Save 80% and get all your credits upfront with the new yearly subscription! See details

5 Shopping Cart
Your cart has been updated
checkout
Categories

Cover image via

Free Talent Release Form for Film and Video Productions

Caleb Ward
Published: Last Updated:

Protect your production – and yourself – with this free talent release form.

Whether you are working on a crew of two or a crew of fifty-two, a talent release form is vital. In short, a talent release form gives you the right to distribute a film with an actor’s likeness. Without a talent release form your production could be at a legal risk and you could potentially get sued! By using the free talent release form below, you can protect yourself and your production company from any confusion that may arise regarding your right as a filmmaker to distribute content.

What is a talent release form?

A talent release form is a document that gives you (the filmmaker) permission to distribute and sell your video or film with the permission of your talent. The form protects you from your talent getting cold feet after the production has wrapped.

When is a talent release form used?

A talent release form is used anytime you have talent in front of a camera, especially if you are looking to distribute a film. In some journalistic situations, simply having your talent say “I give ____ permission to air this interview” is enough, but in the case of narrative films or large productions, a physical form is vital. Video Interview If you plan on getting your film distributed, a distributor will always ask for copies of your talent release forms. If you don’t have them, you will have to go back and get all of your actors and extras to sign a copy after the fact. For this reason, it’s best to get your actors to sign the talent release form before you begin shooting.

How is a talent release form used?

A talent release form is incredibly straight forward. Simply fill out the respective fields and note the location of signing. If your talent is under the age of 18, you must get the parent or legal guardian to sign the form as well. This specific talent and release form covers not only production, but also marketing related materials. After the talent release form is signed, it’s advised that you to make a copy for yourself and a copy for the actor. It also couldn’t hurt to scan the signed document into a computer. Here’s what the talent release form looks like:

Talent Release Form Example While the wording in this form does allow you to use the talent release form for ‘gotcha’ style journalism, it’s best advised to consult a legal professional before distributing content that may be viewed as defamation. You can download the free talent release form by clicking the text below. There are two templates included in the download: One to fill out by hand and another to fill out on a computer. You can use Preview on a Mac or Adobe Acrobat on a PC to edit the computer template.

DOWNLOAD FREE TALENT RELEASE FORM

Interested in learning more about working with actors/talent? Check out a few of the following posts:

  1. Working with Actors – Film Underground
  2. Why Do Release Forms Matter? – StillMotion
  3. Do You Need Release Forms – VideoMaker

Have any tips for using a Talent Release Form? Share experiences with us in the comments below.

A