Video Contract Template

What is a video contract template?

A video contract template is a legally binding contract between a videographer and a client. It sets clear rights and obligations for both parties and establishes firm payment terms, strict deadlines, and delivery criteria.

Using a videography contract template ensures that both parties understand what is expected from them at every stage of the cooperation—from filming to post-production.

A standard videography contract template should include the following information:

Parties’ Details

The parties to a videography contract template are the client and the videographer, who could be a professional movie studio or a freelancer. A videographer acts as a service provider that has relevant expertise in the field of filmmaking. Therefore, a videographer cannot assign their rights and duties under a video contract to another third party. This is so because the client enters a contract with a particular videographer because of their expertise and qualifications.

Scope of Work

The document template should define exactly what the videographer will deliver. The parties have to agree on the following information:

• Video format (e.g., MKV, AVI, Flash video);
• Post-production services (e.g., sound, editing);
• Minimum required length (e.g., for a music video clip the minimum duration could be at least 3 minutes);
• Used equipment (e.g., the client may require the filming to be made only using RED Komodo or similar);
• Description of the video (e.g., style, goal); and
• Type of the video (e.g., wedding, engagement, commercial ad).

Compensation

A video contract template should establish how a service provider should be paid. The parties can choose either of the options below:

• fixed fee;
• hourly rate;
• daily rate; or
• other arrangement (e.g., a combination of a fixed fee and an hourly rate).

A good example of a videography contract template should also define the payment timeline. In other words, when should a client pay for the provision of videography services? The parties may agree to pay the full amount on the date of signing of the agreement or upon the receipt of a final video.

Payment method is another crucial element for a contract template with a filmmaker. The payments can be made in cash, via bank transfer, crypto, or PayPal.

Timeline and Delivery

Whether it is a freelance video contract template or an agreement with a professional studio, time is always of the essence. The contract template should define the exact number of days after the end of the filming within which the final edited video or videos should be delivered.

Licensing and IP rights

As a rule of thumb, a videographer remains the sole owner of all copyrights over a created and edited video under the agreement. At the same time, a videographer can transfer all or some of the commercial usage rights to the client. The list of all transferred rights should be defined directly in the text of the agreement.

Force Majeure

Force majeure events that prevent parties from the proper execution of the video production contract template may include either of the following:

• technical issues with videography equipment;
• weather conditions;
• sudden illness of a client or other parties involved in the filming;
• acts of God, etc.

If either of the force majeure events occurs, the parties are exempted from any contractual liability for the whole period of existence of such force majeure circumstances.

Signatures

For a video production contract template to become a legally binding contract, it should be signed by both parties. If parties are individuals, they should simply put their signatures at the end of the contract. Once either of the parties is a business or organization, in that case a company’s representative should sign such a contract. Always make sure a company’s representative has the authority to sign such a contract. Usually, a representative’s authority is being confirmed via power of attorney or the company’s bylaws.

Customize your video contract template at Faster Draft

In order to get your personalized video contract template, follow the few steps below:

1. Click the button “Create Document.”
2. Answer simple questions.
3. Select a document’s format—videography contract template PDF or videography contract template Word.
4. Make a payment.
5. Your customized template is ready for download.