What does a theatre lawyer do? The production of plays and musicals involves a host of complex relationships, rights, legal obligations and sometimes conflicting expectations. Unless such matters are carefully managed, defined and memorialized in writing from the very start trouble is likely to find the project. That is our aim: to help creative and… Continue Reading
Theatre lawyer and educator argues that school theatre programs must pay reasonable royalties for the material they produce. Continue Reading
In the fields of independent film and theatre, the use of Special Purpose Entities is very common. This article explains what these are, why they’re used, and how to get started. Continue Reading
Equity Crowdfunding is finally a reality. Almost. In a long-awaited move, on October 30, 2015 the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) finally adopted a set of rules mandated by the 2012 JOBS act. These rules are designed to facilitate small businesses with capital formation through the use of a crowdfunding approach to sell securities. The rules… Continue Reading
The differences between contribution crowdfunding and equity funding Sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have been enormously successful in popularizing the new trend in fundraising, crowdfunding. As of the writing of this post, Kickstarter boasts nearly 11 million pledges on over 100,000 different projects. For those looking to create an independent film, theater production, video game,… Continue Reading
Entertainment Industry Insights Podcast Episode 4: Nat Mundel In this episode of Entertainment Industry Insights, I speak with Nat Mundel, Founder of Voyage Media, and Co-Founder of TODpix.Mr. Mundel’s vision is to streamline and democratize the entertainment industry by creating new business models, services and tools that help filmmakers more effectively develop, produce and distribute their… Continue Reading
SEC Adopts Rules implementing [some] provisions of the JOBS Act of 2012 If you’re planning to finance your film, play, musical or other project by seeking investors, things may have just gotten a little bit easier for you. A few days ago, on July 10th, the Securities Exchange Commission finally took a long-awaited step toward… Continue Reading
4 reasons why receiving Producer Credit may not be all it’s cracked up to be. It’s a common practice in the entertainment industry. Producers operating on shoestring budgets will, in an effort to secure the property and/or services of talented individuals, ofer them some kind of producer credit in lieu of the usual compensation those… Continue Reading
Entertainment Industry Insights Podcast Episode 3: Ken Davenport In this episode of Entertainment Industry Insights, I speak with Broadway Producer Ken Davenport. Ken Davenport is a Broadway producer whose credits include Macbeth, Kinky Boots, Godspell, Chinglish, Oleanna starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, Speed-the-Plow, Will Ferrell’s You’re Welcome America, Blithe Spirit starring Angela Lansbury,… Continue Reading
Jersey Boys’ use of Ed Sullivan Clip is fair use Last week, in an interesting (and rare) theatre law case, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court’s judgment in favor of the company producing the Broadway hit musical Jersey Boys. SOFA Entertainment, Inc., owner of the Ed Sullivan Show footage had sued… Continue Reading
What is the Royalty Pool? Correction: ( a typographic error in the mathematics has been corrected below since the original publication of this article) One of the most confusing terms in theatrical production agreements is the discussion of the “Royalty Pool”. This provision in most Broadway and Off-Broadway production contracts, and increasingly in other commercial… Continue Reading