Filmmaking is unpredictable. As challenges arise, productions alter and evolve. Film crew contracts shield crew members and production companies against the ever-changing filmmaking process. Video creation isn’t just about art. Sometimes you must be businesslike and negotiate roles and duties. Between scripting, storyboarding, filming, and editing, you’ll be working closely with your client to deliver their vision. Your production company needs a video production contract template. By ensuring that both sides understand the shoot’s goals, objectives, and expectations, you can ensure a successful working relationship from the start. You can also give your client a video production proposal. A video production contract template protects your rights as a freelancer, your company’s rights, and your client’s rights. This agreement includes payment, the video production project, your videography services, intellectual property ownership, and more.

3+ Video Contract Proposal Samples

Contracts are lengthy. Let’s define a videography contract before analyzing its content. A cameraman and employer sign a videography contract, often called a deal document. The contract includes employment dates, fees and rates, travel, booking methods, crew requirements, insurance, etc. A videographer-client contract protects both parties. A videography contract is important to protect yourself from default, secure sufficient financial recompense, and specify the job’s requirements.

1. Video Contract Proposal

video contract proposal

Details
File Format
  • MS Word
  • Apple Pages
  • Google Docs

Download

2. Sample Video Contract Proposal

Details
File Format
  • PDF

Size: 101 KB

Download

3. Simple Video Contract Proposal

Details
File Format
  • PDF

Size: 145 KB

Download

What to Include?

Fundamentals
Before getting into details, identify who the contract is with and their relationship. A professional, legally binding video production contract template will reassure your clients that you’re an industry expert.

Tasks/Scope of Work
Next, detail the project’s scope. If you’ve agreed on something verbally, by email, or certified letter, include it in the contract. A video creative brief can help you capture as much detail as possible. Be clear. Timeframes and deadlines should be dated. If you’re creating the script and filming the content, specify how many revisions you’ll make. Otherwise, the scope could be interpreted differently, causing disagreement.

Responsibilities & requirements
Every good video production contract template outlines the project’s details. Name who’s responsible for what and when you’ll need items. If you’re shooting an ad for a local company, you may require supervised access to their land or a high-res logo for an overlay. Your client may choose a videographer or editor over a producer. Confirm if they need all your services or switch to a video editing contract.

Goals
Next, list the project’s milestones, dates, and deadlines. Be clear when anything is due, like a production charge or exclusive access. If your customer is late delivering you a logo or granting you access to something, it could affect your timelines and ability to meet your deadline. If you don’t mention this in your production contract, you may be stuck with the initial deadline.

Delivery dates
Here, be specific about your tasks and deadlines. How long will the writing take, when should the editing be done, or what dates do you need for filming? You should answer these questions thoroughly.

Terms
Best freelance videographers won’t work without a contract. Why? Before filming, you must agree on how much, when, and how you’ll get paid. You decide the price and manner of payment, but you may want to structure a payment schedule. Having your own videography invoice ensures criteria are satisfied. Videographers and producers might request a deposit. This protects your cash flow, business, and provisions.

Watermark ownership
Anything you send to the client for approval during the project should include a watermark. You should also emphasize that they won’t receive a watermark-free version until final payment. This protects your intellectual property, clarifies what the client owns, and prevents them from stealing your finished video.

Refund policy
Even the finest videomakers overbook. A cancellation clause specifies who’s responsible for finding a new video producer and if there are any refunds or fees. This protects videographers from unreliable clients.

Contract cancellation
You and the client must agree on contract termination. On a certain day or after the complete payment. Include early termination reasons, such as a written notice period or breached agreements.

FAQs

Why is compensation important in videomaking?

In a videography client contract, pay is a key component. Here, the videographer specifies daily, weekly, or project-based rates and fees. This information ensures the videographer is paid the agreed-upon rate. This includes overtime, reshoots, down days, prep days, etc.

What should be the workdays of a videographer client?

A videographer client contract should include a workday and compensation rate. Defining the maximum workday length. These 12-hour days exclude meal breaks. This protects the cameraman from extended workdays.

Why is it important to include crew requirements?

As the project’s video lead, a videographer will include crew requirements in a contract. Project size determines this. Larger projects may need videographers, grips, etc. Before production, add the project’s crew requirements because this will boost costs. Employer and videographer will be on the same page with the additional tasks mentioned in the contract.

The videographer is one of the many roles on a film set that could have a service contract or agreement memo. Check out some of the video contract proposal samples and templates that are offered in the article for your reference if you’d like to see additional examples and forms.

Related Posts