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

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

 
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* 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

 
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Product Details
Author:Thomas A. Crowell
Paperback:368 pages
Publisher:Focal Press
Publication Date:March 19, 2007
Language:English
ISBN:0240808428
Package Length:8.8 inches
Package Width:6.0 inches
Package Height:0.8 inches
Package Weight:1.1 pounds
Average Customer Rating: based on 20 reviews

Features
  • ISBN13: 9780240808420

  • Condition: New

  • Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed


Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:5.0
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

4Great Primer!  Aug 12, 2010
This book is not only full of information, it is also well written. The author does a wonderful job conveying the information (and there are tons of it) without boring the reader. The examples in every chapter also does a great job of driving home the key points. A must buy for anyone seeking to learn about the film making process.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

5Practical, complete and informative  May 05, 2010
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.

3 of 3 found the following review helpful:

5Great Resource!  Oct 08, 2009
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.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

5Pure and simple...it's great.  Feb 14, 2009
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.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

5Finally...a book I can use  Feb 13, 2009
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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