► Film and Television Law Practice

Axis provides full-service representation of clients in the Film and Television Industry.

We represent a variety of clients in the film and television industry, including actors/actresses, directors, production companies and producers, casting agencies, screenwriters, promoters, and others. Our Film & Television practice focuses on transactional matters, contract negotiations, and disputes involving the film and television community.

► Who We Represent

Axis represents numerous types of clients involved in and connected with the film and television industry, whether consisting of the studio/company side, producers and production companies, as well as talent. Our clients include but are not limited to the following:

Actors/actresses
Film distributors
Film investors
Film companies
Filmmakers
Independent studios

Producers
Production companies
Post-production companies
Screenwriters
Television writers
Television producers

► Types of Film/TV Projects We Represent

Having experience and industry knowledge of the film and television business is crucial for providing reliable legal advice. Our clients come from a range of genres spanning multiple fields and areas, including but not limited to the following:

Independent films
Shorts
Life stories / biographies
Documentaries
Film-festival submissions
Feature motion pictures

Television series
Television specials
Comedy specials
Reality TV Shows
Scripted Series

► Film & Television Practice Areas

We represent clients involved with the Film & Television industry with a variety of legal matters. Whether it involves contract negotiations, entity formation, compliance with California laws and regulations, licensing, copyright/trademark matters, consulting, strategic advice, or production issues, Axis offers entertainers connected to the film & television industry high-quality legal representation spanning multiple legal fields.

Film and TV Businesses

Axis helps Film and Television business form, run, and operate in compliance with California’s laws, rules, and regulations:

Business entity setup and formation
Legal compliance
C Corporations
S Corporations
LLCs
DBAs

Entertainment loan-out companies
Licensing and Permits
Production vehicles
Investment vehicles
Non-Disclosure Agreements
Film Tax Credit Issues

Film and TV businesses
Film and TV business contracts
Partnerships and ventures
Celebrity/Influencer ventures

Writers and Talent

Axis represents Film and TV professionals in their involvement with Film/TV ventures, across multiple practice areas:

Actor/actress agreements
Screenwriters
Screenwriting agreements
Screenplay commissions
Filmmaking agreements

Producer agreements
Producer compensation
Director agreements
Director compensation
Cast agreements
Talent agreements

Option/purchase agreements
Life rights agreements
Rewriting agreements
Creative consultant agreements

TV/Film Contracts and Transactions

Axis represents TV and Film professionals and businesses in a wide variety of contracts, negotiations, agreements and transactions relating to film and tv production:

Adaption agreements
Cast Agreements
Chain of Title opinions
Commission agreements
Contract negotiations
Confidentiality agreements
Crew Agreements
Day Actor Agreements

Film ventures
Film Cast Agreements
Distribution agreements
Hosting Agreements
Joint ventures
Location agreements
Option/purchase agreements
Production Counsel
Publicity Contracts
Security Agreements

Sound & Light Contracts
Studio Contracts
Talent/Model Agreements
Screenplay agreements
Sales agency agreements
Writing agreements

Financing and Investments

Axis assists filmmakers, producers, and production companies with investment and financing issues arising out of the filmmaking process:

Film LLC
TV Production LLCs
TV and Film investors
Film financing
TV and Film financing agreements
Film bonds and sureties

Film investor pools
Film investments
Residual/participation agreements
Back-end compensation agreements
Television production investment agreements

Producer participation agreements
Participation agreements
Sales financing
Distribution financing

Intellectual Property & Licensing

Axis assists TV and Film clients with a wide variety of intellectual property and licensing matters, ranging across copyright, trademark, trade secret, licensing, confidentiality, and related matters:

Confidentiality Agreements
Copyrights
Copyright Assignments
Copyright Infringement
Content-Licensing Agreements

Intellectual Property Assignment
Licensing Contracts
Non-Disclosure Agreements
Licensing Contracts
Video Synchronizations
Film Clip Licensing

Trademarks
Trademark Disputes
Trademark Infringement
Trademark Registrations

Unions and Guilds

Axis advises clients on a variety of union and guild issues, including compliance, contract negotiations, disputes, and regulatory matters:

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (IATSE)(AFTRA)
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Motion Picture Directors Association
Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
Writers Guild of America (WGA)
Producers Guild of America (PGA)
Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)

International Cinematographers Guild
Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG)
Animation Guild
Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE)

Entertainment FAQs

Our FAQs answer the most common issues faced by entertainment clients.

We have an extensive FAQ Library that covers the most common questions we get from entertainment clients, as well as FAQs on recent changes in law.
►Visit our Entire FAQ Library

Our Recent Projects

Have we counseled clients like your? All the time.

We have represented a variety of business clients in numerous industries across multiple disciplines and practice matters. Here are some of the highlights.

► Our Latest Charitable Giving Projects

Did you know that our clients’ legal dollars are hard at work giving back to the community? Axis is a significant donor and supporter of a multitude of charitable giving projects in the community as well as nationwide, donating a portion of legal fees to a variety of underserved needs and causes. Check out at our latest charitable giving projects below, and know that in supporting Axis, you are helping us improve hundreds of lives.

► National Recognition

The talent at Axis has been recognized nationally for its legal services in a variety of publications, news outlets and other channels across the nation and internationally.

► Representing Clients from 22+ Countries Internationally

Axis has represented a wide variety of business clients in numerous deals, transactions, contracts, agreements, disputes and legal matters. For information on how we may be able to assist you, please contact [email protected].

Film and Television Law