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Video Production Contract

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Video Production Contract

June 5, 2023

Between:

Video Producer

FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.
‍ Acme LLC.
Client

FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Sample Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC (the "Video Producer").

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Video Producer to do the following: Details to be provided.

1.2 Schedule. The Video Producer will begin work on June 12, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Video Producer at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Video Producer a flat fee of $5,000.00 (USD). Of this, the Client will pay the Video Producer $100.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Video Producer's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Video Producer will invoice the Client at the end of the project. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 30 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 0.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

2. OWNERSHIP AND LICENSES.

2.1 Client Owns All Work Product. As part of this job, the Video Producer is creating “work product” for the Client. To avoid confusion, work product is the finished product, as well as drafts, notes, materials, mockups, hardware, designs, inventions, patents, code, and anything else that the Video Producer works on—that is, conceives, creates, designs, develops, invents, works on, or reduces to practice—as part of this project, whether before the date of this Contract or after. The Video Producer hereby gives the Client this work product once the Client pays for it in full. This means the Video Producer is giving the Client all of its rights, titles, and interests in and to the work product (including intellectual property rights), and the Client will be the sole owner of it. The Client can use the work product however it wants or it can decide not to use the work product at all. The Client, for example, can modify, destroy, or sell it, as it sees fit.

2.2 Video Producer's Use Of Work Product. Once the Video Producer gives the work product to the Client, the Video Producer does not have any rights to it, except those that the Client explicitly gives the Video Producer here. The Client gives permission to use the work product as part of portfolios and websites, in galleries, and in other media, so long as it is to showcase the work and not for any other purpose. The Client does not give permission to sell or otherwise use the work product to make money or for any other commercial use. The Client is not allowed to take back this license, even after the Contract ends.

2.3 Video Producer's Help Securing Ownership. In the future, the Client may need the Video Producer's help to show that the Client owns the work product or to complete the transfer. The Video Producer agrees to help with that. For example, the Video Producer may have to sign a patent application. The Client will pay any required expenses for this. If the Client can’t find the Video Producer, the Video Producer agrees that the Client can act on the Video Producer's behalf to accomplish the same thing. The following language gives the Client that right: if the Client can’t find the Video Producer after spending reasonable effort trying to do so, the Video Producer hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Client as the Video Producer's agent and attorney-in-fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for the Video Producer and on the Video Producer's behalf to execute, verify, and file the required documents and to take any other legal action to accomplish the purposes of paragraph 2.1 (Client Owns All Work Product).

2.4 Video Producer's IP That Is Not Work Product. During the course of this project, the Video Producer might use intellectual property that the Video Producer owns or has licensed from a third party, but that does not qualify as “work product.” This is called “background IP.” Possible examples of background IP are pre-existing code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, and web application tools. The Video Producer is not giving the Client this background IP. But, as part of the Contract, the Video Producer is giving the Client a right to use and license (with the right to sublicense) the background IP to develop, market, sell, and support the Client’s products and services. The Client may use this background IP worldwide and free of charge, but it cannot transfer its rights to the background IP (except as allowed in Section 9.1 (Assignment)). The Client cannot sell or license the background IP separately from its products or services. The Video Producer cannot take back this grant, and this grant does not end when the Contract is over.

2.5 Video Producer's Right To Use Client IP. The Video Producer may need to use the Client’s intellectual property to do its job. For example, if the Client is hiring the Video Producer to build a website, the Video Producer may have to use the Client’s logo. The Client agrees to let the Video Producer use the Client’s intellectual property and other intellectual property that the Client controls to the extent reasonably necessary to do the Video Producer's job. Beyond that, the Client is not giving the Video Producer any intellectual property rights, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Contract.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Video Producer Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Video Producer promises that it owns the work product, that the Video Producer is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Video Producer uses employees or subcontractors, the Video Producer also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Video Producer giving the Video Producer any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Video Producer's background IP and work product.

3.4 Video Producer Will Comply With Laws. The Video Producer promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Video Producer promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights, that the Video Producer has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Video Producer has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.6 Client Will Review Work. The Client promises to review the work product, to be reasonably available to the Video Producer if the Video Producer has questions regarding this project, and to provide timely feedback and decisions.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Video Producer with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION. This Contract is ongoing until the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Video Producer must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice, unless the notice says otherwise. The Client will pay the Video Producer for the work done up until when the Contract ends and will reimburse the Video Producer for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses. The following sections don’t end even after the Contract ends: 2 (Ownership and Licenses); 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

5. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. The Client is hiring the Video Producer as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Video Producer will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Video Producer is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.- The Client will not provide the Video Producer with any training.- The Client and the Video Producer do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.- The Video Producer cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.- The Video Producer is not entitled to the Client’s benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).- The Video Producer is responsible for its own taxes.- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Video Producer or any of the Video Producer's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Video Producer must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client’s Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Video Producer may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Video Producer promises to treat this information as if it is the Video Producer's own confidential information. The Video Producer may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Video Producer use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Video Producer cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Video Producer written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Video Producer may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Video Producer must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Video Producer promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Video Producer written permission first. The Video Producer must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Video Producer's responsibilities only stop if the Video Producer can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Video Producer came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Video Producer came across it, but not because of anything the Video Producer did or didn’t do; (iii) the Video Producer already knew the information when the Video Producer came across it and the Video Producer didn’t have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Video Producer with the information without requiring that the Video Producer keep it a secret; or (v) the Video Producer created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It’s possible the Client and the Video Producer each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Video Producer each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Video Producer is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Video Producer or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Video Producer did, then the Video Producer may promise to come to the Client’s defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Video Producer agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Video Producer has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Video Producer of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Video Producer of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Video Producer Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Video Producer (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Video Producer. The Video Producer cannot assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the Client’s written permission. In contrast, the Client may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Contract without the Video Producer's permission. This is necessary in case, for example, another Client buys out the Client or if the Client decides to sell the work product that results from this Contract.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Video Producer must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4 Notices.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party’s address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that’s the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Video Producer must sign this document using Bonsai’s e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The laws of the state of California govern the rights and obligations of the Client and the Video Producer under this Contract, without regard to conflict of law principles of that state.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties’ final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Video Producer

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

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Date: March 8th 2023


Between:

Coach:

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client:

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated January 23, 2023.

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to develop a coaching relationship between the Client and Coach in order to cultivate the Client's personal, professional, or business goals and create a plan to achieve those goals through stimulating and creative interactions with the ultimate result of maximizing the Client's personal or professional potential.

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on February 1, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet by video conference, 4 days per month for 2 hours.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach an hourly rate of $150. Of this, the Client will pay the Coach $500.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 15 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 1.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach will not be available by telephone, or email in between scheduled sessions.

2.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.

- The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

- The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.

- The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.

- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.

- The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.

- The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.

- The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.

- The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).

- The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.

- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4. Noticies.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coach

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.
Table of contents


What is a video production contract?


A video production contract is an agreement between the video producer and the client or company. It’s a legal document and one that’s going to protect the rights and interests of all parties involved.

Note: Sign up to Bonsai and get started on creating your own video production contract template today.

Why do you need a video production contract?


There’s more to video production than being an artist. Sometimes, you need to wear your business hat and come to a contractual agreement about the role and responsibilities. Remember, between scripting, storyboarding, filming, and editing, you’ll be working closely with your client to deliver their vision and it’s important to have a clear view of what that exactly is.

And that’s why you and your production company need a solid video production contract template. By making sure that both parties are on the same page when it comes to the goals, objectives, and expectations of a shoot, you can guide a successful working relationship from day one. You can also get ahead on this by creating and sending a video production proposal to your client.

Ultimately, a video production contract template is going to protect your rights as an independent contractor and your production company, as well as the rights of your client. Payment details, the video production project, your videography services, intellectual property ownership, personal delivery, and more will be outlined and detailed throughout this entire agreement.

What should be included in a video production contract template

Fundamentals

‍Before you get into the specifics, you first need to clarify who the contract is between and the nature of the relationship. A professional and legally binding video production contract template will also give your clients confidence that they’re dealing with an industry expert.

Scope of work

Next, you need to outline the scope of the production project in as much detail as possible. If you’ve discussed and agreed upon something as part of the project (either verbally, via email or certified mail), make sure it’s in the contract. A video creative brief is a good idea to use at this point to get as much detail on paper as possible.

And don’t be vague. Use numbers and dates when talking about timeframes and deadlines. For example, if you’re writing the script in addition to filming the material, clearly mention how many revisions you’ll do — otherwise, the scope could be open to interpretation which may lead to conflict.

Requirements & responsibilities

The basis for every good video production contract template is outlining everything involved with the video production project. You should also clearly name who’s responsible for what, and when you’ll need things.

For instance, if you’re shooting an ad for a local company, you might need supervised access to their property outside of business hours or a high-res copy of their logo for an overlay.

You may even find that your client wants the services of a video editor or videographer, more than a producer. At this stage, you can confirm if they need all your services or you can even change to a video editing contract.

Project milestones

Next, you’ll want to outline the key milestones, dates, and deadlines associated with the video project. Be clear about when something is due, such as the production fee or if you need special access to something.

If your client is late in sending you a logo or if they fail to grant you access to something by a certain time, this could alter your timelines and impact your ability to hit your deadline.

And if you fail to highlight this in your production contract, you could be held to that original deadline without any room to manoeuvre.    

Deliverables and deadlines

Here, you’ll want to be more specific around the tasks you’ll be doing and when they’ll be completed by.

How long will the writing take, when should the editing be finished, or if you’re renting a space for shooting, what dates do you need to be there? These are all questions you’ll want to cover in as much detail as possible.

Payment terms

The best freelance video producers won’t lift a finger without having a contract in place. Why? Because before you film a single reel of footage, you need to agree on how much, as well as how and when you’ll be paid.

The amount you quote and the method of payment you accept is entirely up to you, but you may wish to put reasonable efforts into structuring a payment schedule. Having your own videography invoice is a good idea to ensure requirements are met every time.

It's good to note that asking for a deposit upfront is acceptable for videographers and video producers. This will safeguard your cash flow, your business and your other provisions.

Ownership of materials and watermarks

Your contract should state that anything you send to the client to review during the project will contain your watermark. You should also highlight that they won’t receive a watermark-less version until you’ve received payment in full. This will protect your intellectual property, clarify what the client owns, and stop them from running off with the finished film without paying you what you’re owed.

Cancellation clause

Even the very best video producers can overbook themselves. A cancellation clause is always a good idea to include for this reason, which will detail who’s responsible for finding a replacement video producer and if there’s any refunds or fees to be paid. This can also protect videographers and video producers from unreliable clients.

Termination of contract

It's important that both you and the client agree to the termination of the contract. This can be on a specific date or once the final payment is made.

Remember to include any reasons why the contract can end early too, such as a written notice period or due to any broken agreements.

Other factors

Other factors or clauses to include will be based on the project or the client you work with. Only you will be able to know this, but some other factors to think about are:

  • Force majeure
  • Intellectual property ownership
  • Requesting return receipts
  • Post-production
  • Liability around weather conditions

Our video production template sample


Below you can find a sample of our very own video production contract template. This is how your contract should look and what a Bonsai contract will contain.

What's the benefit of using Bonsai, instead of editing a template yourself?


There are a few key benefits:

  • Your contract will be legally approved — all our contracts are vetted by lawyers
  • It's faster. We guide you through the process, editing parts of the contract that are relevant to you
  • Bonsai contracts require an electronic signature, which can be e-signed as soon as they're finished
  • It saves you money. No need to hire a professional to audit your contracts. Bonsai has your back

How to create a video production contract with Bonsai

Step One - Choose Your Template

Select our video production contract template or start with a blank template. Add your client name, project name, preferred currency, and then click “CREATE CONTRACT”.

Step Two - Add Your Basic Info

Next, fill in your basic information. This includes your location (country and state/province), your legal entity (if you operate via an LLC), your production company name, and your client’s legal name (company or person). Then click “CONTINUE”.

Step Three - Add Your Scope of Work

Describe the scope of work in as much detail as possible. You can also attach a separate statement of work file here if you wish. Click “CONTINUE”.

Step Four - Add Your Payment Info

Determine how and how much your client will pay you for your video production services here. You can choose from a flat fee, milestone payments, or hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly rates.

You can also outline payment terms (net 15 days for invoices, for example), late payment fees, and contract start and end dates here. Click “CONTINUE” and then “CREATE CONTRACT”.

Step Five - Review & Sign Your Final Contract

You’re ready to review your fully fleshed-out and vetted freelance video production contract. If you want to make any edits to the template, you can do so at this stage.

Sounds good? If you’re happy with the finished contract, you can click “SIGN CONTRACT” to e-sign it and make it legally binding before sending it to your client to do likewise.

Now you can return to your personalized Freelance Dashboard to track when the contract has been delivered, opened, and signed.

Video production contract FAQs

What is the difference between videography and video production?

A videographer is almost always the person doing the actual shooting, while a video producer will be more involved in the planning, production schedule, production fee, art direction, post-production, and client delivery. That doesn’t mean a video producer can’t be the one filming too, it’s just they’re more involved in pre and post-production.

How much should I charge for video production?

For freelance video producers in the U.S, the going rate is between $25 - $100 per hour. This is for your rate only, and not the total production fee.

Of course, this all depends entirely on what state or county you’re in, what the video production project is, how long it will take, the equipment needed, your experience or specialisms, and the client too.

Sign up to Bonsai and make the perfect contract for your video production project in minutes.


Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about this template.

Who owns the rights to a video?

The creator of the video owns the rights as per the US copyright law. Unless you state otherwise in your contract.

Where can I get free video production contract templates?

If you're looking for a video production contract with all the legal jargons and clauses that you need, Bonsai is your place to go. Simply sign up, download & edit as necessary.

Is there a contract template in Word?

A standard contract template is available in Word. But for a more specialized and lawyer-vetted contract template, sign up with Bonsai.