I just finished a new film, which is the reason there haven’t been any new blogs.  We wrapped just a few days ago.  Making a movie will take it out of you, all of it.  I think our DP slept for days after.  There is so much movement during the whole process, I think that’s what leads to the fatigue.

By movement I mean there is so much going on, so many little things happening, so many items and issues and documents to keep tabs and, hopefully, control over.   It’s exhausting, really.  And this is my point in this blog…keeping control.

Really the issue I want to touch on is control over the paperwork.  There’s a lot.  And it’s vital to keeping the movie on line and on budget.  Specifically, and if nothing else, make sure the legals are done and filed away.  It’s easy to forget this as everyone comes on board quickly without asking for a contract until the end.  But, I can assure you, there will be a time, near the end, when an issue arises that sounds something like this “That’s not what we agreed on.”

Now, if you are anything like me, three weeks, 1,000 emails, numerous phone calls, and millions of issues later, I don’t remember what we agreed to.  I always have a general idea, but I can never remember specifics.  This is the perfect time to pull the good ole contract out and reference whose side of the story wins.

So, make a list at the front of production of all contracts you will need.  Get those done first, before you start shooting anything, and you will save yourself a lot of headache and, trust me, money in the end.