitled to receive
additional compensation of $___________ for each episode of the series.
The foregoing constitutes one-time payments for each episode of any
series for which Producer renders services hereunder.
2. The residuals, less any applicable deductions required by law will
be payable within _____ (number) days following the initial exploitation of
the series episodes.
3. The residuals will be payable to Producer during and after the
expiration of the Term of this Agreement. Such residuals will be payable to
Producer after the expiration of the Term at the same time and in the
same manner as if such were payable during the Term.
C. Fringe Benefits
Producer will be entitled to the following fringe benefits, which benefits will
terminate upon the expiration of the Term hereof or the termination of Producer's
services as provided for herein. 1. Medical Insurance: Producer will be eligible to participate in
Company's medical and health plan or other similar benefit plans generally
made available to other employees of Company in accordance with the
terms thereof, as such terms may change from time to time and subject to
Producer cooperating with and successfully passing any medical
examinations required in connection with such benefits.
2. Life Insurance: Provided Producer qualifies for life insurance at
normal premium rates, Company will pay for the premiums on a
$________ term life insurance policy during the Term.
6. Office Company will provide Producer with a suitable, furnished office for Producer's
sole use wherever Company maintains its principal offices, prepaid parking, and will
employ a secretary or an assistant reasonably approved by Producer for Producer's
sole use at a salary approved by Company.
7. Expenses
Producer will be regularly reimbursed (no less frequently than monthly) for all
necessary and reasonable business expenses incurred by Producer in the scope of
Producer's engagement hereunder upon submission of itemized expenses (together
with original receipts wherever possible) in the manner and at the time specified by
Company. If any expenses are substantial or exceed the parameters of Company's
normal expense reimbursement procedures, Producer will obtain the approval of
Company prior to incurring such expense.
8. Business Travel
When required by Company to render services at an overnight location outside of
Producer's city of residence, Company will provide or reimburse Producer for the cost of
round-trip, business class transportation and business class hotel accommodations in
accordance with Company policy with respect to such matters.
9. Car Allowance Company will provide Producer with a monthly car allowance during the Term in
the amount of $__________, payable on a monthly basis.
10. Vacation Producer will be entitled to annual paid vacations in accordance with the vacation
policy of Company.
11. Capacity to Contract
Producer will have no right or authority to and will not employ any person in any
capacity, nor contract for the purchase or rental on behalf of Company of any materials
nor incur any obligations on behalf of Company whereby Company is required to pay
any monies or incur liability, without the prior consent of Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Company agrees that Producer will have the right to employ persons and
make obligations on behalf of Company provided such elements are contained within a
budget previously approved by Company.
12. Name and LikenessCompany and its successors, licensees and assigns will have the non-exclusive
and perpetual right, but not the obligation, to use and license the use of Producer's
name, photograph, approved likeness and biographical data
_____________________________ (Name and Likeness) for the following:
A. In billing and credits with respect to any series produced during the Term;
B. In publicizing Producer's services hereunder or the results and proceeds
of all Producer's services hereunder in connection with any series produced
during the Term, which right may be exercised by Company or any distributor,
network, sponsor, advertising agency or licensee of exhibition rights in the series;
C. In connection with the publication or other exploitation of ancillary products
derived from any series produced hereunder; and
D. In connection with all publicity related to the series and the general
business of Company.
Producer will give prior notice to and coordinate with Company any and all
publicity and interviews in connection with Producer's services hereunder.
13. Death or Disability A. In the event of Producer's death during the Term, this Agreement will
terminate and Company will be obligated to pay Producer's estate only that
portion of Base Salary and Additional Consideration, if any, earned and accruing
to Producer pursuant to Paragraph 5.B through the date of termination.
B. In the event that Producer is substantially unable to perform the services
required hereunder as the result of physical or mental disability, as determined
by Company (including consultation with Producer's physician, if any) and such
disability continues for a period of _______ (number) consecutive weeks,
Company will have the right, at its option, to terminate Producer's employment
hereunder upon ten days' written notice at any time after the ______ (number) -
week period, so long as the disability is continuing at the time of such notice, and
Company will be obligated to Producer for only that portion of the Base Salary
and Additional Compensation, if any, earned and accruing to Producer pursuant
to Paragraph 5.B of the through the date of termination.
14. Force Majeure
In the event that Company sells or otherwise transfers substantially all of its
business assets to an unrelated third party or suspends substantially all of its business
operations as a result of an event of force majeure (i.e., the interruption of Company's
normal business operations caused by any disruptive event including, but not limited to,
a labor dispute or strike which is beyond Company's control) and if such event of force
majeure continues for a period of _______ (number) consecutive weeks, effective as
of the date of the commencement of the event of force majeure, then Company may
terminate Producer's services hereunder and Company will be obligated to pay
Producer only that portion of the Base Salary and Additional Compensation, if any,
earned and accruing to Producer pursuant to Paragraph 5.B through the date of
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Company terminates Producer's services
pursuant to this Paragraph and at any time during the Term hereof recommences its
business operations and if Producer is available when Company requires his services,
then Producer will be offered the opportunity to render services to Company as provided
herein for the balance of the previous engagement in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, and such offer will be accepted, if at all, in writing by
Producer within ______ (number) business days after the offer is received, and, if not,
the offer will be deemed rejected.
15. Insurance Company has the right to secure in its own name or otherwise, and at its own
expense, life, health, accident and other insurance covering Producer. Producer will
have no right, title or interest in and to such insurance. Producer will assist Company in
procuring such insurance by submitting to examinations and by signing such
applications and other instruments as may be reasonably be required by the insurance
carrier to which application is made for any such insurance. Producer's own physician
may be present at any such examinations, at Producer's sole cost and expense,
provided that Producer's physician will not interfere with any such examination.
16. Warranties Producer warrants and represents that:
A. Producer has the right to enter into this Agreement and to grant to
Company any and all rights and services set forth herein.
B. Producer is not subject to any obligation or disability which will or might
prevent or interfere with the performance by Producer of all of the covenants,
conditions, and agreements to be performed and observed by Producer
hereunder, and Producer has not made nor will make any contractual or other
commitments which would inhibit the full performance of this Agreement by
Producer.
C. This Agreement is not subject to any claim against Company for fees or
commissions by any of Producer's agents or personal representatives or any
other person, firm or corporation.
D. All material created, added and/or otherwise contributed by Producer
pursuant to this Agreement (collectively the Material) is wholly original with
Producer and no part thereof is taken from, based upon, or adapted from any
other literary material, dramatic work or television program (other than material
fully cleared by Producer or in the public domain) and the full use of the Material,
or any part thereof, as herein granted will not, to the best of Producer's
knowledge, in any way violate or infringe upon any copyright belonging to any
person or entity or constitute a libel or defamation of, or an invasion of the rights
of privacy of or otherwise violate or infringe upon any other right or rights
whatsoever of any person or entity.
E. To the best of Producer's knowledge, there is no outstanding claim or
litigation pending against the title or ownership of the Material or any part thereof
or in the rights therein.
F. Producer has not assigned nor licensed to any other person or entity or in
any manner encumbered or hypothecated any of the rights herein granted to
Company with respect to the Material, nor has Producer agreed to do so.
G. The foregoing warranties and representations are made by Producer to
induce Company to execute this Agreement. Producer hereby indemnifies and
agrees to hold Company and their officers, employees, directors, agents and
licensees, harmless against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection
with a breach or alleged breach by Producer of any of the warranties,
representations or agreements contained in this Agreement.
17. Errors and Omissions Insurance Company agrees to make application to add Producer as an additional insured
under Company's errors and omissions insurance policy with respect to all projects in
connection with which Producer renders services pursuant to this Agreement, subject to
the terms, conditions and restrictions of said policy, including any deductible or policy
limits, provided that (i) the inclusion of Producer on such policy will not relieve Producer
in any way from producer's representations, warranties and indemnities contained
herein, and (ii) Company will not be responsible to producer if its insurance carrier
refuses such application.
18. Ownership The results and proceeds of Producer's services hereunder including, without
limitation, in connection with the Property, are and shall be deemed a work-made-for-
hire as an employee of Company. Company will exclusively own all now known or
hereafter existing rights of every kind throughout the universe in perpetuity, and in all
languages, the results and proceeds of the Materials that Producer has furnished
hereunder, free and clear of any claims by Producer (or anyone claiming under or on
behalf of Producer) of any kind or character whatsoever for all now known or hereinafter
invented uses, media and forms including, without limitation, all copyrights thereof in
and to motion picture, home video, television, sequel, remake and allied rights therein.
The foregoing is inclusive of a full assignment to Company thereof. If under any
applicable law the fact that the Property is a work-made-for-hire is not effective to place
authorship and ownership of the Property and all rights therein in Company, then to the
fullest extent allowable and for the full term of protection otherwise accorded to
Producer under such applicable law, including without limitation, for the full term of any
copyrights, Producer hereby assigns and transfers to Company all right, title and
interest of Producer in the Property. Producer agrees to execute such further
instruments as Company may from time to time reasonably deem necessary or
desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, protect, enforce or defend its right,
title or interest in or to the Property.
19. Equitable ReliefProducer acknowledges that the services to be rendered by Producer under the
terms of this Agreement, and the rights and privileges granted to Company by Producer
herein, are of a special, unique, extraordinary and intellectual character which gives
them a peculiar value, the loss of which cannot be reasonably or adequately
compensated in damages in any action at law, and that a breach by Producer of any of
the provisions contained in this Agreement will cause Company irreparable injury and
damage. Producer acknowledges that Company is entitled to the remedies of injunction,
special performance and other equitable relief for a breach of this Agreement by
Producer. Such right of equitable relief will not act as a waiver of any other rights or
remedies available to Company. In the event of breach of this Agreement by Company,
Producer acknowledges and agrees that under no circumstances will Producer be
entitled to injunctive or equitable relief, nor will Producer have the right to rescind this
agreement, Producer's sole remedy in the event of such breach is limited to an action at
law to recover monetary damages.
20. Termination A. Company may terminate this Agreement and Producer's engagement
hereunder at any time for cause. For purposes of this agreement, the term cause
will mean conviction of Producer for any felony or any lesser crime involving the
property of Company, willful misconduct or gross negligence by Producer in
connection with the performance of Producer's duties hereunder.
B. Upon termination of this Agreement for cause, Company will only be
obligated to pay Producer that portion of the Base Salary and Additional
Compensation, if any, earned and accruing to Producer pursuant to Paragraph
5.B through the date of termination of Producer's engagement. In the event the
cause can be cured by Producer, Company will afford Producer a ______
(number) business day period from the date of written notice thereof to effect the
cure, and this Agreement may not be terminated during such _____ (number)
business day period.
C. Company will have the right to terminate Producer's employment at any
time without cause. In the event Producer's services are terminated by Company
other than for cause, death or disability prior to the completion of the Term,
Producer will receive the Base Salary for the balance of the Term, payable in
equal installments no less frequently than semimonthly.
21. 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.
22. No Waiver
The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any
of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving
any such terms and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and
effect as if no such forbearance or waiver had occurred.
23. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of _________________.
24. Notices Any notice provided for or concerning this Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be deemed sufficiently given when sent by certified or registered mail if sent to the
respective address of each party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.
25. Attorney’s Fees In the event that any lawsuit is filed in relation to this Agreement, the
unsuccessful party in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the
sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful
party's attorney fees.
26. Mandatory 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.
27. 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.
28. Modification of AgreementAny 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.
29. Assignment of Rights 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.
30. Counterparts This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and
the same instrument.
31. In this Agreement, 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 Company)
________________________ By:_______________________________
(Printed Name of Producer) ___________________________
________________________ (Printed Name & Office in Corporation)
(Signature of Producer) ___________________________
(Signature of Officer)