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Monthly Archives: November 2008

Academy for New Musical Theatre launches Online Holiday Auction Fundraiser

The Academy for New Musical Theatre is an organization that's close to my heart.  I serve on their  Board of Directors, and believe very strongly in their mission to foster the development of new  Musicals.

November 28 through December 7, 2008, ANMT will be  auctioning off some fun and unique items that you can bid on to help raise money for the organization.  Many of these auction items will make great holiday gifts, so I hope you'll take a look.

The bidding starts at 8:00 AM/PST on November 28 so please come join in the fun! Your bid will help support the Academy do what we do best, which is to develop new musicals and new writers. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to one-of-a-kind items guaranteed to delight and surprise. So, tell your friends, family, community. With your help, we'll reach our goal and raise $10,000!

About  ANMT
The Academy for New Musical Theatre is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Our programs include opportunities for writers, lyricists, composers, actors, singers, directors, music directors, and everyone with a love for new musical theatre. Learn more about us at www.anmt.org.

Photo is from ANMT's 2008 15 Minute Musicals featuring Elise Dewsberry, Barry O'Neil, Paul Wong, Kendra Munger, and Brent Schindele in KEEPING SCORE by ANMT writers, Yolanda Mendiveles, Chana Wise, and John Piraino.

Academy for New Musical Theatre – Auction Home Page – cMarket Fundraising Auction.

Recommended Reading: (NY Times) Subsidiary Rights and NonProfit theatres

RECOMMENDED READING

Joy Goodwin's piece from the New York Times (11/22/2008) discusses the increasing tendency of nonprofit theatre companies to take a percentage of a playwright's subisidiary rights income… in some cases as much as 40%.

ASK THE READERS:

What do you think about this trend?

Does a nonprofit production add enough value to a new play to justify sharing the playwright's income from other productions, film rights, publishing, licensing, etc?

At what level of production does it make sense for a playwright to share?

Post your comments… I'll summarize the results in a future post.

ASK THE READERS: Will SAG go on Strike? Does anybody care?

Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood  is one of my favorite places for industry news and information. She's published a  press release from AMPTP about the breakdown of mediation talks this past weekend.  The upshot is that AMPTP believes SAG is out of touch with the reality of the new media marketplace, especially in light of the current economic climate(crisis).  

The press release is worth reading, but don't miss the comments… strong opinions abound, and express some important points of view.  This feels like we're hearing the rank-and-file of many industry labor unions voicing their gripes.

ASK THE READERS

Will SAG go on strike?  If they do, what will be the result for the industry?   Will AMPTP beat them to the punch with a lockout?   Can we in the industry ride out another industry shutdown, now that the world economy's gone south? 

Will we see a mass financial-core movement within SAG's membership?

I'm asking the readers… post your thoughts in the comments!

Some year end considerations for your business or startup.

As year’s end approaches,  it’s a good time to consider dissolving and winding-up the affairs of unused corporations and Limited Liability Companies, thereby avoiding taxation for 2009. Similarly, if you’re considering starting a new corporation or LLC, you may wish to realize the expenses associated with corporate start up in 2008 by getting things underway… Continue Reading

Year End a good time to wrap up corporate affairs

As year’s end approaches,  it’s a good time to consider dissolving and winding-up the affairs of unused corporations and Limited Liability Companies, thereby avoiding taxation for 2009. Similarly, if you’re considering starting a new corporation or LLC, you may wish to realize the expenses associated with corporate start up in 2008 by getting things underway… Continue Reading

Why every artist, band or writer should know about Google Alerts

Last week, I received an email from a bandleader client who’d discovered that another band had adopted the same exact name as his. Needless to say, he was upset and concerned that this other user would undermine the market for his band’s goods and services. Fortunately, my client holds a registered trademark for this particular… Continue Reading

Helping others learn to practice Entertainment Law… at Solo Practice University

I’m honored to have been asked to join the faculty at Solo Practice University, a web-based legal education community created by Susan Cartier Liebel of Build a Solo Practice, LLC.  Solo Practice University™ (SPU)  teaches legal professionals about the practical aspects of running a law practice.  This kind of instruction is not given in law… Continue Reading

Summary: FCC v. Fox Television Stations

Recommended reading: Andrew J. Contigula’s blog has a good summary of last week’s Supreme Court argument in  FCC v. Fox Television Stations.  The case is being closely followed by entertainment and communications lawyers, and  deals with the Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement efforts against ‘indecent’ speech and broadcasts containing “fleeting expletives”, such as those uttered by… Continue Reading

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