Release forms for documentary media makers

Throw together by David Tamés, September 9, 2013, updated for writingwithacamera.com on April 12, 2026

On a professional production, obtaining proper written permissions is the responsibility of the producer and can prevent complicated problems down the line in the event the project is licensed for broadcast or distribution. Please be advised that this page and the documents available for download from this page by no means constitutes any form of legal opinion or advice.

The four most commonly used release forms used in documentary productions are:

• Appearance Release, for non-actors, Download PDF.
• Minor Appearance Release, for children, it must be signed by a parent or legal guardian, Download PDF.
• Materials Release, for obtaining permission from the owner or license holder to use photographs, audio, video, film, documents, or other media which may be copyrighted or owned by others, Download PDF.
• Location Release, for use when you are filming on property you do not own, Download PDF.

Download, edit, and print these forms as necessary for your particular production and requirements. These are the same forms I use in my productions. They were written for me by a respected entertainment attorney with the goal of balancing brevity with legal requirements.

Releases are important because some film festivals, most funding bodies, and all broadcasters and distributors will require them as part of the chain of title, a series of documents that establish the producer’s right to put the components in their film or video. For locations, it’s important to know who actually owns the building or land you want to film on and to find out who the current occupier is. For example, if you are filming in a rented house you should get permission from the landlord as well as the tenant who is renting the property. While I often have shot on locations without a Location Release, I recognize each producer has to decide for themselves the level of risk they are willing to take.

In any professional production, it is a good idea to establish a relationship with a qualified and reputable entertainment attorney that understands documentary. If you’re working with professional actors you’ll probably need a special actor/model release form which is beyond the scope of this handout.

Resources for further study

The following books are recommended if you would like to become more familiar with legal issues related to the production of documentary media.

• The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers by Thomas A. Crowell, 3rd Edition, (Routledge, 2022), WorldCat, Amazon.
• Archival Storytelling: A Filmmaker’s Guide to Finding, Using, and Licensing Third-Party Visuals and Music_ by Sheila Curran Bernard and Kenn Rabin, 2nd Edition (Routledge, 202), WorldCat, Amazon.