<\/a>It's quite frequent in my practice.\u00a0 My clients are asked to accept less than their usual fee or “quote” for work.\u00a0 What's offered in exchange for this important concession?\u00a0 You guessed it, Producer credit.<\/p>\n

Well, this is often very attractive to the client, as it helps them climb the showbiz food chain.\u00a0 In fact, many folks in the entertainment industry view credit as more important than compensation, in the short run.\u00a0 By taking a ‘higher' credit, they're establishing precedent, so their next job can be at the same, improved credit and<\/em> they can earn a more appropriate fee.<\/p>\n

But accepting a producing credit is not without its perils.\u00a0 In preparing to teach my Theater Law course, I was reminded of a case in which a party who bargained for “producer credit” and got much more than he bargained for… a lawsuit.<\/p>\n

In Redgrave v Stuart Thomson Productions<\/span> (NY, 1999, unpublished) ,\u00a0 Actor Corin Redgrave was\u00a0 injured when exiting the stage in the dark.\u00a0 He sued the producers and the\u00a0 ‘General Manager' of the\u00a0 of the show for damages.<\/a><\/p>\n

(The General Manager is the producer\u2019s front-line operative in the production of the show.\u00a0 Responsible for the day-to-day administration\u00a0 of the production, the GM will, in consultation with the Producer(s),\u00a0 of course,\u00a0 supervise\u00a0 the preparation of a budget for the show, along with the activities of the accountants, press agent, Company Manager, box-office,\u00a0 advertising, marketing, promotions, contract negotiations, staffing and personnel matters, and any other business matters that may arise.)<\/p>\n

You see, Thomson had, in addition to his fees for General Management services, received a co-producer credit for the play as well. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So, in ruling on Thomson's Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court refused to dismiss the case because there was\u00a0 an issue of fact as to whether\u00a0 Thomson's credit made him a partner in the production, and therefore liable for Redrgrave's injuries.<\/p>\n

So, in evaluating an offer that includes a producer credit in lieu of some or all of the compensation a party would otherwise seek, it's important to consider not just the career benefit, but also the risk involved with being credited as a producer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s quite frequent in my practice.\u00a0 My clients are asked to accept less than their usual fee or “quote” for work.\u00a0 What’s offered in exchange for this important concession?\u00a0 You guessed it, Producer credit. Well, this is often very attractive to the client, as it helps them climb the showbiz food chain.\u00a0 In fact, many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n