ABOUT THE RELEASE FORMS AND DOCUMENTARY
Erin Gruwell taught English at Wilson High School in the mid-1990s. She inspired her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school. Erin encouraged these values through reading and writing. The classes’ anonymous journal writing became a book published by Doubleday Books in 1999 titled: The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them.
Bookmark Productions LLC is making a documentary about the Freedom Writers. As part of the project, we are inviting students across the country that are reading The Freedom Writers Diary in school to submit videos to the production. Every person that might appear on camera in an event filmed for the documentary must have a signed PERSONAL RELEASE form; in this case, because the students that we are asking to submit videos are minors, their PERSONAL RELEASE forms must be signed by a parent; Therefore, we have issued a two-page document that combines the PERSONAL RELEASE form with a PARENTAL CONSENT form.
Unfortunately, if the combined “PERSONAL RELEASE/PARENTAL CONSENT” form is not returned with your child’s video, your child’s video will not be eligible for inclusion in the film.
To authorize permission for your child, please fill in the signature line and the information at the bottom of page 2 of the combined forms (name, your signature, social security #, address, and date), and print your name in the blank space in the first paragraph of the letter at the top of the page.
What is a documentary?
A documentary film is a movie based in real events and real people; it does not use actors portraying characters.
What is the documentary about?
This 90-minute documentary, incorporating footage shot over a ten-year period, tells the moving story of the Freedom Writers, a group of 150 at-risk youths from Long Beach California, who, in the mid-1990's, with the help of their teacher, Erin Gruwell, learned to rise above their circumstances through the power of writing their stories.
What is the “PERSONAL RELEASE” form for?
In layperson’s terms, this form gives the documentary production company permission to use footage in the film that contains the image and voice of anyone that signs the form (including your child) in the film. It also allows the production company to sell the rights of the film (which will include the permission to use the image and voice of your child) to a distribution company, which is a customary part of making it possible for the film to play in movie theaters and on television.
What if I don’t want my child to be film for the documentary?
We understand that some parents and/ or guardians do not want their child to be filmed for many different reasons. Unfortunately, we will only accept videos that can be used in the documentary because they are accompanied by a signed “PERSONAL RELEASE” forms.
Thank you for your time and we hope to see your child’s video.
Sincerely,
The Freedom Writer Foundation & the Freedom Writer Documentary
COMBINED PERSONAL RELEASE AND PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS
(Signature page on Page Two)
PERSONAL RELEASE
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, I hereby grant to Bookmark Productions, LLC and its successors, assigns and licensees (hereinafter, "you"), the universal and perpetual right and license to make still and motion pictures of me, and sound recordings of my voice, and to use my actual likeness, photograph, voice, personal characteristics and other personal identification in your audio/visual work, the working title of which is "Freedom Writers (Documentary)" (the "Picture"), any derivation thereof, and any other audio/visual works, in all distribution, marketing, promotion and advertising thereof, and any and all ancillary rights associated therewith, in any and all other media of any nature whatsoever, whether now known or hereafter devised, throughout the universe in perpetuity (the "Rights"). You shall be the sole owner of all right, title and interest in and to all films, portrayals, photographs and recordings produced hereunder, including all copyrights therein, and any extensions and/or renewals thereof.
As you intend to act in reliance of this Release, I hereby irrevocably release you from all liability and obligations to me of any and all nature whatsoever arising our of or in connection with the exercise of the Rights granted above, including, without limitation, from any liability for libel, defamation, violation of my rights of privacy, publicity, infringement of copyright or any other right and expense respecting this Release and the Rights granted. I agree that I shall be entitled to no additional consideration as a result of the exercise of the Rights granted herein and that you may rely upon this Release in preparing and exploiting the Picture.
I warrant to you that I have (i) the full, complete and unrestricted right and authority to enter in this Release, and I am over eighteen years of age or (ii) provided to you a fully executed a parental consent in connection this Release. I waive any equitable remedies that may be available to me for a breach of this Release by you, and understand that my sole and exclusive remedy for a breach by you of this Release shall be an action to recover monetary damages, if any.
I understand that you shall have no obligation to produce, distribute or otherwise exploit the Picture, and that if used, my name and/or likeness need not be recognizable. All creative decisions regarding the use of my name and likeness shall be at your sole discretion.
This agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to the agreements fully made and performed therein. The provisions of this agreement shall be binding on me and my heirs, executors and administrators. I have read and understand the above consent and release prior to its execution and have been informed that I have the right to consult with counsel, and I am fully familiar with the contents hereof.
Page 1 of 2
PARENTAL CONSENT
Bookmark Productions, LLC
C/o LivePlanet, Inc.
2644 30th Street. #101
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Gentlemen:
I, ______________________, acknowledge that my child (the “Minor”) ______________ [include child’s name] would like to appear in a motion picture (the “Picture”) you are producing currently titled "Freedom Writers (Documentary)". I also understand that, as you are undertaking substantial expenditures in creating the Picture, you require Minor’s execution of the release to which this consent is attached (the “Release”) in order to permit Minor to be interviewed as set forth above. Accordingly,
1. I acknowledge and agree that (a) I have read the Release and am familiar with all of the terms, covenants and conditions contained therein, (b) I consent to and approve of the terms of the Release; and (c) I hereby irrevocably consent to the execution by the Minor of the Release.
2. I represent and warrant that (a) I am the legal parent or legal guardian of Minor and am entitled to the care, custody and control of the Minor; and (b) Minor will not disaffirm the Release at any time during or after minority. I further agree to indemnify and hold you, your successors, licensees and assigns harmless from any and all damages, liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind of nature, which may arise from the breach by me and/or Minor of the Release and this consent, including, without limitation Minor’s attempt to disaffirm or disavow the Release on the ground of Minor’s minority or otherwise.
3. This consent shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, their respective successors, assigns, next of kin, heirs, administrators, executors, officers, and agents, as the case may be.
Very truly yours,
Name: ___________________________
Signature: ___________________________
SS# ___________________________
Address: ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Date: _________________________