I have a man in Columbia who is offering my boyfriend and I, who are by the way actors, the lead roles in his horror films if we can come up with the 15, 000 dollars associated with it? How do I know if the contract is binding since he lives in Colombia?
In this case you have two questions:
1. How do we prepare and enforceable contract that accurately and completely sets forth the terms our our agreement, and
2. If the other party breaches that contract how do we enforce it against and collect money from a person who lives in Columbia.
This appears to be a very risky proposal for you.
If he doesn't have $15,000 how realistic is it that he could actually produce, make and distribute such a film?
It might be possible, but the odds seem kind of long.
Consult an attorney experienced in film industry contracts and international law.
George Wolff
www.wolfflaw.com
(415)788-1881
The issue here is which law is governing this contract. Certainly the contract will be binding under each law you are going to select. The point is are you familiar with Colombian law? And in case something goes wrong, are you prepared to hire a local attorney to defend your rights? In general there is something that needs to be clarified: if you are going to pay (and then give money to your friend in Colombia) to produce the film, what is your return or stake in the end result of this production? And if the movie is a hit, what will be the legal and tax consequences for you? I believe you need to hire an attorney with international experience. Our office deals with international issues like yours. Feel free to contact us.
This sounds like (pick one or more): a bad business deal, a scam, a risky proposition, a situation fraught with problems, etc.
It is unusual for the actors in a legitimate production to have to pay their employer for their own work or to fund the project. This indicates either that the project is (pick one or more): underfunded so will never get finished, will never be properly marketed, or a scam.
Offering two actors the lead roles in this man's horror films -- you used the plural -- indicates the man is playing on your eagerness to get into the industry. He's "offered" two actors more than one role each in exchange for money. It's not enough money to produce even a fraction of a film but it is enough money for a guy to live on for a while. And if he really intends to make these films, he's not selecting actors because they are a good choice or even an appropriate choice for the roles (assuming he even has scripts, directors, the technical crew, the other actors, the equipment, etc.). Instead, he's asking THE LEAD ACTORS to pay him in exchange for these roles. This is not how legitimate productions run.
I recognize there must be more details than what you wrote in your post but unless those details change the character of the proposition, I'd say you will not be paid back no matter how solid your contract is in either or both countries.
Don't send this man any money. Use it instead to hire a good agent.
