Get Started Producer: Legal Contracts for Independent Film and TV Producers
Producing a film or television project means managing a complex web of agreements — with writers, directors, crew, talent, locations, financiers, distributors and broadcasters. Getting the contracts right from the start protects your rights, your budget and your relationships throughout the production process.
The Get Started Producer package provides the core legal documents for independent producers working in film and television, drafted and reviewed by DANDI lawyers with specialist knowledge of Italian and international entertainment law.
What the Package Covers
- Certificate of authorship — document certifying the authorship and original ownership of a screenplay or other creative work, typically required by financiers, broadcasters and co-production partners
- Copyright assignment agreement — contract transferring copyright in a work from one party to another; essential for producers acquiring rights from writers, directors or other creators
- General partnership agreement — contract establishing the terms of a co-production or co-development partnership between two or more producers or production companies
- Merchandising agreement — contract licensing the right to produce and sell merchandise based on characters, titles or other elements of a production
- Writer deal memo — short-form contract confirming the key terms of a writer’s engagement, used at the early stages of development before a full writer’s agreement is negotiated
Beyond the Package: Additional Production Contracts
Depending on the scale and structure of your production, you may also need contracts covering:
- Director agreements — including moral rights provisions specific to Italian law
- Co-production agreements — for Italian and international co-productions, including bilateral treaty structures
- Distribution and sales agreements — domestic and international distribution, minimum guarantees, VOD and streaming
- PRCA registration — mandatory for Italian productions receiving public funding
- Tax credit compliance — contractual provisions required under D.I. n. 225/2024 for Italian tax credit eligibility
Who This Package Is For
- Independent film and documentary producers managing their own productions
- Production companies setting up co-production or co-development arrangements
- Foreign producers working with Italian writers, directors or co-production partners
- First-time producers who need a reliable legal foundation for their first project
Related service: Get Started Author — Contracts for Writers and Screenwriters
Related reading: Tax Credits and Incentives for Italy-Europe Co-Productions: The Complete 2026 Guide
Related reading: Clearing Copyrighted Material Before Submitting Your Film to Festivals
Get in Touch
Fill in the form below to tell us about your project, or book a call directly online. We respond within 24 hours on business days.
→ Book with Claudia Roggero: claudiaroggero.youcanbook.me
→ Book with Donato Di Pelino: donatodipelino.youcanbook.me
→ WhatsApp: +39 345.717.14.66