What You Get

  • 6-Part Training Series: Legal & Business Essentials For Documentary Filmmakers - Step-by-step training series covering 80+ of the most common legal issues for documentary filmmakers. Entertainment Attorney Gordon Firemark covers your rights as a filmmaker and all the necessary legal items you need to know to keep your film safe.

  • Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Starter Pack] - the 8 most common forms you'll need during the making of your documentary (Talent Release, Location Release, Materials Release, etc)

  • Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Post-Production Pack] - All the most common forms you'll need during the post-production phase (Voice Talent Agreement, Music Master Use License and more!)

  • Certificate of Completion - Get a high-quality personalized digital Certificate of Completion when you complete the Documentary Legal & Business Essentials Course

Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Starter Pack]

  • Talent Release Form
  • Location Release Form
  • Materials Release Form
  • Group Release Form
  • Extra/Background Release
  • Poster-Style Release For Shooting in Public Spaces
  • Crew Deal Memo
  • Life Rights Option Agreement

Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Post-Production Pack]

  • Voice Talent Agreement
  • Music Master Use License
  • Music Synchronization License
  • Music Composer Agreement - (work for hire)
  • Music Composer Agreement - (License style)
  • 3rd Party Content License for Clips, Artwork, Products, Brands, etc

6-Part Training Series: Documentary Legal & Business Essentials

In addition to the 14 legal forms/templates, you get Legal & Business Essentials for Documentary Filmmakers with Entertainment Attorney Gordon Firemark. In this 6-part/21 video series, he covers THE most essential legal issues you need to know when making a documentary. 

Topics covered include copyright, fair use, defamation, E&O insurance, chain of title, permits/releases, contracts, music licensing and more.

A database of 100+ legal video Q&As, of common filmmaker questions answered by Gordon Firemark, are also included inside the course as an added bonus.

WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING

"Gives confidence"

by Fairlie Arrow/Storynmotion Films

"I love Gordon’s course. As a documentary filmmaker, understanding the must-know legal and business essentials gives me the confidence in knowing where I stand dealing with everything from pre-production through post, especially when it comes to making sure I have all the required paperwork to move forward. Great course to have under your belt."
Fairlie Arrow

"Excellent!"

By Matthew Richardson/Pele Pictures

"I loved how the legal was explained clearly with examples and the Q & A from other students in each section of the course. It answered 95% of my questions."

"Very thorough and helpful"

By Annette King/Splicer Films

"We felt confident starting production with all the release and legal forms necessary to protect our interests and mitigate any legal risk. Thank you to Gordon for very helpful resources and openness to discuss specific use cases!"

"Worth the Investment"

by Leonard Smith III/LS3 Studios

"This came at the perfect time. It's worth the investment if you are serious about filmmaking."

"SO well done"

by Bob Williams/Films For Good

"SO well done - simple, but not too simple. Comprehensive, but not exhausting. I particularly liked the ability to have both slides and video to go back and forth between, and to use as reference. The quiz questions were very fair - and affirming. Frankly I did not expect to so throughly enjoy what frankly is a bit dry bunch of stuff! Congratulations! This is not easy to do!"

About Attorney Gordon P. Firemark

Attorney At Law Gordon P. Firemark

Mr. Firemark is an entertainment attorney based in California and also teaches Entertainment Law in Columbia College Hollywood's film program. He's the producer and host of Entertainment Law Update, a podcast for artists and professionals in the entertainment industries and the author of The Podcast, Blog and New Media Producer’s Legal Survival Guide. The Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark cover intellectual property, cyberspace, new media and business/corporate matters for clients in the entertainment industry. More Info: Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark; Theatre, Film, TV & New Media

Use With Confidence

  • Word docs (.docx)

    All forms & contracts come in Microsoft Word for easy editing.

  • Attorney Certified

    Created by a Hollywood-based entertainment attorney.

  • Doc Filmmakers

    Created exclusively for documentary filmmakers.

"Outstanding!"

"This course is excellent. What I love most is the simplicity. It's an outstanding tool!"
-- Thadius Bonapart III / Bonapart Media


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