4. What you’ll learn today
• Why you need contracts
• What you should include in your
contracts
• Types of business entities
• Reasons for forming a business entity
• Answer YOUR questions
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5. DISCLAIMER
Legal advice is the application of law to an
individual's specific circumstances. This
webinar has been prepared for general
information purposes only, is not legal
advice, and is not to be acted on as such.
Please consult your own lawyer for
information and advice that is particular to
your situation.
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6. Why bother with a contract?
Enforceability issues,
misunderstandings
• Memorandum of
Understanding
• Letter of Intent
• Oral agreement
• Email exchanges
VS.
• Contract
• Schedule A
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10. Work-for-Hire
Intellectual Property
No WFH = No Ownership
(Just a license,
usually limited in scope and duration)
“The Work contributed by Contractor hereunder shall be considered a “work made
for hire” as defined by the copyright laws of the United States. Company shall be
the sole and exclusive owner and copyright proprietor of all rights and title in and to
the results and proceeds of Contractor’s services hereunder in whatever stage of
completion. If for any reason the results and proceeds of Contractor’s services
hereunder are determined at any time not to be a “work made for hire”,
Contractor hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to Company all right, title, and
interest therein, including all copyrights, as well as all renewals and extensions
thereto.”
11. Indemnification
Fancy name for
“reimbursement”
“Contractor hereby agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Company, its
successors, licensees and assigns, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages,
costs, or expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from
any breach by Contractor of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by
Contractor hereunder.”
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14. Alexis’ process for
onboarding new clients
• Phone call to learn more about client
• Send client proposal (outlines goals,
packages and fees)
• Contract
• Strategy
• Full steam ahead
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15. More tips from Alexis
A few more things I like to include in
contracts…
•How long the client has to pay (30, 45
or 60 days)
•Any materials that will NOT become
the client’s if you sever the relationship
•Review of deliverables and fees at the
one-year mark
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16. Where to find contract templates
•
•
•
•
Hire a lawyer
Pro bono organization
Books (i.e. published by American
Bar Association: Legal Guide to
Independent Filmmaking)
Unions and professional
organizations: SAG, ASCAP, ASMP
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18. Why Form a Business Entity?
Tax Implications, Personal Liability, Reputation
Sole Proprietorship
Types:
Partnership
LLP
LLC
S-Corp
C-Corp
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19. How to form an LLC
Who you gonna call? Secretary of
State
1.Articles of Organization
2.Operating agreement
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