Your Production IsOne Missing ClearanceFrom Never Streaming.
I find every uncleared asset, unlicensed track, and missing rights document in your deliverables package — before your distributor does.
Renata Osei
Independent Documentary Producer, Los Angeles
The photograph that almost killed the distribution deal.
Forty-eight hours before Renata was due to deliver her 90-minute documentary to a streaming platform, a clearance review flagged a 6-second archival photograph embedded in a lower-third graphic. The image had been licensed for editorial use only — not for commercial streaming, not for worldwide distribution, and definitely not in perpetuity. Her E&O insurer refused to issue the policy until the image was either replaced or a full synchronization license was obtained.
"I didn't even know the photo was in the cut. My editor pulled it from a stock search three months earlier and nobody tracked the license terms."
How we resolved it in 36 hours.
A targeted chain-of-title review identified every third-party visual asset in the film. The photograph's original source was traced, the rights holder contacted, and a worldwide streaming license negotiated within the delivery window. The E&O policy was issued the following morning.
The writers' room dropped a song into the pilot. Nobody cleared it.
During the final picture lock of Marcus's network pilot, post-production flagged a 45-second music cue that a writer had placed in a temp track six weeks earlier. The song — a well-known 1990s alternative track — had never been cleared for sync rights or master rights. The network's music clearance checklist had been signed off on an earlier cut. The song was added after sign-off.
"The temp track had been in the cut so long that everyone assumed someone else had cleared it. Nobody had."
The clearance gap that temp tracks create.
A complete cue sheet audit against the final locked picture identified three additional unlicensed temp cues beyond the flagged track. Sync and master licenses were negotiated for two; the third was replaced with a cleared alternative to meet budget. The revised music clearance package was delivered to the network within 72 hours of the audit.
Marcus Delgado
Showrunner, Network Drama Pilot, New York
Yuki Tanaka
Music Supervisor, Festival Film → Streaming Acquisition
The festival license that didn't survive the acquisition.
Yuki's film had played 14 festivals on a limited festival license for every music track in the film. When a streaming platform acquired the film at Sundance, the acquisition contract required worldwide, all-media, in-perpetuity rights. Every single music license in the film had to be renegotiated. Yuki had 60 days from the acquisition close to deliver a compliant music rights package or the deal would be voided.
"Festival licenses are designed to get you into the room. They're not designed to get you out of it with a distribution deal intact."
Converting festival rights to streaming rights.
A full cue sheet review mapped every licensed track against the acquisition contract requirements. Fourteen renegotiations were conducted simultaneously across multiple publishers and labels. Twelve were converted within 45 days. Two tracks were replaced with pre-cleared alternatives. The streaming rights package was delivered 8 days before the contractual deadline.
The complete clearance checklist.
Every item below is something a distributor, network, or E&O insurer will ask for. Most productions arrive at delivery missing at least two. Here’s what I audit and resolve.
Sync & Master License Clearance
Every music cue in your locked picture verified against a final cue sheet — sync rights, master rights, territory, term, and media confirmed in writing.
Uncleared music is the #1 reason E&O insurers reject policies.
Third-Party Visual Asset Audit
Photographs, archival footage, artwork, and on-screen text reviewed for license scope. Editorial-use licenses identified and flagged before delivery.
Stock image licenses almost never include streaming rights by default.
Talent & Appearance Releases
Every identifiable person in your film verified against signed releases. Incidental appearances, background performers, and archival subjects included.
A single unsigned release can trigger a takedown request post-launch.
Rights Chain Documentation
Option agreements, assignment documents, WGA credits, and underlying rights materials assembled and reviewed for gaps before distributor submission.
Missing chain-of-title is the most common cause of delayed distribution closings.
Errors & Omissions Insurance Package
Complete documentation package prepared to meet E&O insurer requirements — formatted, indexed, and ready for underwriter review.
Insurers won't wait. Your delivery date won't either.
License Conversion & Upgrade
Festival licenses, educational licenses, and limited-term agreements identified and renegotiated to meet acquisition contract requirements.
Every acquisition contract will ask for worldwide, all-media, in-perpetuity. Your festival licenses won't cover it.
Tell me about your production.
Whether you have a delivery deadline in 48 hours or you’re starting clearance work at the beginning of post, the earlier we talk, the more options we have.