Stories By Gregory R. Kanaan
Cinema Law
Do You Need Life Rights or Adaptation Rights to Write a Fact-Based Screenplay?
March 23, 2020Since we’re all inside working on screenplays (right?), we’re re-sharing this 2015 MovieMaker posts on one...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Enforcing Your Rights (When They Haven’t Been Paid For)
November 6, 2017Q: I did CGI work for a film and our contract states that they don’t acquire...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Can I Fictionalize A Reality TV Idea Without Infringing Its Copyright?
September 19, 2017Q: I wrote a novel about a fictional reality TV dating show that bears similarities to...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What Are Your Options When You’re Fired From A Job Before It Even Begins?
August 2, 2017Q: I was booked as a makeup artist on a production for the month of August....
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Does Your School Own Your Student Film?
July 25, 2017When I was in film school many years ago, a rumor developed that the school owned...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Should I Write a Season of TV For a Producer Without Upfront Compensation?
May 8, 2017Q: A producer recently approached me with a finished pilot script and asked me to write...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What to Put in A Life Rights Contract
April 6, 2017Q: I’m friends with a semi-famous musician and she’s helping me writing a biopic about her...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What You Should Know About Using Other Peoples’ Quotes in Your Film
March 3, 2017Q: I’m making a film and I’d like to use a quote from a famous person...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Getting the (Screenwriting) Credit You Deserve, For WGA Members and Non-Members Alike
February 9, 2017Q: Is there some way to ensure that I receive a “written by” or “screenplay by”...
MM Guide 2017
More Than You Bargain For: Negotiating With Talent 101
December 1, 2016I used to be terrified of negotiating—my instinct was to immediately acquiesce and avoid the hassle....
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What Are Your Rights When Filming a Criminal?
October 31, 2016Q: As a producer, what are my rights when filming a documentary subject as he confronts...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What You Should Know When Working with Someone Else’s Characters
October 4, 2016Q: Who owns the copyright to a script when it’s based off someone else’s originally created...
Cinema Law
When Fair is Foul: Why Fair Use Isn’t an Impenetrable Defense for Indie Films
September 29, 2016This situation is probably familiar to you: You don’t own it and you need to use...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Trust is Earned Over Time — So Always Get the Contract
September 15, 2016Q: I wrote a screenplay and got a producer interested. He said he could generate interest...
Cinema Law
Paper Trail, No Fail: How to Stay Out of Legal Trouble? Document Everything
August 23, 2016Also known as “Contracts or it didn’t happen,” this practice might help you get out of...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Do I Need Life Rights for a Scripted Film if I Have Them for a Documentary?
August 17, 2016Q: I am writing a film based on a documentary I wrote, produced and directed in...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Does an International Copyright Protect My Film in Foreign Countries?
July 27, 2016Q: I’m a foreign national and I would like to send my film to festivals inside...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: The Problem of Joint Ownership on a Film
June 28, 2016Q: Our short film is now in post and we plan to submit it to festivals....
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Yes, Trademark Fair Use Exists!
May 18, 2016Q: I’m writing a pilot for a TV workplace comedy and my characters work for a...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Clearing Copyrighted Material Before Submitting Your Film to Festivals
April 18, 2016Q: I’m an amateur filmmaker who recently made a film that uses the Gary Jules cover...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What Does “Work For Hire” Mean for Moviemakers?
March 2, 2016Q: I was hired to work on a film as a DP and the contract stated...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Is Working For Exposure Ever Worth It?
January 14, 2016Q: I was just asked by a producer to work for free on an indie film,...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: What are the Rights of a Documentary Subject?
November 28, 2015Q: What rights does the subject of a documentary film have if the film falls apart?...
Cinema Law
Cinema Law: Who Owns a TV Show?
October 7, 2015Q: Last year, I joined a small team as an actor producing a not-very-good TV show....
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