DOC NYC‘s fourth day of panels at the IFC Center next Wednesday, November 14, aims to “Protect Your Rights,” offering documentary filmmakers access to discussions exploring critical legal issues involving documentary, as well as practical sales advice.
Protect Your Rights Panel Descriptions:
Do I Need A Sales Agent?:
10:30-11:45am
The period between finishing and distributing your film is crucial. Who sees your film, and where, can make or break its chances for theatrical or broadcast. Leading sales agents, including Submarine’s Josh Braun, Cinetic’s Dana O’Keefe, and Films Transit’s Diana Holtzberg discuss how you can benefit from their experience and contacts.
Fair Use:
12:15-1:30pm
Fair Use—the royalty-free utilization of content—is still the subject of confusion for both filmmakers and some attorneys. In this session moderated by attorney Dan Satorius, Peter Jaszi (Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic, American University Washington College of Law) and Julie Ahrens (Center for Internet & Society, Stanford Law School) explore conceptions and misconceptions around Fair Use.
Crowdfunding 2.0:
2-3:15pm
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and RocketHub have been popular in recent years, connecting filmmakers with individuals willing to donate to projects for honorary credits or other incentives. With the passage of Obama’s JOBS Act, the door has been opened to expand crowdfunding to investors, not just donors. This panel, moderated by attorney Dan Satorius and featuring attorney Susan H. Bodine (Partner at Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP) and Brian Meece (RocketHub), addresses what impact the anticipated new SEC rules on this form of crowdfunding might have for independent filmmakers.
Revenues & Royalties:
3:45-5pm
Co-presented by Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard. Revenue sources for documentary filmmakers are evolving. Once-reliable sources like DVD and broadcast are giving way to VOD and other streaming opportunities. This panel, moderated by CDAS partner Andrea F. Cannistraci, explores this changing landscape and what filmmakers need to know to maximize their potential revenues and not lose out on royalties they’re owed. Panelists include CPA Fred Seigel, CDAS partner Marc H. Simon who will participate both as an attorney and a filmmaker (NURSERY UNIVERSITY, UNRAVELED), and sales agent Amanda Lebow.
Why You Should Attend:
While filmmaking is a creative process, it’s also a business, and that comes with potential risks and rewards. The last thing you want to do is spend years on a project only to find out you can’t sell it because you banked on fair use but didn’t understand it properly; or to make a terrible deal that sees you never seeing a dime on your doc, and losing your rights to it. Learn how to protect yourself and your work with the help of Day 4’s legal and industry experts.
More Info:
To purchase tickets, follow the links from the panel pages by clicking on the individual titles above, or consider purchasing a DOC NYC Insider Pass, which grants access to all weekday films, panels, and events beginning before 5pm.
what (not) to doc 