SALES AGENT VETTING CHECKLIST

A producer-side due diligence tool for evaluating international sales agents and domestic distributors before signing a representation agreement.

Getting started

  1. Name the deal. Fill in Agent / Sales Company, Film and Date vetted in the table below.
  2. Rate every criterion. In each section table, click the Rating cell and choose Green, Amber or Red. Write what you found in Notes.
  3. Check for bad actors. In Section G, tick Flag raised for any red flag you find.
  4. Read your result. The Scoring Summary, Overall Verdict and Reds list at the bottom update automatically as you rate.
  5. Vet another agent. From the Screen Deal Suite dashboard, click + Add New Sales Agent, or open Sales Agent Vetting and click New. Each agent gets a fresh checklist.

Tip: click a cell to edit it. Clicking a criterion number (A1, B2 …) opens that criterion on its own page; close it to come back.

Agent / Sales Company Northlight Sales (example)
Film The Long Dark (example thriller)
Date vetted 5 October 2026

How to use this checklist

Work through Sections A to F before you respond to any representation offer. Each criterion carries a RAG rating — Green, Amber, or Red — that you assign based on what you find. A single Red in Sections A to F is a serious concern that warrants a direct conversation or a revised ask. Multiple Reds, or a Red in Section A or D, should give you genuine pause.

Section G is different. It covers signals that indicate a bad actor rather than a poor deal. A single flag in Section G is a walk-away — not a negotiating position. Section H covers domestic distributor vetting for producers evaluating both an international sales agent and a domestic distribution partner on the same project.

Do not skip the references call. Any agent can produce a plausible-looking slate and a well-drafted agreement. Calls to producers whose films are currently on the agent’s slate are the single most reliable vetting tool available to you. Ask specifically about payment timing, statement quality, and communication between markets.

GREEN — Proceed AMBER — Negotiate RED — Serious concern NOTES — Your findings

Important: These tools are starting-point precedents and general information only. They do not constitute legal or financial advice. Securities law, tax law, copyright law and privacy law vary materially between jurisdictions, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland and the European Union. Obtain qualified local legal advice in every jurisdiction in which you operate before offering, signing or relying on any agreement.

A WHO THEY ACTUALLY ARE

Company registration · Verifiable track record · Key personnel · Financial standing

Vetting Criteria

B FEE STRUCTURE AND COMMISSION