Contracts often provide extensive protections for clients.
But a good contract protects both parties. It clarifies issues of time, money, authority, and responsibility. Sometimes we base a contract on the client's form, sometimes on ours. An accurate description of the project, including a timeline, formats, language versions, and an itemized budget. A payment schedule beginning with a down payment on signing of the contract, and often including payments on approval of the final script, completion of original shooting, and approval of final master.