Course Overview
STUDENTS: Specifically created for producers, writers and authors, actors, managers, agents and lawyers (including current and prospective law students) at all levels of professional experience and from countries around the world.
COURSE LOCATION: Anywhere around the world where there is internet access.
COURSE TIME: Whenever is convenient for you during each week on a 24/7 basis.
AVERAGE TIME COMMITMENT PER WEEK: Three to five hours.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This unique and groundbreaking twelve week course explores key legal principles and contractual relationships within the film and television industries through a dynamic assortment of:
1. multimedia lectures;
2. reading assignments;
3. mock negotiations;
4. competitions; and
5. hands-on workshops and exercises.
Students develop a deep and practical understanding of key subjects including idea protection, defamation, privacy, the right of publicity, trademark and copyright – enabling them to steer clear of legal problems and unleash their creativity in ways never before possible.
In addition, students are taught how to negotiate manager and personal representation agreements and other critical film and television agreements, including literary option/purchase agreements, shopping agreements, life rights agreements, collaboration agreements and talent employment agreements. The course concludes with exploring independent film finance and theatrical distribution deals. Through learning essential “countermeasures” to use when reviewing and negotiating such contracts, students are empowered in a way usually only reserved for elite talent lawyers – and have a lot of fun in the process.
WEEKLY LECTURES: Weekly lectures last anywhere from 1 to 2+ hours and are all conducted by the Instructor. Each lecture is broken up into multiple 5 -10 minute multimedia video segments. This is not a “show-and-tell” class which parades in various guest speakers who spend class time talking about themselves. This class has no guest speakers. There is a real agenda in this course which has been developed over the past 10 years. Every second of class time has a specific and narrowly defined goal – to empower you in ways never before possible.
OUR JOURNEY THROUGH LA AND BEYOND: The course begins at the famous Hollywood sign and takes students on an exciting and beautiful journey through Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Griffith Park, Downtown Los Angeles and other exciting locations. Perfect for the iPhone and other mobile devices, and designed for students in all time zones around the world, this class leaves the traditional classroom far behind.
CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION: Certificates of completion (great for framing and resumes) and final grades will be emailed to all students upon successful completion of the course and student request. Grading is completely optional but recommended to enhance the learning experience.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS CLASS: To help level the playing field in Hollywood by teaching essential skills and sharing invaluable knowledge which, until now, has only been known by a select few – creating an unprecedented degree of transparency in the industry, forever transforming it as a result. And, if you are represented by a lawyer (which is recommended), you will not only understand the process of what lawyers do, but you will be able to communicate your concerns and needs with sophistication, efficiency and depth – turning you into an active participant in your own career, strengthening your relationship with your lawyer and empowering you as a result.
CLASS SCHEDULE
WEEK ONE: Class Introduction / Idea Submission Law and the Confidentiality Agreement
WEEK TWO: Talent Representation: Lawyers, Agents and Managers
WEEK THREE: Negotiating the Manager Agreement
WEEK FOUR: Defamation and the First Amendment
WEEK FIVE: The Life Rights Agreement / Introduction to Privacy Law
WEEK SIX: Privacy and Intrusion / The Right of Publicity / Anti-Paparazzi Law
WEEK SEVEN: Trademark and Copyright / The Collaboration Agreement
WEEK EIGHT: The Literary Option and Purchase Agreement (Books and Screenplays)
WEEK NINE: Talent Employment Agreements (Film and TV)
WEEK TEN: Standard Terms and Conditions
WEEK ELEVEN: Independent Film Finance and Theatrical Distribution
WEEK TWELVE: Concluding Thoughts
LEGAL DISCLAIMERS, NOTICES & ADVICE
This course is intended for general education purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client, advisory or fiduciary relationship between the Instructor and any student. Communications in connection with the course are non-confidential and are not protected by the attorney-client privilege or work product doctrine. PLEASE CONTACT A LICENSED ATTORNEY IF YOU NEED LEGAL ADVICE. Although the instructor has made best efforts to ensure the information in this course is accurate, because the law changes rapidly, is different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and is also subject to varying interpretations by different courts and certain government and administrative bodies, Instructor cannot guarantee that all the information in this course is completely accurate, complete or current.
No animals were harmed in making this class.
Use of the Hollywood Sign is for educational purposes and to introduce students to the First Amendment and the “fair use” doctrine under U.S. copyright law which provides, among other things, that parody/satire is protected speech. We will learn much more about all of this in the course. The Hollywood Sign has no association whatsoever with this course, and the owners of the sign have not endorsed or approved it. All rights reserved.
ENTERTAINMENT LAW EXPOSED
THE PREMIER ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LAW CLASS