On Location Contract Lawyer NYC Francelina M. Perdomo Klukosky - Perdomo Law

What Are On Location Contracts?

An on location contract is a legally binding document stating all of the facts of the film shoot. It is a legal document that protects both the landowner and the filming agency. The details of the document will vary depending on the location as well as the film. An on location contract lawyer will help both parties come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

According to Francelina M. Perdomo Klukosky, most on location contracts give a time frame of how long the film crew can be at the location as well as any loopholes if extenuating circumstances come up that prevent the film from being completed on time. For instance, if a film crew has 3 months to finish but 2 months in a huge blizzard hits, halting production, then there should be a clause in the contract that will extend the period due to unforeseen circumstances.

The contract will also state where the crew can be, for example, if they are on private property, then the contract may state that they have free roam on the property but the home itself is off-limits. This protects not only the film crew’s rights but the property owner's as well.

There are also monetary benefits to the landowner with an on location contract. The contract will state exactly how much the film company will pay the landowner and when. For instance, the film company may pay a partial payment up front and the rest upon completion, or they may pay it all in one lump sum depending on what is agreed on in the on location contract. This also protects the film company by stating what the price of each element of the film will cost; if they stay on location longer than expected, the added fees will be calculated into the contract so there will be no surprises on either end.