Seminar covers legal issues in filmmaking

The council is presenting a Legal Basics for Filmmakers seminar 2–4 p.m. at the Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway. The cost is $10, and advance registration is not necessary, according to Executive Director Sandra CH Smith.

Guest speaker Rebecca Stroder, an attorney with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Kansas City and a member of the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, said she will cover the main issues facing most filmmakers – whether independent or Hollywood-level.

“Probably the most important issues for filmmakers are ownership issues – making sure that they know who exactly owns each part of the film, and making sure they have agreements in place to solidify ownership,” Stroder said.

Other legal issues include using copyrighted materials and raising money for a film. Failing to clear every legal hurdle could spell trouble when a filmmaker attempts to get a film distributed, Stroder said. Her advice: Seek legal counsel early in the process.

“It’s a lot less expensive to see someone at the beginning,” she said. “At the end, you’re going to find about 100 things that you’ve done wrong that you need to go back and fix.”

The seminar precedes the 2008 Show-Me Missouri Film Festival in Springfield Feb. 15–17. Film showings, forums and workshops are scheduled at Gillioz Theatre and Moxie Cinema, and the event will conclude with festival awards on Sunday.

Ticket information and a complete schedule are available at www.missourifilm.org.

See SBJ’s Feb. 18 issue for more on legal issues in filmmaking and other law news.