Creative talents are some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, garnering fans around the globe and giving back to the world through their art forms. The contracts they enter help serve to drive the entertainment industry forward, especially in the areas of motion pictures, television, theater, news, podcast, radio, fashion, music, and more.
At The Hollywood Lawyer, we serve the diverse needs of a wide range of creative talent, including actors, writers, directors, producers, radio, television and podcast personalities, playwrights, composers, musicians, comedians, models, and designers. As a trusted Beverly Hills talent representation lawyer, our team works with our clients to evaluate, strategize, and negotiate the full
scope of talent agreements and counsel them on entertainment industry best practices. Along with working closely with our clients’ professional advisers on all matters, we also provide transactional legal support, ranging from studio and network deals to independent projects. At the center of every opportunity in which our clients participate is a contractual relationship established in a talent agreement.
General Talent Agreements
Talent agreements help ensure that actors, writers, directors, producers, on-air talent, musicians, designers, and other artists receive fair compensation for their labor and that the terms comply with industry best practices. They also protect producers to make sure they get everything that the talent agrees to.
Some of the most common terms in talent agreements include:
A detailed description of the project
A detailed description of how the talent will be credited for the project, including role name, role level, and positioning within a cast list
Expected time frame for pre-production, production, and post-production
Compensation amount, frequency, and contingencies
Options for additional services, seasons, or sequels
Exclusivity with regard to the project’s pre-production, production, and post-production periods
Who will hold approval rights for talent likeness
Whether there will be nude scenes
If material changes to script or score will likely be needed
Additional benefits to which the talent will be entitled, including travel accommodations, assistants, stylists, dressing room accommodations, transportation services, and per diem allowances
Indemnity clauses
Insurance information
Talent Management and Agency Agreements
Across the entertainment industry, managers and agencies provide the most services for talent: advancing their career by finding opportunities for them to pursue. Managers and agents are artists’ primary liaison with studios, publishers, producers, and fashion houses. To incentivize the manager or agency to invest time and effort on the talent’s behalf, managers and agents will generally work on a commission basis and earn a percentage of the talent’s relevant income.
Some of the most important terms within an agreement between talent and a manager or agency include:
How long the relationship will last
The percentage of commission to which the manager or agency is entitled
Who will be responsible for expenses that arise in the course of the relationship
Exclusivity provisions with regard to how the talent may seek or negotiate opportunities
Talent Agreements for Side Artists
In a side-artist talent agreement, a musician, writer, or other type of artist may contract with another artist to contribute to their original work. It is advisable for each side to seek the guidance from a Beverly Hills talent representation attorney to avoid complications later on.
Some of the most important terms to include within a side artist agreement include:
How the parties will assign royalties, copyright, and payments
The duration of the agreement
Clear details about the project on which the two artists are collaborating
Provisions with regard to how disputes will be handled
Other Talent Representation Services We Provide
In addition to the talent representation services relating to talent agreements listed above, our experienced legal team also regularly assists clients across the entertainment industry with respect meeting all of their business needs.
Even if your specific situation or legal need is not listed here, we can help you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see how The Hollywood Lawyer’s detail-oriented approach and experience can drive your career or business forward.