Historic 1987 Richard Gere The Farm of the Year Contract Archive

This museum-grade, fully executed six-page Motion Picture Actor Employment Agreement—dated July 24, 1987—stands as an exceptional artifact of modern cinema history, independent studio law, and classic Hollywood biography. Personally hand-signed on the principal execution block by screen icon Richard Gere, this legal instrument formalizes his casting parameters, financial structure, and extensive luxury star riders for a feature motion picture project.

Executed during a high-leverage chapter of his stardom—following his breakout performance in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and shortly before Pretty Woman (1990)—this document captures the intricate business architecture behind elite talent attachment in 1980s cinema.

Production Specifications & Corporate Alignment

Brokered via his representation at the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills, care of legendary Hollywood super-agent Ed Limato, the covenant records a high-profile network of creative entities:

• The Project & Role: Casts Gere on an ironclad pay-or-play basis to perform the principal lead role of Frank in the theatrical feature film tentatively entitled "THE FARM OF THE YEAR." Principal photography was scheduled for 45 shooting days commencing September 1, 1987.

• The Corporate Layer: Coordinates the agreement between independent production house Harvest Film Company, Inc. and Gere's personal independent holding vehicle, Gere Productions, Inc.

• Premium Compensation & Profit Sharing: Guarantees a fixed fee of $125,000.00 payable weekly over the photography schedule, paired with a highly lucrative back-end profit-sharing matrix consisting of 10% of the gross receipts of the picture, commencing with the first dollar.

Elite Star Credit, Living, & Nudity Riders

The contract details the comprehensive protections and top-tier treatment demanded by a premier A-list leading man:

• First-Position Billing: Section 4 guarantees screen credit in first position on a separate card before the title at 100% type size. Gere explicitly approves co-stars Judith Ivey, Brian Dennehy, and Kevin Anderson for trailing credits.

• Luxury Logistics & Allowances: Grants Gere absolute veto power over the director (Gary Sinise is explicitly approved), co-stars, and crew. It mandates a massive, non-accountable weekly cash living allowance of $3,500.00 when traveling, five first-class airfares, an exclusive limousine, and a private on-location trailer.

• Set Privacy & Nudity Safeguards: Section 9 outlines strict artistic privacy boundaries, granting the actor absolute approval over all nudity and sex scenes, banning body doubles, and prohibiting the usage of outtakes or nude still photography without explicit prior written consent.

Autograph Pedigree & Archival Condition

• Pristine Gere Signature: Across the final execution block under the heading “ACCEPTED AND AGREED,” the screen icon hand-penned an absolute exhibition-quality, fluid cursive signature: "Richard Gere", validating on behalf of Gere Productions, Inc.

• Studio Verification: Officially counter-signed on behalf of Harvest Film Company, Inc. by a corporate producer in blue ink.

Dating back to the summer of 1987, the complete six-page legal package remains in magnificent, pristine condition. The premium legal bond paper sheets exhibit sharp corners, institutional tracking stamps (“51288”), and vintage file binder holes along the upper margins from its time in the William Morris archives. Safely housed inside archival-grade display sleeves, this certified document represents the absolute zenith of modern cinema heritage collecting.