Holding Deal
Contract paying talent a retainer fee to remain exclusively available for potential future projects.
Definition
A holding deal compensates talent with regular payments to maintain exclusive availability for a studio or production company's future projects. These agreements secure priority access to in-demand creators, actors, or executives.
Holding deals typically include minimum project commitments and first-look arrangements. The talent receives guaranteed income while the company secures access to their services for upcoming projects without competitive bidding.
Why It Matters
Holding deals allow studios to lock in key talent relationships before specific projects are greenlit, preventing competitors from securing their services during crucial development periods.
These arrangements provide talent with income security while ensuring studios can move quickly on time-sensitive projects without lengthy negotiation processes or availability conflicts.
Examples in Practice
Netflix maintains holding deals with top showrunners like Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy, guaranteeing exclusive access to their services for multiple series development across several years.
Marvel Studios uses holding deals to secure key actors between franchise installments, ensuring availability for surprise appearances and maintaining character continuity across multiple films.
Streaming platforms often establish holding deals with successful international format creators, securing exclusive rights to adapt popular foreign concepts for domestic audiences.