I offer representation for the every aspect of the film production process for making a film in New York. I base my rates on your film’s budget, so more often than not an arrangement can be worked out. Examples of legal services I perform are:
LLC Formation for Film Production Companies
Many film productions begin with the formation of a business entity. The Limited Liability Company is usually the best fit for a small production company. The LLC ensures that if your company is sued you will not be personally liable and your private assets will be safe. The LLC also provides a vehicle through which you can pool the resources of several investors and is required by the Screen Actors Guild. Usually an LLC is formed for each film, though this is not always the case.
Formation of the LLC entails drafting your articles of organization and operating agreement, as well as obtaining an EIN from the IRS.
For more information about limited liability companies, click here.
Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Films
Ensuring that every employee has a contract (whether or not the employee is paid) is crucial in the filmmaking process. Everyone who works on a film needs to transfer their intellectual property rights to the production company. If this stage of the process is not handled correctly, one employee can potentially hold up the entire production.
For more information about contracts for films, (and examples of what can go wrong) click here.
Intellectual Property Advice for Films
Lyman Ray Patterson in Copyright in Historical Perspective wrote that “The modern concept of copyright is difficult, complex, and on the whole, unsatisfactory.” Nevertheless, filmmakers must navigate the complexities of copyright and trademark law in order to avoid financial liability and protect their own works.
Copyright Registration for Scripts and Films
The registration of the script and the film are usually crucial to protecting the work from infringement. There are many misconceptions about registration. Put simply, if you do not register your work, you may still have a valid copyright. But if someone infringes your work, you will not be able to sue without registration from the federal government. In addition, if you fail to register your work within three months of its publication, you will be limited to “actual” and not “statutory” damages. Oftentimes, actual damages will not be sufficient to justify a lawsuit, and your options will be limited.
There is no substitute for registration with the federal government. WGA registration, mailing yourself the work, and other practices will not offer you the protection and the benefits of federal registration.
Making a Film in New York
I offer representation for the every aspect of the film production process for making a film in New York. I base my rates on your film’s budget, so more often than not an arrangement can be worked out. Examples of legal services I perform are:
LLC Formation for Film Production Companies
Many film productions begin with the formation of a business entity. The Limited Liability Company is usually the best fit for a small production company. The LLC ensures that if your company is sued you will not be personally liable and your private assets will be safe. The LLC also provides a vehicle through which you can pool the resources of several investors and is required by the Screen Actors Guild. Usually an LLC is formed for each film, though this is not always the case.
Formation of the LLC entails drafting your articles of organization and operating agreement, as well as obtaining an EIN from the IRS.
For more information about limited liability companies, click here.
Contract Drafting and Negotiation for Films
Ensuring that every employee has a contract (whether or not the employee is paid) is crucial in the filmmaking process. Everyone who works on a film needs to transfer their intellectual property rights to the production company. If this stage of the process is not handled correctly, one employee can potentially hold up the entire production.
For more information about contracts for films, (and examples of what can go wrong) click here.
Intellectual Property Advice for Films
Lyman Ray Patterson in Copyright in Historical Perspective wrote that “The modern concept of copyright is difficult, complex, and on the whole, unsatisfactory.” Nevertheless, filmmakers must navigate the complexities of copyright and trademark law in order to avoid financial liability and protect their own works.
Copyright Registration for Scripts and Films
The registration of the script and the film are usually crucial to protecting the work from infringement. There are many misconceptions about registration. Put simply, if you do not register your work, you may still have a valid copyright. But if someone infringes your work, you will not be able to sue without registration from the federal government. In addition, if you fail to register your work within three months of its publication, you will be limited to “actual” and not “statutory” damages. Oftentimes, actual damages will not be sufficient to justify a lawsuit, and your options will be limited.
There is no substitute for registration with the federal government. WGA registration, mailing yourself the work, and other practices will not offer you the protection and the benefits of federal registration.