music for film contract

[enhues]

Bad deal, they want you to do it for free AND they own it? I would definitely try to modify the contract so that you retain ownership and freedom to distribute as you see fit.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by enhues

Bad deal, they want you to do it for free AND they own it? I would definitely try to modify the contract so that you retain ownership and freedom to distribute as you see fit.

Yes most film studios own the music written for their films, which is why you can hear cues from one movie used in the trailer for other movies from the same studio. But those composers got PAID, you are not. Tell them they can pay you now, or later (by you retaining your music rights).

They are just looking for something for nothing, and trying to make you feel like this is your "big chance," which it ain't

TH

[rhizomeman]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Yes most film studios own the music written for their films, which is why you can hear cues from one movie used in the trailer for other movies from the same studio. But those composers got PAID, you are not. Tell them they can pay you now, or later (by you retaining your music rights).

They are just looking for something for nothing, and trying to make you feel like this is your "big chance," which it ain't

TH

This^ Either get paid OR retain ownership rights - let them pick, or don't do it.

[drBill]

Ditto. Either you OWN the music outright, or they pay you and they own it. They can't have their cake and eat it too - so to speak. If they deny that, I'd walk.

[recordinghopkins]

Not a chance. Tell 'em to take a hike.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Yes most film studios own the music written for their films, which is why you can hear cues from one movie used in the trailer for other movies from the same studio. But those composers got PAID, you are not. Tell them they can pay you now, or later (by you retaining your music rights).

They are just looking for something for nothing, and trying to make you feel like this is your "big chance," which it ain't

TH

Most films don't really "own" the music. They own the recordings and they sign up the publishing 100% retaining exclusive use rights; the writers share still stays with the composer & you still have right of veto for none core project use (i.e. further commercial exploitation in synch etc). In essence the same power as owning but isn't ownership. To OWN the rights of music it'd be a work for hire agreement and these have very recently been shown to be not enforceable in law without pension, healthcare and taxation etc as a full time employee. A film company trying to "own" music outright through a work for hire agreement would be lining itself up for a court case and null contract when this goes through the mill as it will over the next few years.



The deal is bobbins though and you are absolutely right; this is nobodies "big chance". How about "yea the musics owned by the company but i want an exec producer credit and 5% ownership of the movie"....

[gsilbers]

Originally Posted by narcoman

Most films don't really "own" the music. They own the recordings and they sign up the publishing 100% retaining exclusive use rights; the writers share still stays with the composer & you still have right of veto for none core project use (i.e. further commercial exploitation in synch etc). In essence the same power as owning but isn't ownership. To OWN the rights of music it'd be a work for hire agreement and these have very recently been shown to be not enforceable in law without pension, healthcare and taxation etc as a full time employee. A film company trying to "own" music outright through a work for hire agreement would be lining itself up for a court case and null contract when this goes through the mill as it will over the next few years.



The deal is bobbins though and you are absolutely right; this is nobodies "big chance". How about "yea the musics owned by the company but i want an exec producer credit and 5% ownership of the movie"....

this is correct.

[Jeff Hayat]

Going to throw out another idea here.

I agree with the they can't have their cake and eat it too scenario. If they are not paying you a fee upfront (or upon completion) do this: tell them you will score the film, take no fee, but would like to get paid x-amount of dollars down the road, should the movie turn a profit. You remain the copyright holder of all of the music that you have written for the film. You will grant them a 2-year exclusive license, thus guaranteeing that the music will not be used anywhere else for any purpose for the next two years. If, at the conclusion of the 2-year period, they have paid you the agreed upon sum, the music stays exclusive to the film forever. If they have not, you are now free to take that music and do with it as you pleae, including but not limited to using that music in other films, and giving some or all of the tracks to music libraries. This puts you in position to possibly make some money from the music you have spent time composing.

Best of luck.

[4peanuts]

Sorry guys I have been away. Thanks a lot for the replies, will read through them now

[soundslikejoe]

NEVER agree to this type of "deal." I would rant about how these people are trying to screw you but I can't, because I believe they just don't have a clue regarding how things work. Whoever this is likely read something in "How to Make a Great Movie For Free" and they are just trying to cover their butt without really understanding the situation.

All the advice you've been given is excellent. Don't do it with this agreement.

I would run it this way..... Do it for free if you want but retain all the rights (composer and publisher) and limit their license to "not for profit" activities like festivals or screenings. If they make any money, have a clause in the contract that gives you a percentage off the top (before expenses) with a cap that limits you to a maximum of $X. You keep all the rights. Period. (Unless they are willing to pay you per cue on top of your creative fee.)

If they aren't willing to be understanding of your contribution and your goodwill and negotiate a fair contract, they are probably not the type of people you want to deal with.

[GearAndGuitars]

Originally Posted by 4peanuts

hi guys,

I have been asked to write the music for an upcoming short film for free and the director says "all music created is copyrighted to the movie, in a royalty free contract" - is this normal?

I am happy to do it for free in return for using it in my showreel

Thanks,
Chris

If they're not paying you, you keep the rights in the master recordings and all copyrights in the 100% publishing. What they get is a perpetual licenses for use as synchronized, in the film, in context.

If they pay you (and how much) determines any transfer in ownership in masters or copyrights.

[itisnick]

What's being talked about I think is usually called work for hire. Meaning they pay you with the understanding they now entirely own all rights to work done under their hire. It's done and sometimes insisted on by the film company's lawyers.

Obviously not being paid and their keeping all the rights doesn't work as an equation.

Maybe you want to suss out their motivations for expecting that and negotiate something better. After all this deal means they can use your material badly as stock music in anything else they do from here on out. Hire it out too.

Maybe you want to sign a contract that the music is created for their exclusive use in a specific project but you retain ownership. If you or they have further plans for it's use then you will open negotiations at that point.

[jrhager84]

I'd never take that deal. I'd renegotiate, or walk.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by itisnick

What's being talked about I think is usually called work for hire. Meaning they pay you with the understanding they now entirely own all rights to work done under their hire. It's done and sometimes insisted on by the film company's lawyers.

Exactly. Work for hire is no longer legally enforceable. If a film company writes this sort of contract it would not hold up under legal scrutiny if any issues happened. You can only be under a work for hire agreement if you are employed - and that means a contracted time period with hours, line manager, insurance, benefits and salary with taxation at source. A film company cannot do this easily with music. Nor do they want to.

Originally Posted by itisnick

Obviously not being paid and their keeping all the rights doesn't work as an equation.

And they can't legally do it either. A lot of companies DO it - but with legal action they find themselves in a whole heap of bother. There is future business in indemnifying older contracts against WFH law suits for both parties.

[AwwDeOhh]

RUN!
this is not anything resembling a 'good' or fair deal. This is NOT how you build up your reel.

You will be branded the go to guy for FREE work, and you will never earn a dime now or in the future. You also bring down the standard for the rest of us if you take such deals. If they don't move a LOT on their terms, run and don't give it a second thought.

[Jared Paul]

Anything ever happen with this, OP? You get a better deal?