The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers, Second Edition: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers [Paperback]

Thomas A. Crowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2011

* How can you use a state's film tax credits to fund your film? SEE PAGE 63.

* You have an idea you want to pitch to a production company; how do you safeguard your concept? SEE PAGE 77. 

* How can you fund your production with product placement? SEE PAGE 157.

* How do you get a script to popular Hollywood actors and deal with their agents? SEE PAGE 222. 

 Find quick answers to these and hundreds of other questions in this new edition of The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers. This no-nonsense reference provides fast answers in plain English-no law degree required! Arm yourself with the practical advice of author Thomas Crowell, a TV-producer-turned-entertainment-lawyer.

This new edition features:

* New sections on product placement, film tax credits and production incentive financing, Letters of Intent, and DIY distribution (four-walling, YouTube, Download-to-own, Amazon.com, iTunes, and Netflix)

* Updated case law

* Even more charts and graphics to help you find the information you need even more quickly.

This book is the next best thing to having an entertainment attorney on retainer!

* Avoid legal pitfalls with this quick reference guide- get real answers written in plain English for filmmakers, not for 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 *Revised and updated to cover YouTube, Internet distribution, webisodes, and production services agreements

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Crowell, entertainment and intellectual property rights lawyer, presents this pocket guide providing vital and useful legal information for independent filmmakers. With this well organized reference, producers can navigate the murky legal waters associated with the filmmaking process. Crowell covers everything from protecting intellectual property to dealing with Hollywood actors' agents and even benefitting financially from state film taxes and product placement. Presented in accessible language, without all the obfuscation of legal jargon, this guide provides adequate legal counsel for those embarking on producing an independent film."--Book News, Reference & Research

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (January 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240813189
• ISBN-13: 978-0240813189
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Law > Business > Entertainment
  • #14 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Performing Arts
  • #21 in Books > Law > Intellectual Property

More About the Author

A founding partner of Saperstein & Crowell, Thomas A. Crowell counsels clients on a wide range of issues including film, television, publishing, new media, and intellectual property rights issues. He is currently the production counsel for programs produced for Discovery, Smithsonian, TLC, WE, Starz, and other cablecasters. Mr. Crowell is the author of the book: The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers (Focal Press, 2007).

In addition to his private practice, Mr. Crowell lectures nationally, teaching producers how to avoid common legal pitfalls in the film and television industry. He has taught film law courses for Film/Video Arts, the School of Visual Arts, the New York County Lawyers' Association, and the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Crowell was a television producer and the head of business development for one of Japan's premier satellite television news companies, the Science Technology Network. Mr. Crowell is a strong supporter of legal pro bono work for artists and is the Executive Director emeritus of the New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.

Mr. Crowell received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He is admitted to the practice of law in New York and New Jersey and before the United States Supreme Court.

For more information about Mr. Crowell, as well as a sample of his articles, please log on to: www.thomascrowell.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated version, April 28, 2011

By 

Christina Paul (Anamosa, IA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers, Second Edition: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers (Paperback)

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This is a great handbook for anyone in the film or media industry. I have an earlier version of this on my Kindle, there are some additions to this version as opposed to the last one. There is updated information on film tax credit changes, production incentives. The EZ tabs on the outside of the book make it very easy to find information. There are the basics and then more in depth topics that can keep you farom having to call your entertainment attorney most of the time. When the cost per hour for some of these guys is between $200 and $400 an hour, that is always a plus! Having examples of letters of intent, as wellas suggestions on distribution via Amazon, NetFlix, YouTube, etc are all covered in this volume. In the digital age, in any sort of entertainment field, you need to know these things. At the particular time that I received my own copy of the book, I needed an updated form of an NDA for an upcoming film project. It had exactly what I needed when I needed it. Keep it on your desk where you can get to it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, March 2, 2011

By 

Ben - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers, Second Edition: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers (Paperback)

I have been independently studying entertainment law, especially contracts, and find this book to coincide well with what I have been learning. I feel this book will save me a lot of time as I move forward with making my own films and am so glad I found it! If you are looking for a book of contracts, this is not the book for you; however, if you want help understanding contracts and various legal aspects pertaining to filmmaking, this is the best book I have come across!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BOOK, May 25, 2011

By 

fmwaalex "fmwaalex" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers, Second Edition: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers (Paperback)

(What's this?)

The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers, Second Edition: A Legal Toolkit for Independent Producers

As any one who has read my reviews will tell you I am really into reading about filmmaking in any form. So when I found out about this book I jumped all over it. You see as much as I am into the filmmaking process there are some things I still wonder about. This book right here just happened to be all about one of those topics, one I never really think about honestly. That of course is the legal side of the process and not just copyrights, I am talking about everything.

This book has it all included here including of course copyrights and such from scripts films and ideas. In fact that last one is really interesting since it tells you how you can protect your ideas and concepts when pitching them to people. It even tells you how to get the state to fund your film, yes you read that right. Also included are ways to get other people including agents, executives, actors, and other filmmakers to look at you stuff.

Still the best thing about this book is how easy it is to read and for such tough subject matter that is really important. The added things like the charts and stuff as well as the Q&A portion make it even easier. Of course I am saying nothing new here as other reviews have mentioned all these things and more already. Still I must say that if you are into filmmaking then you must own this for all legal and business issues.

This is a highly informative book that I find to be very easy to read and very interesting. I do highly recommend this book even if you are not into filmmaking this is still a great read. I learned all kinds of new things here. So go out and pick this up now producers as it will be invaluable to you, order it now.