The Legal and Business Aspects of Writing for Film and Television

Event Date: Saturday, May 17, 2014 || Speaker: Paul Levine || Check-in: 12:30 pm ||

The nuts and bolts of the business of writing are as essential to a writer’s success as the writer’s work itself. How does a writer get an agent and an attorney? How does the writer’s work get sold and how is the writer compensated? What will the agent and the lawyer do for the writer? How are they compensated? How do writers work together?

 **The deadline has passed and REGISTRATION is now CLOSED for this event. Please view our calendar for upcoming events.
 

Check-in begins at 12:30 pm.
Event starts at 1:00 pm. 

No Refunds. No Credits.

This comprehensive seminar will cover: the principles of copyright law as the underpinnings of all writing; what agents do and what lawyers do, how their functions sometimes overlap and how they differ; the process of obtaining an agent and a lawyer, when and why an agent is necessary and when and why an agent may not be necessary; how agents and lawyers are compensated by their clients; the content of a typical collaboration agreement and three reasons why they are an absolute necessity; how the WGA Basic Agreement has an impact on all aspects of film and television writing–minimum compensation (“scale”), residuals, royalties, other payments, credit, etc..

A review, in detail, of a typical option/purchase agreement for a screenplay–option monies and term, purchase price, rights granted and rights withheld, etc., and a review of a series television employment agreement–episodic compensation, script guarantees, credit, etc.; the process of pitching a project to a producer, what happens if the producer rejects the project, and what happens if the project is accepted.

Bring all your questions concerning the business of being or becoming a successful film and/or television writer–they will all be answered.

Paul Levine.Paul S. Levine ”wears two hats” – he is a lawyer (www.paulslevine.com) and a literary agent (www.paulslevinelit.com).​ Mr. Levine has practiced entertainment law for over 31 years, specializing in the representation of writers, producers, actors, directors, composers, musicians, artists, authors, photographers, galleries, publishers, developers, production companies and theatre companies in the fields of motion pictures, television, interactive multimedia, live stage, recorded music, concerts, the visual arts, publishing, and advertising. In 1998, Mr. Levine opened the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency, specializing in the representation of book authors and the sale of motion picture and television rights in and to books. Since starting his literary agency, Mr. Levine has sold over 100 adult, young adult, and children’s fiction and non-fiction books to at least 50 different publishers and has had many books developed as movies-for-television and feature films.
Join us on the Third Saturday every month at:

 

CBS Studio Center
4024 Radford Avenue
Studio City, CA 91604

Free Parking — Enter the CBS lot at the main gate & inform security you are there for the Scriptwriters Network event.

You’ll be asked for your government issued photo ID, and then given directions to the meeting location. You may park in any available space on the lot (unless they direct you to a parking structure during special events).

As this is a professional event, we ask that you please arrive prior to the event start time.

Meeting Timeframe: 1:00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm

Please remember to bring a picture ID and your SWN Membership Card!

Any questions, email us at [email protected].

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