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Takes

Insight + analysis on indie film legal issues


Start a year for successful filmmaking with a solid business and legal foundation

Register now to join DeepFocus Entertainment Law for a virtual coffee get-together monthly in 2023. The first online event kicks off January 27, 2023, from 8 AM to 9:30 AM PST. Clients, prospective clients, and friends are welcome. Register now here. In the meantime, enjoy these suggestions for New Year’s resolutions to start your next film or television project on solid business and legal ground:

DEVELOP YOUR FILM FINANCE STRATEGY

Filmmaking takes money, and successful filmmakers plan to raise and manage it. Create a solid business plan based on choosing the best form of production entity, attracting, qualifying, and communicating properly with equity investors, securing foreign pre-sales, production incentives, and entertainment lending, and using other film finance tools.

SECURE YOUR CHAIN OF TITLE

Your distributor will eventually ask for written documentation releasing all legal rights needed for your film to your production company. Review your script and production legal contracts for correct grants of rights, other essential terms, and risks, and be sure you have signed copies of each agreement.

PLAN YOUR FILM MARKETING

If your film will be complete in 2023, start planning to show and sell it at upcoming film markets like the American Film Market in Santa Monica this November. If still working on the script, start thinking about how to attach talent so you can package an attractive project.

SIGN UP FOR OUR PRODUCERS LEGAL PROGRAM

DeepFocus Entertainment Law’s new Producers Legal Program is a great way to get guidance on moving from script to screen. A monthly subscription provides you regular, one-on-one business and legal advice for one affordable fee. Sign up now or learn more here

Photograph of man using motion picture camera by Alireza Badiee.

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