Lawyers In The USA

The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers

Description

* You have an idea you want to pitch to a production company; how do you safeguard your concept?
* There's a painting in the background of your independent film; is it necessary to clear the rights?
* The screenplay you and a friend wrote gets optioned; how do you split the proceeds fairly?
* How do you get a script to popular Hollywood actors or deal with their agents?
Find quick answers to these and hundreds of other questions in The Pocket Lawyer for Film and Video, the next best thing to having an entertainment attorney at your beck and call. Written by a TV-producer-turned-entertainment-lawyer, this no-nonsense reference provides fast answers in plain English: no law degree required! The Pocket Lawyer is designed to help producers reduce legal costs by providing the vital information needed to make informed decisions on the legal aspects of film, video, and TV productions.

Film and video production is a litigation lighting rod: actors get hurt, copyrights are infringed, and contracts are broken. Big-budget producers have lawyers on retainer, but many independent filmmakers are left legally exposed. Arm yourself with the practical advice in this book. You will not only avoid common pitfalls, but become empowered in your daily work. Too many otherwise competent producers turn over every aspect of the deal negotiations to their lawyers and agents. This book explains the principal deals common to every production, putting producers back in the co-pilot seat with their representatives.

The format is carefully designed for quick reference, so you get the answers you need, fast. Features include:
* Clause Companion: explains the meaning and impact of typical contract clauses, taking the headache out of reading them.
* F.A.Qs: instantly answers the most commonly asked legal questions.
* Warnings: alerts you to critical areas and common mistakes.
* Pro-Tips: advice on unions, escrow accounts, etc. for producers who want to distribute their video widely.

* Avoid legal pitfalls with this quick reference guide: get instant answers
* Written in plain English for filmmakers, not lawyers
* Three books in one: a handy manual on film contracts, a step-by-step guide to critical legal issues on and off the set, and a quick reference on copyright and intellectual property issues

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-05-05
Summary: "Practical, complete and informative"

While not a lawyer, I have been through the legal process before when it comes to intellectual property. So when I read this book, it made me wish I had picked it up years ago -- it would have saved me from a lot of mistakes I made the first time around. Pocket Lawyer can be used as a reference when any legal questions come up, but it is written in an easy-going style so I was able to read it cover to cover, and picked up a lot of information that I might never have even thought to look up. I recommend every filmmaker read this book BEFORE they start their next film (or as soon as possible) to avoid a lot of headaches later down the road.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-10-08
Summary: "Great Resource!"

This book takes a different approach than most entertainment law books. Instead of simply throwing a bunch of boilerplate contracts into the book, this author actually walks you through the legal timeline of a project. It's kind of like Entertainment Law for Dummies and it's very engaging and easy to read. A great reference guide as well.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-02-14
Summary: "Pure and simple...it's great."

I was so hesitant about this book. I was thinkig "Pocket Lawyer?" Great, like a mini-dictionary that the Starbucks writer crowd uses and still attept to look cool with.

No, I was wrong. The information in this book is not only necessary, but vital. If you want to be a producer, this is the no-nonsense bible you've been looking for. It's straight forward and clear. The language isn't dense. Rather, it's helpful.

This is a book that can help you make the transition from, "Producering" to PRODUCER. It honestly is the real deal.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-02-13
Summary: "Finally...a book I can use"

This book is a great help and a fantastic reference. I refer to this book all the time. I usually can just open up the book to find the answer to whatever legal question I'm looking for.

My copy is all beat up and dog eared.. I never read it straight through, just skipped around to the stuff I want to know about. If I have a question, I know the answer is in there. It's more than just law, It's a guide to be in this business.

Plus, it's easy to understand. The copyright section helped me out the most.
I have produced things before, but life would've been easier with this book. They should require this book in film classes.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-12-17
Summary: "Amazingly useful information"

Wow! I didn't realize how much I didn't know about the business until I got this book. It's organized in an easy to understand format and offers tips for avoiding costly pitfalls. It truly is like having a lawyer in your pocket without the hefty fees. Totally recommended.