Theatre translation model contract Autor vlákna: Núria Busquet Molist (X)
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Núria Busquet Molist (X) 
Španělsko
Local time: 19:11
Člen (2015)
angličtina -> katalánština
+ ...
Hi everybody!
An amateur company has asked me to translate a theatre play from English to Catalan. We need to sign a contract, but I have never done it before. Someone has told me that I will be paid for the transfer of the rights of using my translation to perform the play, and they have to ask for the rights to perform the play themselves to the owners.
My question is if there is any specific contract in this case. After finishing the translation, I would like to try... See more Hi everybody!
An amateur company has asked me to translate a theatre play from English to Catalan. We need to sign a contract, but I have never done it before. Someone has told me that I will be paid for the transfer of the rights of using my translation to perform the play, and they have to ask for the rights to perform the play themselves to the owners.
My question is if there is any specific contract in this case. After finishing the translation, I would like to try to have it edited as I will be the owner of it. Is it correct?
Has anybody any model contract for this type of circumstance? I will be grateful if you could avise me about that, as it is the first time I translate a play and it is not for an editor, but for an amateur company to perform.
Thank you very much for your help. ▲ Collapse
| | | | LilianNekipelov
Spojené státy americké
Local time: 13:11
ruština -> angličtina
+ ...
I really think you have to contact an entertainment lawyer in your country. It is all not as simple as that. There is the author of the play, the performing company (or producer) and you as a translator, plus local, and possibly international laws. It might be better to consult a lawyer.
| | | | Woodstock (X)
Německo
Local time: 19:11
němčina -> angličtina
+ ...
| That is quite a specialized form of contract | Apr 25, 2014 |
you are asking about. I'm afraid I can't help with advice, but the link to a Google search I entered in regard to literature translation contracts might be of some use or point you in the right direction to get more information. Some organizations have model contracts that you might be able to adapt to your purposes, if you are unable to find anything more directly applicable to your specific requ... See more you are asking about. I'm afraid I can't help with advice, but the link to a Google search I entered in regard to literature translation contracts might be of some use or point you in the right direction to get more information. Some organizations have model contracts that you might be able to adapt to your purposes, if you are unable to find anything more directly applicable to your specific requirements.
https://www.google.com/search?q="Wu%20Dang%20stil"&oq="Wu%20Dang%20stil"&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.6722j0j8&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q="literature%20translation%20contracts" ▲ Collapse
| | | | David Wright
Rakousko
Local time: 19:11
němčina -> angličtina
+ ...
| Don't be too complicated | Apr 26, 2014 |
This is an amateur group and so they probably won't want to get involved in complicated contracts. Being a translator and amateur theatre director myself, I went through this process last year putting a Finnish play on in German.
Firstly, you or the theatre group needs to get permission both to perform the play and to translate it. (assuming it's still subject to copyright).
The theatre group can then pay the author his royalty, and you a fee for the translation of the ... See more This is an amateur group and so they probably won't want to get involved in complicated contracts. Being a translator and amateur theatre director myself, I went through this process last year putting a Finnish play on in German.
Firstly, you or the theatre group needs to get permission both to perform the play and to translate it. (assuming it's still subject to copyright).
The theatre group can then pay the author his royalty, and you a fee for the translation of the work.
You agree with the author that you can translate his play (for that the author's agent, if he has one, will use a standard contract - and it may be part of the agreement with the theatre group, as it was in our case. It is here that you can perhaps get a clause that allows you to be the sole translator into Catalan. These contracts are pretty much all alike and there's not much you can change in them - and getting a lawyer to help you would just be too expensive for something like this).
As for the contract with the theatre group - I would make this very informal (don't bother with a lawyer - he'll cost you more than what an amateur group could afford to pay you). You agree that they can use your translation in return for a fee, and that you retain the rights to the translation - and you can set out exactly what the theatre group can do (perform as often as they like or only x times, etc).
Performances of your translation by other groups will require your consent (subject to a fee). If you didn't get exclusivity, then you can't do anything about new translations.
If your author doesn't have an agent, it gets a bit more complicated because he won't have a standard contract to work with. If you want, I can send you a copy of the one we made with the Finnish playwright and you could adapt it. - but it's more the contract for the theatre group than the one you would need. ▲ Collapse
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Núria Busquet Molist (X)
Španělsko
Local time: 19:11
Člen (2015)
angličtina -> katalánština
+ ...
AUTOR TÉMATU
Dear all,
Thank you very much for your answers. I will take David's advice and make it simple. As you are saying they are an amateur group, so I think it must not be really complicated, even for them.
I only wanted to make it right. I asked permissions to the agent of the writer and they told me I could translate it without any problem, only the company or the Publisher (in case it is published) will have to ask for the rights of performing or publishing.
... See more Dear all,
Thank you very much for your answers. I will take David's advice and make it simple. As you are saying they are an amateur group, so I think it must not be really complicated, even for them.
I only wanted to make it right. I asked permissions to the agent of the writer and they told me I could translate it without any problem, only the company or the Publisher (in case it is published) will have to ask for the rights of performing or publishing.
There's another question I have, especially for you David. I have read that some theatre translators receive a percentage of royalties of the ticket fee. Is it right?
Thanks again for your answers.
Núria ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mervyn Henderson (X)
Španělsko
Local time: 19:11
španělština -> angličtina
+ ...
| Might be costly | Apr 29, 2014 |
Núria,
It may not be so much asking the playwright for permission as forking out hefty playwright's royalties, and that may stretch the budget beyond an amateur production. Obviously the playwright's not Shakespeare in this case. And ... guess who might be asked to offset the expense by lowering their own fee?
I wouldn't hold my breath about translation rights either.
Mervyn
| | | | Núria Busquet Molist (X)
Španělsko
Local time: 19:11
Člen (2015)
angličtina -> katalánština
+ ...
AUTOR TÉMATU
Yes, Mervyn, that is what I thought. The royalties could be a drop in the bucket... I won't ask for them to an amateur company...
Thanks!
Núria
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