How to Copyright a Character from a Film

As a filmmaker, you’re bound to produce films that have exceptional characters within them. That draw the interest of the audience more so than any other element of the film. In fact, a fictional character within your film might be so profound. That an added need to protect its unique details, characteristics, and arcs becomes […]

Should I Copyright my Screenplay?

As a screenwriter, you probably spend countless hours at your desk, watching the cursor as it moves eloquently along the page, adding line after line of text. But it’s more than just text, you’re creating the lives of new characters, an entirely new world is being produced, just one word at a time. When it’s […]

Understanding the Completion Guarantee for Film

The completion guarantee for film is a unique promise that is made between the guarantor and the filmmaker that basically states that a film which is currently at some stage of production will actually be completed and delivered to a distributor within a specified time period. If you’ve never experienced a film production that is […]

How Can I Equity Crowdfund My First Film?

As an independent filmmaker, you’re really in the best time ever when it comes to raising capital that is needed in order to produce a feature film. Now more than ever before, there are more opportunities than there ever were to raise various forms of capital that can be used for the purpose of producing […]

Executing a Film Finder’s Fee Agreement in a Film Deal

Film financing and the raising of capital from investors is a major challenge that virtually all independent filmmakers face. Investors frequently express interest in engaging in deals that are likely to provide them with the level of potential risk. And return on their investment. That is ideal for their individual investment needs. This means they’ve […]

Is a Work Made For Hire Agreement for a Documentary Film Required?

Producing a film is a task that involves a lot of different working hands that get involved in various steps of the creative process. At each stage, it’s important for agreements to be made as to who will retain the copyright ownership of the finished work, especially when it comes to producing a documentary film. […]

Looking Beyond the Film Investor Letter of Intent to Something More Solid

Whether you’re entirely new to filmmaking, or it’s something that you’ve been heavily involved in for some time. There’s almost certainly areas that you’re not as familiar with as others. In fact, we frequently hear newbie filmmakers talking about the steps they take in seeking their investors to sign letter of intent forms. As a […]

The Visual Artists Rights Act as it Applies to Film

Anytime copyrighted works are incorporated into a film project there is an extensive process. That takes place as the filmmaker seeks to maintain a clean chain of title. And to include all appropriate rights and permissions along the way. The Visual Artist Rights Act, one of many laws and focuses of Copyright protection, provides American […]

Should Work be Copyrighted to Enter Film Festivals?

As a new or aspiring independent film producer that’s considering the idea of entering a film into a local film festival you’re probably working hard to cover all the bases. Perhaps you even have a checklist of “things to do” in connection with your submission – prepare press kit, check, update social profiles, check, pay […]

Negative Pickup Financing & Your Film Production

Few industries include such unique financing as the motion picture business. It’s no surprise that films cost a lot to produce. Which is probably why film financing takes many unique structures in the film world. In addition to equity financing, film distribution rights may also be secured through special financing. Although independent filmmakers face a […]