IMAGO has since 2005 has been working on a Model contract for cinematographers. The Federation has noticed that in most countries the contractual practice is not favourable for cinematographers either in terms of fair remuneration and the total absence of authorship of the work. Here is a guide line which can be followed by cinematographers, agents, producers and other interested parties. This guide has the intention only to help to establish a better and sounder relationship between parties.
Introduction.
Several years ago, IMAGO published a model contract for Cinematographers with comments and a checklist or guidelines for working conditions. IMAGO’s proposal admitted expressly that it was not a Standard contract, which could function in all countries, but IMAGO understood the former document as a “check-list” for member associations and an attempt to professionalize on an international standard the relationship of Cinematographers with the Producer and Financiers. IMAGO still insists, the discussion of “what is fair to include in a Cinematographer’s contract” should be a public discussion and not limited to the bargaining between Cinematographer and Producer. Nevertheless, IMAGO has started a new initiative.
This new imitative is different, IMAGO has received input about the first work: please no Standard contract form, but very useful and simple guidelines. Those guidelines are not only for the use for Cinematographers and Producers, but also for creators in the audio-visual sector and of course for the European commissioners, financiers, and media lawyers, etc.
IMAGO is convinced that all should work together and cooperate to make cinematographic Works available to the public for the long term, in the interest of all the parties, including, of course consumers and the film heritage and to make all creators involved in cinematography production to earn a decent living from their revenues, payment/remuneration, etc. of the utilisation of their creativity and even financial investments.
