Independent documentary producers face a variety of complicated challenges, including how to make a living from their work. So, volunteer members of the Documentary Producers Alliance came together over the course of two years to develop this document as a resource for work-for-hire doc producers to be better equipped to navigate the doc landscape, which lacks clear rules around sustainable working conditions and compensation for producers.

The guidelines are a tool for independent documentary producers as they consider and define working relationships with rights holders. They are the first of their kind, including a recommended rate table for producers, what terms producers should consider within a contract, and a glossary of key terms and phrases.