Gordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television, and music.
His practice also covers intellectual property, cyberspace, new media and business/corporate matters for clients in the entertainment industry.
This is the first
live, call-in podcast to clear the air on legal
issues for filmmakers and videographers who are
looking for answers to questions related to starting
a production business, copyright issues, contracts,
intellectual property and distribution.
Questions
answered:
Dave asks: I am interested in creating stock
footage. I would like to know what to do about people
walking in an out of the shot. Do you need to get a
release from them all, or is it sufficient to say that
they are in a public place so it is ok?
Mark asks: I'm creating a documentary about a
national politician and plan on uncovering some the
inconsistencies in a his campaign right up to his
election. I want to tell it like it is but don't want
to step into a possible defamation lawsuit. The
narrative may include some defamatory statements but
I'm being told it does not matter since he is a
public figure - if this is the case, we can say
anything about him. Your suggestions, thoughts?
Jonathan asks: If I use editing software to create
a major motion picture movie am I legally obligated to
include the software maker's name in the credits? The
reason I ask is that I hear Apple requires this or
they can file a copyright lawsuit. I'm also concerned
about the DVDs we sell created with iDVD - it contains
the Apple logo in the menu.
Dan: I have a question about hidden cameras and
microphones. I want to catch a famous mob boss's
conversations while he sits at his favorite table in a
popular restaurant here in Ohio. Is this illegal?
Kyle asks: We're about to form a small production
after getting hired to produce a major documentary for
the city we live in. Is forming a production different
from forming a normal business? Also, for the first
time, we want to hire a producer to shoot the
documentary. What are some important points we should
include in the Producer's agreement?
Gordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television, and music.
Dave asks: I am interested in creating stock
footage. I would like to know what to do about people
walking in an out of the shot. Do you need to get a
release from them all, or is it sufficient to say that
they are in a public place so it is ok?
