Depiction Release, Option Purchase Format Letter of Intent Legal Forms and Contracts

The following free agreement or letter of intent should be used to secure the release of a person or individual's life for a movie or motion picture. This letter and contract is being provided for information and research purposes only, however it is a very detailed legal contract and agreement. Help improve this contract by leaving a comment.

DEPICTION RELEASE, OPTION PURCHASE FORMAT

(Deal Memo)

__________________

__________________
__________________
__________________

Dear __________________:

It was a pleasure speaking to you recently. As I mentioned, I am interested in producing a television program or feature film about your life story.

This letter is intended to set forth the basic terms of our agreement regarding acquisition of the exclusive right and option to purchase all motion picture, television and allied rights concerning your life story. Please feel free to consult an entertainment attorney or an agent before signing this document.

Our agreement is as follows:

1) In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein payment of __________________ (The Option Price), and other valuable consideration, you grant my company, __________________. ("__________________"), the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase the motion picture, television and all allied, ancillary and subsidiary rights for the period of one year from the date of the signing of this agreement. __________________ shall have the right to extend the initial option period for an additional year by sending notice to you before the expiration of the initial period, along with the payment of __________________ which sum shall be __________________ against the full purchase price.

2) __________________ promises to use its best efforts to produce a television program or feature film about your life story, and is acting in reliance upon your promises in this agreement.

3) If the option is exercised, __________________ shall compensate you as full and final consideration for all rights conveyed as follows:

a) Television Movie-of-the-week or Mini-Series: A sum of __________________ for a motion picture made for television based on the material.

b) Theatrical Motion Picture: A sum of __________________ for a theatrical motion picture based on the material.

c) Television Series: A sum of __________________ for the pilot episode and the sum of __________________ for each episode after that.

Unless otherwise stated, all of the consideration described in this paragraph 3 shall be payable upon completion of principal photography.

4) Consulting Services: At my request, you agree to serve as a creative consultant concerning any production made under this agreement. You shall receive __________________ per week for each week your services are required, not to exceed four weeks unless both parties agree otherwise. If you are required to travel more than fifty miles from your home, __________________ shall furnish you with roundtrip transportation and accommodations. Before the time that the option is exercised, at __________________ request you shall disclose, without compensation, any information in your possession or under your control relating to your life story, including newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, transcripts and notes, and you will consult with any writer hired by __________________, and share with him your observations, recollections, opinions and experiences concerning events and activities in your life story.

5) If the option is exercised, __________________ will obtain the perpetual, exclusive and irrevocable right to depict you, whether wholly or partially factual or fictional, and to use your name or likeness and voice, and biography concerning the material and any production and the advertising and exploitation of it in any and all media. While it is __________________ intention to portray your story as factually as possible, __________________ shall have the right to include such actual or fictional events, scenes, situations and dialogue as it may consider desirable or necessary in __________________ sole discretion.

6) You agree to use your best efforts to obtain for __________________ at no additional cost, those releases __________________ deems necessary from individuals who are a part of your life story or depicted in any information or materials you may supply __________________. It is understood that you will not be expected to violate any confidences arising from any attorney-client relationship.

7) You understand that __________________ shall not be obligated under this agreement to exercise any of its rights or to initiate production.

8) __________________ may sell, assign and/or license any of its rights under this agreement. You agree to execute any other assignments or other instruments necessary or expedient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and intent of this agreement. You agree to execute a complete long-form agreement with the customary language covering grants of biographical rights and a full release which will waive any claims or actions you may have against __________________ arising from the exercise of any of its rights under this agreement.

9) This agreement shall be governed and controlled by the laws of the State of __________________. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and cannot be modified except in writing. Neither of the parties have made any promises or warranties other than those set forth herein.

Sincerely,

__________________ on behalf of

__________________

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED

_________________________
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