When To Hire A Lawyer As An Indie Filmmaker with Toni Y. Long, Esq.

As indie filmmakers, we are usually juggling many roles that would be  divided among various people on a studio film. When you call on that  family member or friend who happens to own a bunch of camera gear that  is just sitting in a closet, it is easy to forget to do your due  diligence when it comes to contracts, deal memos, and paperwork in  general. What happens when you write and shoot that short film based on  that awesome idea that your best friend’s cousin had, and that short  gets distribution or funding to make a feature. Or, when you hired a  friend to write a script for you based on your idea and now you love the  script and you want to shop it. You have nothing in place to protect  your interest or theirs because you didn’t do a contract. Maybe you did  do a contract to be the writer on a film but now you have taken on the  hat of the producer and director. You find yourself doing most of the  work but you never updated the contract between you and your friend when  the terms of your agreement started to change. Now you have a sales  agent interested in your film but your paperwork is not in order. These  scenarios may sound far-fetched or like they couldn’t possibly happen  because maybe this is just your first or second film but I can tell you  this happens all the time to indie filmmakers. Why??? Because usually  seeking legal counsel is not high on our to-do list. We think a lawyer  is something we need after the film is complete not before we start  pre-production. So when do you need a lawyer as an indie filmmaker??? Toni  Y Long, Esq. is going to share with us when you need to seek legal  counsel as a filmmaker. Toni is the Managing Partner and the founder of  The Long Law Group, PC, her entertainment practice focuses on several  areas, including production, talent representation, motion picture,  television and new media development, distribution, licensing, and  private equity investment. Her clients include award-winning writers,  directors, producers, and production companies, and several best-selling  authors. Toni’s practice covers a variety of media within the  entertainment industry, including film, television, gaming, publishing,  music, new media, and eCommerce, to name a few. She offers legal  representation at all stages of production. Toni also serves as  production counsel for many indie film projects. Prior to starting her  own firm, Toni was a corporate and litigation associate, acting as  counsel to public and private companies and giving advice on complex  legal matters. Additionally, Toni served as the Director of Business and  Legal Affairs for an international film distribution company, where she  oversaw the acquisition and distribution of over 25 films and drafted  and negotiated various contracts for domestic and international  theatrical, television, and home video acquisition and distribution. She  has a BA from Stanford University, JD from UCLA School of Law, and is  recognized as a “Top Attorney” for Corporate Law by Pasadena Magazine as  well as a “Rising Star” by Los Angeles Magazine.