A lot of the time when people contact agents and producers, and they have a really great script on their hands, they get a response asking them to submit a release form (sometimes referred to as a non-disclosure agreement or NDA).
So in this post I’d like to talk a little bit about what a release form is and what you need to be aware of when you send a release form off to an agent or producer. Don’t worry, it’s nothing scary, you just need to be aware of what a release form is.
In simple terms, a release form is a legal instrument that terminates any legal liability between the person sending the release form (in this case, you, the screenwriter) and the releasee (the agent or producer).
Why A Release Form Is Often Required
A release form is often required by an agent or producer simply because the agent or producer wants to protect themselves from any future liability when handling your script.
Agents and producers handle so many screenplays that they open themselves up to liability if a screenwriter believes that at some point their screenplay has been ripped off and their story has been stolen.
You only have to look at other successful writers (like JK Rowling) and other successful Hollywood screenwriters who are often sued (without success) when their movie becomes popular and successful at the box office.
One screenwriter I know was sued after his screenplay was turned into a movie. His agent was also sued because the man who filed the lawsuit claimed that he had shown the agent a similar script and story to the movie that was just made. However, the agent was able to prove through his email trail that he had known about the other screenwriter’s screenplay six months before this man had even contacted him. (It would have also helped in this situation to have a release form in place to expedite any legal issues and disputes.)
Is It Safe To Sign A Release Form?
Before you sign a release form and send it to a producer or an agent you need to be aware of what you are signing.
The best kind of release form, in my view, is one that simply gives permission for an agent or producer to read your script and that also acknowledges your rights as the screenwriter as well as the producer or agent’s rights as well.
That being said, if you’re ever in any doubt about anything that you come across on the release form, then you don’t need to sign it immediately. Instead, my best advice is to consult with an attorney and make sure that this is something that is safe to sign.
Does A Release Form Protect You?
When you’re about to sign a release form then you need to understand what can and can’t be legally protected and copyrighted. To do this, I recommend you check out the following article on How To Protect And Copyright Your Movie/TV Ideas.
Once you understand your legal rights, you can then proceed with the release form.
A release form is often required by agents and producers before they will even consider reading your screenplay. Without a release form, most agents and producers won’t even look at your script let alone read it.
A lot of screenwriters ask me where they can find a good release form to send to agents and producers. In this case, I often recommend you copy the release form from the following site https://www.inktip.com/release_form.php (but remember, if you’re in any doubt about anything, please consult with your attorney first before signing anything).
The fact that an agent or producer has requested that you sign a release form before they read your script is a very good sign. It means that your query letter got them very interested in your story and they now want to take that next step and read your screenplay with a view to taking the script onboard.
Liz Fairbanks has worked as a reader, development assistant, and talent agent in Los Angeles over the last seven years. Liz loves traveling, reading and yoga. Liz also works as a freelance consultant for Script Mailer (a company that connects screenwriters with agents).