Made for Independent Filmmakers.
From student filmmakers making their first short to producers raising money for a half-million-dollar feature, independent productions all face the same challenge:
you need real legal protection long before you can afford a traditional entertainment lawyer.
Thoolie was built to fill that gap.
Created by entertainment attorneys and industry professionals with years of production experience, Thoolie provides lawyer-drafted contracts and practical resources designed specifically for independent films.
Stage 1:
Film Students & First Shorts
Start Small
- Performer Releases
- Simple Crew Contracts
- Location Agreements
Stage 2:
Micro-Budget Filmmakers
Budgets Under $100k
- Cast & Crew Contracts
- Film LLC Formulation
- Investor Agreements
Stage 3:
Independent Features
$100k+
- Producer Agreements
- Option & Purchase Deals
- Music Licensing
Protect your work. Empower your project.
Get the Legal Tools to Keep Your Film on Track
Stage 1:
Film Students & First Shorts
Many filmmakers begin by making short films with classmates, friends, or collaborators.
At this stage, productions are often informal — but the legal issues are still real.
Without proper documentation, a filmmaker may not actually own their finished film. Festivals and distributors often require proof that you control the rights to:
- performances
- music
- footage
- scripts
- locations
- Even simple agreements can prevent problems later.
Helpful tools for this stage:
- Performer Agreements
- Simple Crew Agreements
- Location Releases
- Free Creator Vault resources
Helpful tools for this stage:
- Cast Agreements
- Crew Agreements
- Film LLC Operating Agreement
- Work-for-Hire Agreements
Stage 2:
Micro-Budget Filmmakers
As filmmakers grow, productions often move into the micro-budget range (under $100,000).
Projects at this stage usually involve:
- hiring professional cast and crew
- raising small investor contributions
- forming an LLC for the film
- preparing for festival submissions
This is also where legal issues can start to derail a project.
If contracts are missing or ownership is unclear, distributors and insurers may refuse to move forward.
Thoolie helps filmmakers establish the paperwork needed for clean chain of title.
Stage 3:
Independent Features ($100k+)
Once budgets reach $100,000–$500,000, productions begin operating much closer to professional industry standards.
At this level filmmakers typically need agreements covering:
- producers and executive producers
- investor participation
- option and purchase of scripts
- key crew members
- music licensing and clearances
Sales agents, distributors, and insurance companies will often review the production’s legal paperwork before agreeing to work with the film.
Proper contracts help ensure the project is distribution-ready.
Helpful tools for this stage:
- Option & Purchase Agreements
- Producer Agreements
- Director Agreements
- Investor Agreements
Join Us
Thousands of creators have already started using Thoolie’s free resources and contract templates to protect their projects.
👉 Ready to try it yourself?
