Clearances

To be able to distribute and screen your film in public you need to make sure that everything is "cleared".

The term "cleared" means you have written permission to use everything that appears in your film.
It includes things such as script, brand logo's, images and music.

Cleared basically means that your film is 100% OK, in terms of copyright, to screen your film to the public. If your film is not "cleared" then legally it will create problems when screened to the public. If you use company logos or music that has a trademark, the companies will have the money to pursue infringement. Infringement refers to the violation of a law or a right. As a result, if you do not "clear" your film then all the hard work, time, effort and money that you put into the production of it will be wasted.

Film clearance is when you need written confirmation (permission) that allows you to use all aspects of a film production. The main types of film clearance that you need would come under property, people and location.

Clearance Checklist

Script: If your script is a work of fiction, then no characters in the script should relate to real life people. If they happen to relate to real life people, they should not be used unless the person that the character relates to has given you written permission to use them. The same goes for if your fiction relates to a real life event, you must have written permission from all people that were involved in the event.

Content clearance: Anything that appears in your film needs to be cleared. This includes; products, logos and brand names. clips, stock footage, tapes and images. You cannot release a film if you have not cleared all the things in the above otherwise companies can pursue infringement.

Music clearance: Any music, published or original music must be cleared in your film. Without clearance, again you could be at risk of infringement.

Location clearances: All locations that you use in your films must be cleared. The locations that you decide to use in your film, written permission from the land owner must be completed.

Actor clearance: Any actor that appears in your film must sign a clearance agreement. A clearance agreement is the actor agreeing that they can be used in the film that is screened to the public.

After all of the above is completed, then your film has the green light to legally be screened to the public.