NONCIRCUMVENTION AGREEMENT

 

 

            This agreement (the "Agreement") is made by and between                                               ,                                                                                                                                                           , its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents, associates, successors and assigns (“PRODUCER”), and                                        (“INTERMEDIARY”) on this the                    day of                           ,                       (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

            WHEREAS, PRODUCER has certain film and television projects in development (the “Projects”), and has various development materials and confidential business information, including graphic artwork, legal and financial documents, and other textual material (the "Documents");

 

            WHEREAS, INTERMEDIARY wishes to review the Documents and discuss the Projects with potential investors, distributors and financiers (the “Financiers”) for possible investment or other business involvement.  INTERMEDIARY is interested in executive producing one or more of the Projects, including obtaining financial commitments, talent agreements and distribution arrangements;

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Noncircumvention Agreement agree as follows:

 

1.            Noncircumvention.            Subject to the exclusions and limitations contained in paragraphs IV and V, below, PRODUCER agrees, during the term of this Agreement, not directly or indirectly to approach any of the Financiers, nor to disclose the identity of the Financiers to third parties for the purposes of obtaining investment capital, loans, contracts or other valuable interests, commitments, instruments, or property which PRODUCER might utilize in the development, packaging, financing, production, distribution or other advancement or exploitation of the Projects.  INTERMEDIARY shall disclose the identity of the Financiers to PRODUCER concurrently with or within reasonable time after commencing discussions regarding the Projects with such Financiers.  PRODUCER acknowledges and agrees that the Financiers are and shall remain for the duration of this Agreement, proprietary to INTERMEDIARY, subject to the exclusions provided in paragraph IV, below.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that the contents of this Agreement are confidential, and each agrees to treat the information contained herein as confidential, subject to disclosures that may become necessary for: the preparation and execution of subsequent confidential documents; and the protection of the parties’ respective interests, rights and obligations arising from or related to the Agreement.

 

2.         Term.  The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date first indicated above, shall extend for three (3) years from same, and shall automatically renew for subsequent three (3) year periods from the date of any transaction that involves the Financiers and which is related to the Projects, without regard to success of the Projects, or the complete performance  of either party to such transaction, excluding only full execution of binding, contractual documents.

 

3.            INTERMEDIARY’S  Consideration.  If during the term, PRODUCER successfully obtains whole or partial financing for any of the Projects from any of the Financiers, then INTERMEDIARY shall be paid a consulting fee equivalent to five-percent (5%) of the gross proceeds received by PRODUCER, with other customary terms to be negotiated in good faith, including an Executive Producer credit on the Project(s) which are partially or wholly financed by the Financier(s).  

 

4.            Excluded Persons.            For purposes of this Agreement, the Financiers shall not include those persons or entities itemized on Appendix A, Excluded Financiers, which is attached and incorporated herein by reference, unless INTERMEDIARY and PRODUCER expressly agree otherwise in writing. 

 

5.            Miscellaneous.  This Agreement includes the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and all prior and concurrent oral agreements, and all prior written agreements with respect to such subject matter have been merged herein. This Agreement may not be modified, except in a written instrument signed by the parties. Any dispute relating to this agreement shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association in Los Angeles, California, and judgment upon the award of the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction, with the prevailing party entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs of enforcement. The arbitrator may grant any remedy or relief that is fair and equitable, including the award of attorney’s fees and costs, including costs of enforcement, and judgment rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, it being agreed that the State District Courts in Los Angeles County, California have jurisdiction and venue over any dispute involving this Agreement.  If any provision contained in this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, such provision shall be unenforceable or invalid only to the extent necessary to bring it within the legal requirements, and all other provisions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect.  Nothing herein shall be construed so as to require the commission of any act contrary to law, and if there is any conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any applicable law, the latter shall prevail, but then any provision of this Agreement so affected shall be limited only to the extent necessary to bring it within the legal requirements, and other provisions of this Agreement not so contrary shall remain in full force and effect.  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts fully performed and executed therein.

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED this                 day of                                       ,                       .

 

 

                                     (“INTERMEDIARY”)                                                     (“PRODUCER”)

                                                                                                                                               

 

By:                                                                               By:                                                      

 

Its:                                                                                Its:                                                       


 

APPENDIX A

 

Excluded Financiers

 

 

 

Individuals                                                            Companies