Adventures in Self-Releasing: More Successful Self-Releasing in 8 Steps

We're in a slightly quieter period now with The Last Lullaby. Figured I’d switch formats again for this week’s entry as I look back and examine some of the decisions I’ve made. I will soon be starting my next movie and, as with anything, I do hope I’ve learned from some of my mistakes.

Q: Is there an ideal week to open an independent movie?

Read the Whole Post...

August 28th, 2009 | Category: Adventures in Self-Releasing | By Jeffrey Goodman

Comments: 17

Cinema Law: Protection for Behind the Scenes Footage

Q: About 20 years ago, a U.S. film production had done a location shoot in Japan, and I was one of the local hired crew. Since my position allowed me to shoot photographs on set, I also videotaped the production as well—creating sort of "behind the scenes" videos. The video was never intended for commercial use, just for recording daily activities instead of writing journals on paper. U.S. crew (including producers) knew and acknowledged that I was videotaping.

Read the Whole Post...

August 25th, 2009 | Category: Cinema Law | By Patricia Millett

Comments: 12

Adventures in Self-Releasing: Three Things Left

Took a week off from the blog. Just needed to catch my breath for a second. People ask me all the time when I'll be ready to move on to my next project. As with everything in this process, it's probably different for each person. For me, I still have three areas I want to pursue and follow through until the end:

Read the Whole Post...

August 21st, 2009 | Category: Adventures in Self-Releasing | By Jeffrey Goodman

Comments: 5

Cinema Law: Who Owns the Footage I Shot?

Q: I have an issue with a large client that has never asked me to sign any agreement or contract. A little while back, they asked me for a year’s worth of B roll footage I shot for them. I eventually gave it to the client because I thought it was covered under the “work for hire” doctrine. Now I don’t think that is true. Can I deny them if they request footage in the future?

Read the Whole Post...

August 19th, 2009 | Category: Cinema Law | By Randy Whatoff

Comments: 5

Cinema Law: What's the Deal With YouTube?

Q: I am producing an independent documentary and would like to include a video that was submitted on YouTube. The video is of a preacher/pastor who looks like he is sitting on the steps of his house or the church, and preaching a sermon to the camera to post on YouTube so "everyone can see his face." Is it okay to include this video?

Read the Whole Post...

August 11th, 2009 | Category: Cinema Law | By Amber Holley

Comments: 10

Adventures in Self-Releasing: Indiewood By the Numbers

I’ve been obsessed with the Box Office Chart that appears on indieWIRE every Tuesday for a while now. So I thought I’d go through the top 15 American narrative movies on this week’s list and see what we can learn from the numbers. Something can be learned from every single movie on the list, but since The Last Lullaby is an American narrative, I thought I would make that my focus:

Read the Whole Post...

August 7th, 2009 | Category: Adventures in Self-Releasing | By Jeffrey Goodman

Comments: 9

Cinema Law: Not Receiving a Credit or Pay?

Q: I was wondering if you could give me advice. I recently completely a VFX job for a movie that has since been released. The people behind the production told me that they were giving me a credit for my VFX work. I've checked on IMDb and they did not give me the credit. I have all the files and I did not sign a release for my work! They did not pay me well, saying that the credit was more valuable then the money. Now, I have no money and no credit! What I should do? I would like to sue because I worked hard on this project—15-hour days to finish the job for $400 a week—and believe I’m entitled to the compensation promised.

Read the Whole Post...

August 4th, 2009 | Category: Cinema Law | By Jennifer McGrath

Comments: 2

Advertisement

' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . '

'; } ?>