A Brief Review of Important Matters: Beastie Boys Legal Fees, Amazon vs. the FAA, and Trump vs. Young

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Amazon (among other large companies) is calling on Congress to limit restrictions on commercial drone flights so that it can continue to push forward it's harebrained drone-delivery system. The FAA's current proposed drone rule still carries pretty hefty limitations and would all but decimate Amazon's desire to fill the skies with box-carrying robots.

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A Brief Review of Extremely Important Matters: Sports Leagues Banning Live-Streaming Apps, Getty Wanting Amateurs, Hollywood's Gender Bias, and Other Miscellany

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A lot of people are unhappy about the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight, and not because Pacquiao lost. The fight of the century was rebroadcast on Periscope and Meerkat, the live-streaming apps, allowing people to watch the fight for free instead of ponying up the $100 pay-per-view fees. Now, the PGA and NHL are banning the apps outright and threatening any live-streamers with infringement suits.

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On Civil Disobedience, Drones, Street Art, and Being Bold

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I enjoy seeing people using art and technology to make change. Reconciling that desire with my oath to uphold the law isn't easy and I struggle with it constantly. I think the first step is knowing what the law is and what your rights are. Only then can you push back effectively. Whether or not he consulted with an attorney, KATSU certainly knows what he faces every time he goes outside with a spray can. That knowledge is the difference between art that matters and art that’s just taking up space. That’s the difference between being bold and being reckless. KATSU decided that saying something, knowing that he could go to jail for it, is more important than saying nothing and being safe.

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A Brief Review of Extremely Important Matters: Release Forms, Drones, and Other Miscellany

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My latest Cinema Law column for Moviemaker Magazine is out and deals with whether or not to get waivers from background people and passers-by when they walk through your shot. I won't give it all away here (you have to go to the article to hear what I have to say), but I will say this: you probably don't need to be as diligent as I used to be back in my days as a young producer. Head over to Moviemaker Magazine to check it out in full!

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On Registering Your Film's Copyright Before Festival Submission and Drones

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Submitting your film to a festival can be one of the most nerve-racking experiences a filmmaker can have. Believe me I know. In my latest Cinema Law column over at MovieMaker Magazine, I discuss the importance of protecting your copyrighted film before anyone can see it and how that can give you peace of mind. Here's a brief snippet from the article, which you can read in full by heading over here.

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The [Legal] Artist Is Featured In MovieMaker Magazine!

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The [Legal] Artist Is Featured In MovieMaker Magazine!

Once I settled on filmmaking as a vocation, I decided to learn everything I could about the craft. Very quickly, three publications became my bible(s): American Cinematographer, FilmMaker Magazine, and MovieMaker Magazine. American Cinematographer taught me how to shoot and light my movies, while FilmMaker gave me the inside scoop on the world of independent cinema, with great tips on financing and producing your film on a small budget. But MovieMaker was my bread and butter. It was a great resource for learning how to make movies, and its sensibilities were right on the line between indie and mainstream cinema - perfect for a burgeoning filmmaker.

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