Legal Question in Entertainment Law in California

Actor/Talent Manager Contract

I was working with a talent manager while I was living in California, however, I have moved to Georgia and have severed my relationship with said Manager. I only had an oral contract with her, which lasted less than one year. I have sent numerous emails to her letting her know that I have terminated our agreement. So, does my notification suffice as notice of termination? We never set forth terms of the oral contract with exception to the commission structure of 20% salary of work completed within the entertainment industry. We had a very casual relationship and I only worked one actual job under the terms of our agreement. If my emails are not sufficient, how should I terminate the agreement? Said Manager is telling me that she is still recognizing our oral contract despite the emails. There are no pending jobs or royalties from our time together. Again, all we had was an oral contract, no terms of duration, and have no pending work or work that was found while I was working with her. In fact, I have left the acting profession permanently. So, what notice is needed in California to terminate this agreement? Also, is there a Statute of Frauds requirement in California for Actor/Manger contracts?

Thank you.


Asked on 3/09/09, 11:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Gordon Firemark Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark

Re: Actor/Talent Manager Contract

Just send a certified letter stating that you're terminating the relationship.

Statute of Frauds may be an issue, since the contract can't be performed within 1 year, but that's more of a DEFENSE, if the manager sues... it's not a persuasive argument for termination.

Since you've left the acting profession, why worry about this anyway? Unless you're still in some other aspect of the entertainment industry, there'll be nothing for her to commission, right?

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Answered on 3/10/09, 12:08 pm


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