Cinema Law

  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: What Are Your Options When You’re Fired From A Job Before It Even Begins?

Q: I was booked as a makeup artist on a production for the month of August. I signed a written…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: Does Your School Own Your Student Film?

When I was in film school many years ago, a rumor developed that the school owned the films we made…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: Should I Write a Season of TV For a Producer Without Upfront Compensation?

Q: A producer recently approached me with a finished pilot script and asked me to write the rest of the…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: What to Put in A Life Rights Contract

Q: I’m friends with a semi-famous musician and she’s helping me writing a biopic about her life. I was told…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: What You Should Know About Using Other Peoples’ Quotes in Your Film

Q: I’m making a film and I’d like to use a quote from a famous person in the script. Are…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Swindler’s List: Seven Tips for Avoiding the Scam in Hollywood

Doyle Lonnegan: Your boss is quite a card player, Mr. Kelly; how does he do it?  Johnny Hooker: He cheats.…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: Getting the (Screenwriting) Credit You Deserve, For WGA Members and Non-Members Alike

Q: Is there some way to ensure that I receive a “written by” or “screenplay by” credit when the client…

7 years ago
  • Cinema Law

Cinema Law: What Are Your Rights When Filming a Criminal?

Q: As a producer, what are my rights when filming a documentary subject as he confronts a criminal about a…

8 years ago
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Cinema Law: What You Should Know When Working with Someone Else’s Characters

Q: Who owns the copyright to a script when it’s based off someone else’s originally created characters? Should the screenwriter…

8 years ago
  • Cinema Law

When Fair is Foul: Why Fair Use Isn’t an Impenetrable Defense for Indie Films

This situation is probably familiar to you: You don’t own it and you need to use it. Most films use…

8 years ago