With a maze of copyright laws to navigate, filmmakers need a hand in editing their movies to get them legally up to snuff. For this reason, Ondi and Vlad brought doc advocate and entertainment lawyer Michael C. Donaldson to clarify some of the key points surrounding Fair Use. We discuss satire, using clips, and how filmmakers can secure the same rights of confidentiality as journalists.
Watch new episodes of BYOD live each week on Tuesdays at noon on TheLip.TV, or tune in for the archived replay starting here on the following Thursday.
ABOUT BYOD:
BYOD is co-hosted by Ondi Timoner, director of “DIG!,” “JOIN US” and “WE LIVE IN PUBLIC,” and has the rare distinction of winning the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance twice, and Vladimir Radovanov, entertainment attorney, and executive producer of “WE LIVE IN PUBLIC.” Each week the show explores a different documentary filmmaker or aspect of filmmaking, with special guests and a live Q&A– diving deep into creative process and the business realities of producing and distributing films. Ondi and Vladimir share their insider views, opinions, and personal stories, welcoming audience participation. BYOD aims to entertain, inform, and elevate documentaries in general by bringing attention to films and film makers that deserve exposure.
GUEST BIO:
Michael C. Donaldson is an American entertainment attorney, independent film advocate and a recipient of the International Documentary Association’s Amicus Award, an honor bestowed upon only two others, Steven Spielberg and John Hendricks, in the 25-year history of the awards. He is a proponent of the 165-year-old fair-use doctrine and, through its use, is known for saving documentarians hundreds of thousands of dollars while preserving their First Amendment rights.
In addition to serving as General Counsel to Film Independent (home of the Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival) and the Writers Guild of America/West Foundation, Donaldson practices at his Beverly Hills law firm, Donaldson & Callif, where, in 2008, entertainment attorney Lisa Callif became a named partner.
ADD’L LINKS:
http://www.michaelcdonaldson.com/
http://www.donaldsoncallif.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/copyrightguide
EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
00:01 BYOD Intro
00:49 Welcoming Michael Donaldson.
02:33 Michael’s path to entertainment law.
05:14 The wrong reason to write a script.
06:26 Writing “Clearance and Copyright.”
09:04 The explosion of fair use revenue.
12:43 Fair use as a offense, a defense and right.
14:23 The three criteria for fair use.
17:40 A clip for “This Film is Not Yet Rated.” Back and forth with the director over orgasm length.
23:05 Showing fair use of a song, ‘Expelled,” and “Imagine.”
24:40 Proving that outside music is “essential” to the work.
27:02 The cinematic language of words and images.
28:32 The protection afforded to filmmakers who act like journalists–dealing with Chevron.
35:56 The same set of laws for non-fiction print and documentary.
39:05 “White Trash,” clip featuring “Castaway.”
40:58 Errors and Omissions Insurance.
46:02 The power to talk down claims.
47:52 Keeping up with Michael.
49:13 The Daily Dig Down.
54:26 Thanks and Goodbye!
