Film Locations Glossary
Third-party materials clearance
What is third-party materials clearance?
Also called materials clearance, or artwork clearance.
Third-party materials clearance is confirming that artwork, photographs, music, signage, or other copyrighted material visible or audible at a location can be used.
It is a delivery requirement as much as a production one: an unlicensed painting on a practical wall becomes an errors and omissions problem months after wrap. The practical answer on location is usually to replace rather than to license.
Example
A framed photograph on a practical wall is a copyrighted print, and it is in the background of nine shots. Nobody cleared it, so delivery stalls while a license is negotiated. Replacing it during prep would have cost nothing.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
A clearance question at prep, and a delivery requirement checked long after wrap.
Common mistake
Leaving artwork on the walls of a practical because it is only background. A copyrighted print in nine shots becomes a delivery problem that replacing it in prep would have avoided.
Related questions
- Does artwork at a location need clearing?
- Yes where it is copyrighted and identifiable. The practical answer on location is usually to replace it with cleared or commissioned pieces rather than to license it.
- When does an uncleared item become a problem?
- At delivery, when the errors and omissions insurer or distributor reviews the picture, which is months after the location has been restored and released.