CREATIVE, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND HOW

YOU PROTECT THEM WITH INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY ASSETS
Overview
In this section, the various agreements signed in order to leverage
financing options and secure overseas partners and distributors are
listed.

Option agreement
Option Agreement states that the scriptwriter agrees to grant to the
producer, for a specified period, the right to produce a film on
his/her script.
The script planned, tentatively titled as The Sitarist, will be a biopic
featuring the life and times of Shri Bharat Ratna Ravi Shankar. It will
be based on the musicians autobiography, My Music, My Life,
published by Mandala Publishing. The Option Agreement, in this
case, will grant us the rights to produce the intended film.

Director agreement
With Director Agreement, the director is identified as a joint owner
of the film, as an employee or both. If the director is recognized as a
joint owner, he/she is entitled to agreed-upon rights. As an
employee, the director will be paid salary during the various stages
of film production. Occasionally, the directors are also given
royalties from film distribution.
Mr Rajesh Kumar, a recent media graduate, will direct The Sitarist.
His short film on Shri Ravi Shankar went viral on YouTube. He will be
recognized as a joint owner of the movie and will own 30% of the
stakes.

Actor agreement
Actor Agreement relates to the rights of the performers, touching on
the issues of working conditions, thereby blending with the labor
law.
Popular theater veteran, Mr Alaudeen Shah will make his movie
debut with The Sitarist. He will play the title role of Shri Ravi
Shankar. As a part of Actor Agreement, he is required to grow his
hair, and not cut it, to reflect the adolescent years of the master
musician. Ms Parvathi Menen, another noted theater personality, will
play the role of Ravi Shankars wife. All the other actors will be
recruited from Malarvadi Arts Club, Mumbai.

Music clearances
These days, when a movies business entirely relies on the opening
week collections, music becomes paramount to captivate the
imaginations of the audience and get them to the theaters. Its also
very expensive to change the music once the movie post the final
edits. Hence, Music Clearances include a cue sheet that lists every
piece of music used along with its duration.
The Labels, Angel Records and World Pacific, hold the majority of
Shri Ravi Shankars compositions. They have allowed the use of
their compositions in The Sitarist. Also, popular sitar musician, Mr
Gopi Sundar, will score the background for this film.

Product placement
Positively featuring popular brands, such as products, trademark
and logos, in film scenes has become a lucrative source of revenue.
This agreement entitles the use of such IP assets.
An exclusive deal has been struck with music instrument
manufacturers, Rikhi Ram Musical Instruments. Since, The Sitarist
can potentially upsurge the sales of sitars, Rikhi Ram will be
positioned in a way that they get the maximum benefit. Their logo
will be featured whenever the reel-life Ravi Shankar is wielding a
Sitar, and also a sequence in which he buys a sitar from the Rikhi
Ram store will be shot.

Name and likeness agreements

Permissions involving the names, phone numbers and photographs
of individuals and organizations used in the film feature in Name
and Likeness Agreements.
Appropriate permissions from Shri Ravi Shankars living relatives to
use his name, photographs and places connected to him have been
sought.

Insurance
Errors and Omissions Insurance safeguards producers against
problems with right acquisitions.
Errors and Omissions Insurance adds a second layer of protection to
the company.

Distribution agreements
Distribution Agreement considers the share of expenses between
the producers and distributors. Some of the media channels
considered are discussed as follows:
Cinema Halls

The movie will have its theatrical release only in PVR Cinema Halls,
under their Directors Rare initiative.
Television
Star Plus holds the rights to screen the movie. It can screen the
movie from after 3 months of The SItarists theatrical release.
International Rights / DVD
Ayngaran films hold the international distribution rights to release
the movie across various parts of the world - US, where he lives his
last years, and Europe, in particular.
Online download and streaming formats / Video-on-demand (VOD) /
Non-cinema venues
Star Corporation holds the online streaming rights of all the movies
their television division buys. They are taking care of the Video-ondemand services and Non-cinema venues such as Airplanes, Ships,
Army Bases, etc.