When a contributor raises concerns about consent after filming, it can create real uncertainty about whether a contribution can still be used. In practice, however, these situations are usually manageable and rarely fatal.

A contributor falls out with the production team: perhaps they dislike an editorial decision or want to disrupt transmission, and suddenly, wham! A Subject Access Request (SAR) lands, demanding any rushes, internal emails, production notes or assessments that could contain the contributor's personal data.

As media lawyers at Reviewed & Cleared, we often work with documentary filmmakers and investigative journalists to protect confidential sources. Our pre-publication team advises journalists across broadcast, audio and print on investigations into public bodies such as the NHS and policing, corporate wrongdoing, abuse cases, national security and environmental stories. In many of these cases, people simply wouldn’t speak without some protection.

By the time filming begins on a blue-light programme, many key creative and structural decisions have already been made. The format is nailed down, access is agreed, target contributors are identified, and expectations for the narrative are set with the commissioner.

It's a moment that can make true-crime producers nervous: fulfilling the Ofcom obligation to notify the family of a deceased victim that their loved one will feature in a programme.

New year, new projects crossing our desks at Reviewed & Cleared! Every year we advise on a large amount of comedy, from scripted drama and sketch shows to live records.

As fun as it sounds, comedy can be one of the most legally sensitive forms of broadcasting.

Crew are the powerhouse behind every production. Despite their importance, crew contracts often receive less attention than cast or contributor deals, which can risk costly disputes, delays, or even derailed shoots.

In the film and TV industry, co-production partnerships can unlock new resources and markets, but they require careful negotiation. Below is some practical advice on how to strike a confident, balanced co-production deal.

A title is vital to your project - it's the first thing that people see and key to drawing viewers in.  Title Reports are an integral part of the clearance process and essential for your E&O insurance policy.  They help you avoid future costly legal battles by checking that your title doesn't infringe any third party trade mark rights. 

If the person answering this question says ‘not much – someone points a camera and that’s it’ – chances are, for this individual, Apocalypse Now is not a brilliant reimagining of Joseph Conard’s novella Heart of Darkness but a boring, if noisy, search for an obese person who lives up a river and chops cows’ head off.