What’s Included in a Reality TV Collaboration Agreement?
If you’re filming a reality television series, you’re going to need to take steps in advance to protect yourself. In fact, before you can begin filming you’re going to need a reality TV collaboration agreement. Filmmaking, even producing a reality TV show, requires proper permissions. As well as agreement forms to be signed prior to any production taking place. But what’s included in a reality TV collaboration agreement?
The reality TV collaboration agreement defines individual obligations and contributions that will be made by each of the creators of the show as well as the individual ownership percentages for each creator involved in the production.
You might be thinking, “I’m writing a reality show with my business partner and friend, we don’t need a formal agreement” You’re wrong!
Business partners, and friends too, can change their minds. They can have disputes, and later decide they want to have more control over a project than they technically may. All based on a verbal agreement.
A written reality TV collaboration agreement can save you from any potential legal repercussions. That is, should anyone involved in the creation of the reality TV show change their minds.
The Basics
Before you produce any reality television show, you’re going to have to create your storyline.
The idea and how the reality show is to come together, represents a unique early stage of pre-production in which it’s important to outline the details of the show, how it will work, who will be involved and other needs.
Every reality TV collaboration agreement is going to include the following basic and essential details:
- Names of the parties entering into the agreement.
- Dates upon which the agreement is entered into.
- A description of the work that is being created and by whom each aspect of the work is fulfilled.
- The percentages of work to be fulfilled by each creator on the agreement.
Rights to Copyright
In addition to the basics, a reality TV collaboration agreement is going to dictate the individual rights to copyright the work. The agreement should specify that the copyright can be registered in the names involved in the collaboration.
This is important because without the collaboration agreement, there is risk that someone involved in the creation of the reality tv production could attempt to acquire copyright without seeking permission from others involved.
Credits
The reality TV collaboration agreement is also going to dictate the credits that will be provided for the screenplay and to whom those credits will be given. If the screenplay is written by four people, whose name shows first in the rolling credits?
You can see how this could easily create a fight among “friends” or “business partners” who are equally vying for the attention that would come from a credit that shows first, rather than last. This is yet another reason why a reality TV collaboration agreement is important.
Additional Items in the Reality TV Collaboration Agreement
In addition to the above details, your reality TV collaboration agreement is going to include the following information:
- Details on what happens if someone backs out or does not fulfill their percentage of the agreement.
- Details on how disputes will be handled between the collaborators.
- Information on expenses and how those will be paid as well as how the funds from potential sale of a screenplay would be dispersed (and who has the authority to decide to sell).
- Information regarding licenses and who holds them.
- Additional provisions that are agreed to between collaborators.
The Takeaway
As you can see, there’s a lot involved in a reality TV collaboration agreement but with some review, and the support of an attorney, you can be on your way to understanding exactly what’s involved.
