http://www.filmcontracts.net has an exhaustive list of forms, contracts, check lists, sign sheets and everything you could possibly need in the process of shooting a studio picture.

As for minimum legal requirements, since you are in the USA, a good idea would be to get one of the beginner's books on filmmaking (Filmmaking for Dummies, or Idiot's Guide to Independent Filmmaking), as they have the legal basics.

As far as I remember, you will need release forms signed by all people appearing on screen. You will also need signed forms from proprietors of all locations where you shoot (bars, bowling alleys, etc). If you're shooting in NYC or LA, you'll need a permit for a movie shoot if you plan to use tripod with your camera (they generally don't require permit if you're shooting hand held and your crew is small). For your local jurisdiction, you'll need to check and see what are the rules for a film shot on public property.

In general, you can legally make a movie without ANY contracts, release forms or similar (except perhaps city permit). However, unless you have release forms from every person and every owner of every THING that shows up in your movie, you won't be able to screen it; if you did, somebody (who recognises themselves in the background of your shot) could sue you and prevent you from ever showing your movie.

"Guerilla filmmaking" is a philosophy build on the idea of stealing shots wherever possible (i.e. without the necessary permits, releases, authorisations). This mostly refers to shooting on public (or private) property; actors and other persons appearing in the film must agree to be in it (verbally or by signing).

You got three years? Then go to law school and study up on entertainment law.

I suggest that, before you get into serious filming, you should consult with an attorney who specializes in film, and he can give you half an hour - after you pay him, of course. Better yet, intern with a reputable company for awhile and then talk to the attorney.

i dont have three years, or the money to pay a attorney.

" see things through my eyes "

Maybe Im misunderstanding your advice, Mogul.

hoxenation want to know what release forms are necessary. I
understand suggesting contacting an attorney, but going to law
school or interning seems quite extreme.

Ive been making films for decades - and quite seriously - without
ever going to law school. I suspect most directors havent gone
to law school. I would say that most producers havent gone to
law school - even those making low budget movies without the use
of an attorney.

It seems overkill for a director of a short film made for festivals to
intern at a law firm to learn info on the paper work needed.

hoxenation, did you look at the link Vasic gave you?

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Perhaps I misunderstood the question. I thought he wanted to know the entire gamut of the law on film making, which is, whew, quite onerous. It's not just a question of filling out the forms, because, behind ever form is a body of law, and it's definitely more than just the law connected to those forms.

There would be the permits, and the law of municipalities; there is also the law of worker's compensation, as in the company being required to apply for coverage; there would be the law of taxation, where deductions of all kinds must be made, especially state and local taxes; there would be employment law, which could be very different for actors and so on. And lots of other types of laws that I can't even begin to understand.

If he was just asking about the forms to fill out, then the answer would be to check with the state's film office, and they'll have a package of instructions.

My understanding was, if somebody wanted to get a camera, cast, crew and gear and shoot a movie, what is the minimum of documents, forms, permits, contracts he would need to obtain/have signed in order to complete the movie and be able to actually show it publicly.

This shouldn't be too onerous if the cast and crew are comprised of friends (working for free), and locations were also property of friends/acquaintances. After all, hundreds of independent, zero-budget or ultra-low budget films are produced daily and many get plenty of showing.

It's interesting advice, Mogul.

In my experience the director or producer of a movie doesn't
need to intern at a law firm in order to make a movie for
festivals. It's rare that all the bases you mention need to be
covered. Very few filmmakers in hoxenation's place have a
company, hire people, use unions and deal with deductions
and taxes. Most are filmmakers putting together a movie on
their own.

But I understand where you're coming from - you are an
aspiring mogul. hoxenation is a director, as am I. Simply
knowing the forms to fill out is enough. For me, spending
even 6 weeks as an intern at a law firm is overkill. Even as
a producer and an owner of my own company I never felt
the need to go to law school or even try to get an internship
(which I imagine would be nearly impossible for most people).
I know as a high school drop out, I would have never qualified
for an internship at any law firm.

When my company hires cast and crew I go through a payroll
company that handles all the taxes, P&W and insurance. I don't
know a thing about those things.

But when I make a short film and am not paying anyone, or
paying very little (and in cash) just knowing what forms to fill
out is enough.

With the understand that hoxenation is an amateur filmmaker
making a movie that he would like to enter in a few festivals
what would your advice be on the " proper paperwork" needed?

I suspect most filmmakers are similar.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I stand corrected.

I tend to indulge in overkill, but I think I give the extreme range, you give the normal range, and the poster can see what opinions are out there, so he has an idea of what people think. 🙂

I'm just curious - not trying to correct you. Your advice is interesting
to me because you are approaching it from a different perspective
than I am.

I can't think of any examples where a filmmaker should (or would need
to) spend any time in law school or interning in a law office in order to
understand the paperwork needed for making a film releasable. Though
I understand why someone like you - with aspirations to own a studio -
might. Even then, I would think you would be better off hiring lawyers
than going to law school or interning in a law office. I suspect the moguls
like L.B. Meyer, Jack Warner and the current ones like Jeff Zucker, Cyma
Zarghami or Sandra Stern didn't spend any time at all in law school.

Are you making any plans to attend law school or intern in an entertainment
law office?

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I was being facetious about the law school bit - I thought he wanted the know EVERYTHING about filming law, which, believe it or not, is not too far from what I get sometimes. But I see I was mistaken.

Sorry about that. I thought you were offering him advice, not being facetious.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)