Department Handbook: Film

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Agreements, Ownership & Copyright

ACTRA Agreement
Ownership of Student Films
Film Creditation
Copyright of Student Films

ACTRA Agreement
The Department of Film has an agreement with the Alliance of Canadian Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) for third-year, fourth-year and graduate students and/or those approved by the course director. We ask students to respect the terms of the ACTRA agreement we have undertaken on their behalf.

The implication is that actors are providing their services free of charge so that students can work with professionals. If a film made by students under the ACTRA agreement should be used for commercial purposes, the terms of the ACTRA agreement dictate that the Independent Producers Agreement goes into effect and that the student(s) who produced the film or video will have to negotiate actors' fees with the participating actors, in accordance with that agreement.

Please see the Department Production Office for more detailed information and to obtain a copy of the agreement if needed.

Ownership of Student Films
Students may take possession of the original film and tape masters, outs and other material pertaining to the production after the production has been evaluated for university purposes and all tuition fees, ancillary fees, library fines, production bills and any other outstanding university or department expenses have been paid.

If a film or videotape is not claimed, the Department of Film will endeavour to retain it in good condition on the premises for one (1) year, after which time the department will dispose of the film and/or videotape as it sees fit.

Film Creditation
All films and videotapes produced by the students of the Department of Room must bear a screen credit as follows:

Produced at
York University
Department of Film
[year of completion]

Copyright of Student Films
Copyright rests with the student(s) involved in the production of films and videotapes produced within the Department of Film.

Copyright owners will have all rights to the commercial exploitation subject to the following indemnification:

  • Copyright owners agree to protect, indemnify and save harmless York University and the Department of Film, its servants or agents, of and from all claims for damages that may arise out of the use of such films and/or videotapes; and further agree that the Department of Film is not responsible for infringement of copyright, production, distribution and/or exhibition of such films and/or videotapes.

  • The Department of Film retains the right to make, at its expense, copies of the films and/or videotapes and to have access to the original material on request for the purpose of printing replacement footage when it is required, as a result of the original prints being damaged or worn out.

  • The Department of Film will have the right to exhibit and circulate the copies which it has retained, for educational and public relations purposes. The Department of Film will not engage in commercial distribution nor will it sub-contract that right to others.

Students should be aware that it is not the intention of the Department of Film at York University to produce films and videos for later rental or sale. However, films and videotapes for public rental or sale must adhere to all copyright regulations pertaining to original literary rights, music rights (including composition copyright), performance rights and recording rights. This is a complicated matter to deal with in a legal manner and is best left for future productions after graduation.