SELF DEFENSE FOR WRITERS AND FILMMAKERS

A WORKSHOP FOR ARTISTS AND ATTORNEYS
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Writers and filmmakers need to understand their legal rights and how to defend themselves from those who may seek to exploit them. Production companies and distributors often know all the tricks of the trade, while writers and filmmakers know little about how to protect themselves. This seminar is geared toward both artists and attorneys representing artists. It explains how a writers and filmmakers can prevent problems by drafting an agreement that properly secures underlying rights and encourages the other party to live up to the agreement by adding performance milestones, default penalties and arbitration clauses. In the event of a dispute, participants learn what remedies are available to enforce their rights. Related topics include creative approvals, typical compensation and terms of studio contracts, merchandising deals, and negotiating tactics and strategies. The seminar includes more than 100 pages of useful contracts, checklists, forms and materials.

HOW TO REGISTER

Date: Friday , February 11, 2011
Time : 8:0 0-5:00pm
Location: Fish & Richardson, One Marina Park Drive , Boston
Fee: $150.00 Non-Member Attorneys / $125.00 VLA Member Attorneys / $45.00 Artists & Writers .

REGISTRATION:

For more information, contact Sheri Mason at sheri@artsandbusinesscouncil.org
To RSVP for the event, click here

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Mark Litwak is an entertainment attorney based in Beverly Hills, California. His practice includes work in the areas of copyright, trademark, contract, multimedia law, intellectual property, and book publishing. As a Producer’s Representative, he assists filmmakers in arranging financing, marketing and distribution of their films. Litwak is the author of six books: Reel Power, The Struggle for Influence and Success in the New Hollywood (William Morrow, 1986), Courtroom Crusaders (William Morrow, 1989), Dealmaking in the Film & Television Industry (Silman-James Press, 1994) (winner of the 1996 Krasna-Krausz award for best book in the world on the film business), Contracts for the Film & Television Industry (Silman-James Press, 2nd Ed. 1999), Litwak's Multimedia Producer's Handbook (Silman-James Press, 1998) and Risky Business: Financing and Distributing Independent Film (Silman-James Press, 2004). He has contributed articles for The Los Angeles Times, The Business of Film, The Hollywood Reporter, Moviemaker and The Independent. He is the creator of the popular CD-ROM program Movie Magic Contracts. Litwak has been a lawyer for 33 years. He has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine in 2006 and 2007. He also has served as an expert witness in movie industry disputes and is an IFTA Arbitrator.
(This is not an RIFC Production)

RISD Seeks Associate Professor in Digital & Media

Rhode Island School of Design seeks a forward thinking and experienced artist/designer, educator and scholar for the position of Associate Professor in its highly regarded Graduate Department of Digital + Media, with the expectation that this individual will also serve as the appointed Department Head starting July 2011. Established in 2003, the Department of Digital + Media offers an MFA program for approximately 30 students a year who bring diverse research interests and creative explorations of technology and the digital world to the fields of contemporary art/design, and new media practices. It is one of three stand-alone graduate departments at RISD. Because of its interdisciplinary structure and reach, the Department of Digital + Media has developed strong connections to other departments and programs both at RISD and at neighboring Brown University. The position offers a unique opportunity for a dynamic intellectual and pedagogical leader to guide the future of the department in its exploration of advanced art, design and research practices within the current cultural environment of ubiquitous digital media. The successful candidate should be an artist/designer who is engaged in the understanding of emergent, adaptive and social media technologies and their relationship with other media, disciplines and debates within contemporary theory. She/he will foster a department culture of curricular innovation in which faculty are encouraged to develop progressive teaching and research practices. As Department Head, she/he will play a pivotal role in supporting the diverse practices of D + M graduate students and forging partnerships with other graduate programs at RISD, as well as external research partners. She/he will develop the role of the Digital + Media Department as a research incubator and creative forum at RISD, and advance the Digital + Media program within the expanding field of new media and technology in art and design graduate education.

Applicants should have a terminal graduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience in art, design, media, computer art, or contemporary theory; at least 5 years of full-time teaching at the college or university (especially graduate) level or the equivalent; a demonstrated background and interest in academic, intellectual leadership in a graduate program; and a strong record of research and creative work.

Applicants should provide a letter of interest; statement of teaching and leadership philosophy in the context of this field of inquiry; curriculum vitae; names and contact information for three references; examples of creative and scholarly work; and selected syllabi from courses taught with examples of student work.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until the position is filled. Candidates who submit their materials by January 5, 2011, will be assured full consideration.

For more information about RISD and to apply online visit http://www.risd.edu/jobs

November Networking Notes

Mark Fogarty, RIFC President opened the meeting and announced to the group how the evening would go. He also announced that the RIFC has a new Executive Director, Michelle Place.

He then announced our annual Black & White party which will be Saturday, December 4 at Kay Studios.

Dave Weindel will be taking over the RIFC Actors Lab and wants to take it up a few notches. He specifically mentioned practicing on how to act for the camera and in January there will be a puppet workshop lead by Dave, a puppeteer himself. Jeff DeBarros will bring in two script scenes for actors to work on at the next lab on November 16. This will, in addition to helping the actors, help him to see how well the scenes are. They are from his script "Immigracion" which is a story about an asthmatic Brazilian immigrant coming to America and battles love while rising above today's anti-immigration movement.

Anthony Ambrosino from the Production Committee is seeking a Productions Mgr. and a Locations Mgr. for their latest production "Perfect Day for a Picnic". It will be a two day shoot and a great learning experience for new and veteran filmmakers alike. A casting call will be held soon. For information email productions@RIFCfilms.com.

Michelle Jacobs from RIFC Casting is looking for a male in his 20's-30's with a British accent and a teen male 12-14 years old for TSL Productions. TSL is also in need of crew.

John DeVault is looking for audio production.

Michael Brady is doing a series of expos in S.N.E. and needs people to videotape presentations in Providence.

Then the networking began.

Open Casting Call for "The Perfect Day for a Picnic"

The Rhode Island Film Collaborative is holding an open casting call for its next official production, "The Perfect Day for a Picnic."

Date: Sunday, December 12
Time: 12pm to 4pm
Location: The 989 Project, 989 Reservoir Ave, Suite 3, Cranston, RI 02910

Seeking the following (both union and non-union):
Lead Male, age 25-40
Lead Female, age 25-40
News Reporter, female
Children, age 9-12

Please bring a current headshot and resume. There will be a cold read, monologues are optional. The film is tentatively scheduled to shoot for two weekends in mid-late January.

We are also seeking a few minor nonspeaking roles, please feel free to stop by and drop off a resume and headshot!

All parts are for credit / copy / meals. Please email productions@rifcfilms.com with any questions.

Nicholas Delmenico
The 989 Project
989 Reservoir Ave, Suite 3
Cranston, RI 02910

401.943.3996 (office)
401.345.9002 (office mobile)
nick@the989project.com