Actor refuses to sign release form...What's next?

[indietalk]

Originally Posted by Blade_Jones

I had a similar situation with two actors who I approached to resign releases and they refused. My attorney said there was already an implied verbal agreement.... lights, crew, equipment, they responded to a casting notice, they showed up on the set and acted. It's obvious they are going to be in a movie. In my follow up letter to one of the actors I stated that if their refusal to sign the release required me to reshoot any scenes or ever prevented the movie from getting distribution then I would hold THEM accountable for my monetary damages. That letter worked for one of the actors. I got a signed release right back. The last guy who never signed was just being a douche bag. I released the movie. He certainly would be wasting money to sue me. He was also paid and I have documentation of that.

The expectation of being filmed is true. When you go to a talk show and become part of the audience you don't sign anything because you already anticipate being on TV. It's a TV show. That's different than when someone approaches you on the street with a camera. But you will run into issues with distro. They need to make sure they are not liable. So... an attorney may be able to help you sort this all out.

[Blade_Jones]

Originally Posted by indietalk

The expectation of being filmed is true. When you go to a talk show and become part of the audience you don't sign anything because you already anticipate being on TV. It's a TV show. That's different than when someone approaches you on the street with a camera. But you will run into issues with distro. They need to make sure they are not liable. So... an attorney may be able to help you sort this all out.

That's when you really read the riot act to whoever is holding up distribution.

We've had threads about how in the absence of a release, DP's actually own footage under ponderous English law. I hope there's no similar bass ackwards laws in this case. In America the OP would be in the driver's seat.