Creative Rights Checklist:
Episodic Television & High-Budget SVOD Series

DURING PREP

1. Did you receive the script, with your name on it as Director, no less than 24 hours before prep? 
2. Were you provided with an office?
3. For single-camera, half-hour series, were you notified 72 hours in advance of the date, time, and place of the table read?
4. Did you participate in all casting, and was there a reasonable purpose for each person present at the casting session(s) to be there?
5. Were you informed before prep started of the casting protocols and schedule for the episode? If the casting concept call took place during prep, were you invited to participate?
6. If casting electronically, did you receive the links at the same time as the Writer/EP or any other producer? Were you provided a reasonable opportunity to provide input before casting recommendations or decisions were communicated to the studio or network?
7. Were you told what material would be shot by a second unit?
8. Were you consulted on wardrobe, props, special FX, choreography, music, special equipment, etc.?

DURING PRODUCTION

1. Did you direct all of the originally scheduled principal photography?
2. Did all notes to cast and crew come directly from you?
3. Were you informed about any electronic transmission of sound or images from the set?
4. Did you see dailies at a reasonable time?

FOLLOWING PRODUCTION

1. Did you see the editor’s assembly within six business days after shooting was complete? Did you see the editor’s assembly before anyone else?
2. For a one-hour episode, did you have four days to complete your cut (as long as there were no bona fide delivery date exigencies)?
3. For a half-hour episode, did you have one day to complete your cut plus up to one more day to make changes?
4. Did you get your cut without interference or “cutting behind”?
5. Did you screen your cut for the producer and person with final cutting authority?
6. Were you notified of the date, time and place of every post-production operation, and in good faith allowed to be present and consulted?
7. Were you offered the opportunity to direct all additional scenes or retakes?
8. Were you offered the opportunity to direct looping or narration?
9. Were you offered the opportunity to take part in the spotting and dubbing of sound and music?
10. Did you request and were you provided with a watermarked DVD copy of the final “air” version of your episode without commercials at no cost to you?
11. If you directed the pilot of a series and a domestic DVD or Internet Web page was created, were your name, background, and filmography included along with those of the series’ “creator”?

AT ALL TIMES

Were you consulted about every creative decision?

The Director’s creative rights are codified in Article 7 of the DGA Basic Agreement.
If you have any questions, please consult the Guild office or a DGA field representative.

DGA Contract Line: (310) 289-2010