FILM AND TELEVISION
From the first option to final delivery — read with you at every step.
Production agreements, talent contracts, rights clearances, and distribution deals for Ontario screen projects.
THE DIRECT ANSWER
What is film and television production law?
Film and television production law covers the legal work of putting a screen project together and getting it distributed. That includes chain of title, option and purchase agreements, writer and director deals, actor contracts, crew agreements, location releases, music and footage clearances, production incentives, and the distribution and broadcast deals that eventually release the project.
WHY IT MATTERS
A project is a stack of contracts. Every piece matters.
A film or TV project is a stack of contracts. Every writer, every underlying right, every actor, every location, every piece of music, every frame of archival footage creates a legal obligation. Production companies that skip pieces of that stack get caught at errors and omissions insurance, at broadcast delivery, or at festival submission — usually when there is no time left to fix it.
Ontario is a strong production jurisdiction with federal and provincial tax credits that can make or break a project budget, plus ACTRA, DGC, and IATSE collective agreements that govern most unionized productions. Getting the entity, the chain of title, and the union status right at the start is far easier than retrofitting later.
We support producers, directors, and writers through option agreements, co-production structures, talent deals, clearances, and ultimately distribution and broadcaster agreements. On smaller projects, we handle the whole stack. On larger productions, we plug in to handle specific pieces — usually the ones where errors get expensive.
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
01
Draft option, purchase, writer, director, and producer agreements.
02
Handle chain-of-title documentation so the project can clear E&O and delivery.
03
Structure co-production agreements for multi-party and international projects.
04
Clear music, footage, and location rights for the project.
05
Negotiate distribution, broadcaster, and streaming platform deals.
06
Advise on Ontario and federal tax credit eligibility and documentation.
FAQ
Common questions about film and TV production.
What's chain of title?
Do I need to incorporate before producing?
How do Ontario tax credits work?
What about AI-generated content?
Do I need separate contracts for union talent?
I'm a writer. Can you help with my option agreement?
RELATED SERVICES
Work we often pair with production projects.
Copyright Lawyer Toronto
Registration, protection, and enforcement of copyright for creators and creative businesses.
Music Licensing Lawyer Toronto
Sync licensing, master use, and rights clearances for filmmakers and producers.
Business Formation and Incorporation
Single-purpose production corporations and tax credit setup for Ontario screen projects.