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Film and Television Law

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 

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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].