FILM PRODUCTION CHECKLIST
The following checklist will help you with you film production and making sure all documents, forms, releases and synopsis’s are in order. See our article on Funding Your Production for more information on ensuring you are structuring your film production in a way to optimize tax credits.
FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY INFORMATION
FILM: “________________________________________________________________”
LANGUAGE (Other Languages): _________________________________________________
Running Length of Film in minutes, excluding commercial time: ___________________________
SOLE PURPOSE PRODUCTION COMPANY:__________________________________________________________________
INCORPORATION NUMBER:
BUSINESS NUMBER:
CONTACT NAME: ___________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
PHONE #: ___________________________________________________________
EMAIL: ________________________________________________
PARENT FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY:
CONTACT NAME:
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
PHONE #: ___________________________________________________________
EMAIL: ________________________________________________
Obtain Articles of Incorporaiton of Parent and Film Production Company
- company controlled?
- Officers of the Production Company
- Directors of the Production Company
FILM PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT WORK
-
Option/Rights Agreement/Chain of Title
- Author:_______________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed ______________
-
Copyright Report
- Ordered_______________________________________________________________________
- Received ______________________________________________________________________
-
Copyright Registration
(a) PA Form (Screenplay) Sent ______________________ Executed _____________________
(b) Script Submitted _________________________ Registered __________________________
(c) PA Form (Motion Picture) Sent _____________________ Executed ____________________
(d) Motion Picture Submitted ______________________ Registered ______________________
-
Title Report
(a) “__________________________” Ordered _______________ Received ________________
(b) “__________________________” Ordered _______________ Received ________________
- Sent to Insurance Carrier on ______________________________________________________
- MPAA Ordered _________________ Received __________________
-
Completion Guarantor: ______________________________
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Dated __________________ Drafted __________________ Executed __________________
-
Bank Loan:
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Dated __________________ Drafted __________________ Executed __________________
-
Distribution Agreement(s)
(a) Theatrical
Contact Name / Phone # _________________________________________________________
- Received ________________________________________________________________
- Attorney’s Comments _____________________________________________________
- Distributor’s Comments ____________________________________________________
- Executed ________________________________________________________________
- Indemnity Letter Received _________________ Executed __________________
(b) DVD
Dated __________________ Drafted __________________ Executed __________________
(c) Pay Television
Dated __________________ Drafted __________________ Executed __________________
(d) Free Television
Dated __________________ Drafted __________________ Executed __________________
- Errors and Omissions Insurance
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Application Submitted ___________________________________________________________
- Policy Endorsed ________________________________________________________________
- Certificate of Insurance Received __________________________________________________
(Unionville, CHUBB, Premier… Broken – James Brown).
-
Script
- Received ______________________________________________________________________
- Changes Received ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
- Attorney Comments _____________________________________________________________
- First and Final Drafts Received on _________________________________________________
- Script Clearance / Research Report
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Received ______________________________________________________________________
- Changes Received ______________________________________________________________
- Attorney’s Comments ___________________________________________________________
- Follow-Up ____________________________________________________________________
-
Film Production Guild Signatory Agreements
(a) DGA / DGC
Contact Name / Phone # ________________________________________________
Dated __________________ Sent ___________________ Executed ___________________
(b) WGA / WGC
Contact Name / Phone # ________________________________________________
Dated __________________ Sent ___________________ Executed ___________________
(c) SAG / ACTRA
Contact Name / Phone # ________________________________________________
Dated __________________ Sent ___________________ Executed ___________________
-
Writer’s Agreement
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Writer ________________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Citizenship: _____________
- Producer’s Agreement
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Producer ______________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Citizenship: _____________
- Producer ______________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
Citizenship: _____________
Name and Citizenship of:
- All producer(s)
- Co-Producers
- Executive Producers
- Line Producer(s)
- Associate Producer(s)
- Supervising Producer(s):
- Production Manager(s):
Name and Citizenship of All Key and Non-Key Production Personnel:
- Director
- Screenwriter
- Production Designer / Art Director:
- DOP/Chief Camera Operator
- Music Composer
- Picture Editor
- Researcher:
- Chief Technician
- Chief Sound:
Animation
- Director(s)
- Scriptwriter(s) and storyboard supervisor
- First or Second voice
- Design supervisor
- Music composer(s)
- Picture editor(s)
- Location Where Functions Performed:
- Layout and background
- Key animation
- Assistant animation / in-betweening
- Camera Operator and Operation
-
Director’s Agreement
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Director ______________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- DGA Deal Memorandum: Executed ___________________ Submitted __________________
- Citizenship: _____________
-
Actor Agreement – 1st Lead or Voice: / Name: ________________________________
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Role _________________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Citizenship: _____________
-
Actor Agreement – 2nd Lead or Voice/ Name: ________________________________ [File No. _____________________]
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Role _________________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Citizenship: _____________
-
Actor Agreement – 3rd Lead or Voice/ Name: ________________________________
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Role _________________________________________________________________________
(b) Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(c) Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
(d) Citizenship: _____________
-
Actor Agreement – 4th Lead or Voice/ Name: ________________________________
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Role _________________________________________________________________________
(b) Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(c) Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
(d) Citizenship: _____________
-
Actor Agreement -5th Lead or Voice/ Name: ________________________________
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
(a) Role _________________________________________________________________________
(b) Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Citizenship: _____________
See the following checklist put together by ACTRA for Toronto Indie Production.
-
Composer Agreement
Contact Name / Phone # _______________________________________________________________
- Composer _____________________________________________________________________
- Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
- Long Form Agreement: Dated ____________ Sent ____________ Executed ____________
- Music Publishing Affiliation (BMI _________________ or ASCAP __________________)
- Citizenship: _____________
-
Music Clearance / Synchronization and Performance License
(a) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(b) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(c) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(d) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(e) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
Music Cue Sheet Received _____________________________________________________________
-
Location Agreements – Identify Cities and Locations where Production is Being Filmed (along with number of shooting days in each location).
(a) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(b) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(c) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(d) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(e) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
-
Privacy Releases
(a) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(b) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(c) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(d) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
(e) “_____________________________” Dated _______________ Executed _______________
-
Crew Agreements
(a) Dir. of Photography _____________________________ Citizenship: _____________
Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(b) Editor ________________________________________ Citizenship: _____________
Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(c) Assistant Director ______________________________ Citizenship: _____________
Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(d) Associate Producer ____________________________ Citizenship: _____________
Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
(e) Casting Director ______________________________ Citizenship: _____________
Deal Memo: Dated _______________ Sent _______________ Executed _______________
-
Laboratory Agreement: _______________________________
(a) Processing: Dated _______________ Drafted ______________ Executed ______________
(b) Lab Access: Dated _______________ Drafted ______________ Executed ______________
-
Credit Lists
(a) Main and Titles: Received _______________________ Approved ______________________
- WGA Notice of Tentative Writing Credits Submitted __________________________________
(c) Paid Advertising Credit Schedule: Received ________________ Approved _______________
Provide sample credit list ..
-
Miscellaneous Agreements
(a) Panavision Dated _______________________ Executed _____________________
(b) Dolby Dated _______________________ Executed _____________________
(c) Miscellaneous Dated _______________________ Executed _____________________
-
Screening Viewed on
-
Type of Production:
- Canadian Content
- Production Services
- Co-Venture
- Treaty Co-Production
- Provincial Co-Production
- “C” number of “SR” number?
-
Residency Forms
- CAVCO Forms
- Ontario Residency Forms
-
Guilds/Unions involved
-
Sources of Financing – Is all the financing secured?
- Banks
- Private Investors
- Tax Credits
- Telefilm and other government funding agencies
- CAVCO/CRTC/OMDC Applications
33. Other Miscellaneous Agreements
- Obtain Broadcaster Delivery Items
- Leasing Space / Studio / Office – Where are they shooting?
- Film Production E & O Clearance Procedures / Guidelines
- Standard Personal Release
- Producer’s Policy on Expenses, Reimbursement, etc.
- Budget
- Synopsis
- Program Category (Animation or Live Action or Archival Footage or Special Effects?)
- Dates of Production (start and end dates)
- Preparation / Pre-Production
- Shooting/ Principal photography
- Post-Production
- Answer Print / Delivery
- Animation:
- Storyboard:
- Dialogue Recording:
- Design and Layout
- Animation
- Opaquing
- Post-Production
- Answer Print
- Rights Holder of Film:
- (who controls broadcast and distribution rights?).
- Who has final approval over hiring key creative personnel?
- Who had final approval over the budget?
- All Other On-Screen Performers (musicians, chorus, dancers and extras)
- Guests and type of participation.
- Audience Participation in the Program?
- Closed Captioning