Representing Talent in the Entertainment Industry

The legal representation of above-the-line talent in the entertainment industry is one of the most dynamic and interesting areas of entertainment and media law.  It is also one of the most competitive.  This Course will examine the practice of representing clients from the point of view of the transactional entertainment lawyer and other members of the client’s representation team.  Specifically, what is the role that the entertainment attorney plays in the talent representation eco-system?  How does the entertainment attorney contribute to the talent’s team of representatives which generally includes a talent agent or a manager or both in addition to a lawyer?  This Course will assess the function and practice of representing clients that are engaged in the development and production of motion pictures and television including the acquisition of underlying literary rights and the adaptation of material from another medium.  We will examine the component parts of the employment agreements for each of the central creative collaborators in film and television:  writers, producers, directors and actors.  Each of these agreements have their own terms of art, jargon, customary elements and compensation scale that are unique.  We will also review the legal principles and concepts applicable to representing clients in film and television, the leading cases in this area, and give students the opportunity to participate in a mock negotiation.    This Course will include lectures and guest speakers to give students insight into what it takes to successfully represent talent in the entertainment industry.  It will be co-taught by two practicing attorneys with years of experience as both senior studio executives and entertainment lawyers representing a diverse roster of clients throughout the industry.