Read this before you register.
This is the agreement the site promises you before you send in your details. It is written in plain English on purpose — no legal firm has drafted it, and if you would rather have your own advice on it before agreeing, that is sensible, and you are welcome to ask for one.
Who this covers
Anyone who registers or contributes to Torn during its development phase — singing, playing, recording, mixing, filming, designing, producing, or anything else on the Be part of it list. It applies from the moment you register, whether or not anything comes of it yet.
Being straight about money
Torn is a development project at pre-funding stage. There is no fee for anything you do now. I am actively going after funding, and paying people properly is the goal — not a promise I am making today. If you take part now, it is because you want to be part of building this, not because of what it pays. See “If Torn moves into funded production” below for what changes if funding arrives.
Credit
You will be credited by name for what you contribute, wherever that work is shown — the site's build log, the finished recordings, the EPK, and any pitch or funding materials that use it. If you would rather not be named, tell me and I will not use your name.
What your contribution can be used for
You keep ownership of anything you already had before you got involved — your voice, your playing, your skills, your existing work. What you give me is permission to use what you make for Torn specifically: the development recordings, the site and its build log, and any pitching, funding or promotional use of Torn — funders, producers, venues, press, socials. I will not use it for anything outside Torn, and I will not sell or license it on separately, without asking you first.
Music specifically
If what you make ends up on a released recording, there is a separate one-page split sheet for that track, signed by everyone on it, before it is released — that is where shares of that recording get set out. This agreement is what applies before you get there; it does not replace the split sheet.
If Torn moves into funded production
This agreement covers the development phase only — the phase Torn is in now, before any funding is in place. If and when Torn moves into paid, staged production, this agreement stops covering any new work from that point. A proper paid agreement, at recognised rates, will be in place before anyone is asked to do paid-phase work. Nothing here commits you to working unpaid once that happens — and being part of the development phase does not guarantee a place in the paid one, but it is not forgotten either. Where it makes sense, people who built this with me early get first look.
Ownership of Torn
Torn is Rona Ryan's original work — she wrote the book, music and lyrics. I am adapting it for the stage with her agreement. Registering or contributing does not give you, or anyone, any ownership or authorship claim in Torn itself — only credit for what you specifically contributed.
Changing your mind
You can step back at any point. Ask, and anything you have contributed that has not been used yet will not be used. You can also ask me to delete your registration details at any time — the same as the form says.
Age
You need to be 18 or over to contribute to the development phase. Separately: the show itself is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over — that is about who watches it, not who makes it.
The honest bit. I wrote this myself. It is not a substitute for a lawyer's advice, and for anything that starts to involve real money — a released recording, a funded production — I would rather you had your own eyes on the paperwork too. Ask me anything about this before you register; I would rather explain it now than have it unclear later.