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"By the title alone, it
could be interpreted that entertainment attorney Mark Litwak's Risky
Business: Financing and Distributing Independent Films might not sound
like the encouragement most independent filmmakers crave. Inside the
book, however, readers will find a wealth of information that will save
them time and money—or prepare them to spend what needs to be
spent—through the course of their filmmaking adventures....
Included
are valuable resources such as the "Filmmaker Self-Defense Check
List," outlining the basic legal pitfalls of fundraising and
distribution, and a "Check List for Investors," preparing
money-gathering filmmakers for the questions they will inevitably face
from potential backers. Also included is contact information for countries
and states that have "incentive programs" to bring film
dollars to their locales.
Independent
filmmakers who want to put their budgets on the screen rather than in
an attorney's pocket and who want to get their films sold should own
Risky Business, read it before gearing up for production, and consult
it frequently to make sure that all the correct legal steps are being
taken. Though it does not tout itself as a replacement for legal
counsel, Risky Business will surely answer many questions for
first-time—and experienced—filmmakers and reduce hours spent on the
phone with an attorney."
Ben
Rock, Backstage West - July 1, 2004
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"To
eliminate mistakes and improve their changes of success, novice
filmmakers and others may want to obtain a copy of Litwak's new book,
_Risky Business: Financing and Distributing Independent Films_. This
book was written primarily for "talented young writers and
filmmakers" who may not understand intellectual property law and,
thus, may make mistakes "that could easily be avoided." While
the book's focus may seem fairly narrow, it actually covers a lot of
important intellectual property law topics and related business
issues....
While
obviously focused on people working in the film industry, the book
covers a lot of basic corporate and legal topics, and, thus, may be
useful and interesting to anyone who needs to establish a business,
negotiate capital formation issues, and handle distribution systems.
Moreover, the book's sample documents, checklists, legal commentary,
practice tips, Web site descriptions, tabular comparisons, contact
information, and other materials should more than justify the 'price of
admission.'
As
noted above, the book includes a number of useful sample documents. For
instance, as part of the preface and before the first chapter, the book
provides a very informative seventeen-step 'self-defense checklist,'
which lists 'some of the most important ways filmmakers can protect
their interests.' In addition, the book's appendices provide a delivery
checklist, a sample certificate of origin, a sample statement of prior
distribution, a sample statement of distribution restrictions and obligations,
a checklist to assist in drafting an acquisition/distribution
agreement, and a sample copyright security agreement. These documents
would be helpful to anyone trying to negotiate an independent film
project."
Thomas
J. Griffith, Intellectual Property Counselor - September 2004
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