Non-disclosure agreement for press on set or at screenings — locks down story secrets and casting details until release. Signature mandatory.
As soon as you allow journalists on set or invite them to a screening, you need a document that precisely regulates what they are allowed to see and what they are not — the Press Code. This is not a marketing gimmick, but a legally binding non-disclosure agreement that both parties accept in writing before the first camera rolls or the first scene is shown.
In practice, it works like this: The code lists which scenes or story points are under embargo — meaning, until what date reporting is prohibited. A scene with the twist ending? Blocked until the opening weekend. The death of a main character? Explicitly named and forbidden. The names of still-unknown cast members also end up there — you don't want the Hollywood Reporter to write three weeks before the premiere that this A-lister appears in the third act. The code also protects the DP or production designer from having their working methods dissected in tech blogs before the film is finished.
Signing is not optional — no code, no access. I've turned away journalists who didn't want to accept the document. This sounds harsh, but it's standard. Studios and independent producers have the same right here: they control the information flow to their own production. The code also contains rules regarding photography — may the press take their own photos or only use official press material? And it always defines who the contact person is for inquiries (usually the press office, not the director directly).
Technically, the code is formulated by the production company or distributor — not by the set team. But as a Director of Photography, you quickly notice when journalists test the boundaries. I've seen press representatives try to chat with actors during shooting breaks out of curiosity. A good code makes it clear: all statements must be handled through PR. This also protects the crew from inadvertently leaking information.
The Press Code has become a silent ritual — from major studios to mid-sized independent productions. It only works if everyone takes it seriously and producers are consistent in enforcing violations. I haven't seen a lawsuit for a code breach yet, but the threat is usually enough to put journalists in their place.