Do You Need an Entertainment Attorney?

June 4, 2019 | Cat Elliott

In the course of your acting career, you may need an entertainment attorney for one reason or another. You might need assistance in reviewing a contract, for instance, or need help if there was a breach of an existing contract. If you find yourself needing an entertainment attorney, you might not know where to start. Casting Networks spoke with Mary Trier, an associate attorney at Ramo Law PC, to get her advice for actors seeking consultation for the first time.

 

What should actors expect from their initial consultation with an entertainment attorney?

“Usually during an initial consultation call, the potential client just tells us what they need and what they’d like from us. Then we can decide whether or not we can be helpful. The conversation is essentially, ‘Tell me your story, and I’ll tell you how I can help.’ We don’t bill for the initial consult; its purpose is to decide whether it’s the right fit on both sides. Every firm is different. Some talent attorneys work on contingency, meaning they work to get your deal closed, and then they get paid when you get paid. But for our firm, we would typically bill hourly or negotiate a flat fee.

We usually get more well-established clients because they have more for us to look at, rather than an actor coming in with a one-page contract for review. If we’re not a good fit for the actor because of budget, we may refer them to a nonprofit called California Lawyers for the Arts. My firm handles contracts and doesn’t do litigation. Unless you’re talking big corporate firms, it’s usually one or the other. But sometimes we have potential new clients or existing clients that ask us for advice on an issue that they’re thinking might go to litigation. We’ll still do a consult and let them know if we can help them. If not, we’ll refer them out to a litigation attorney.”

 

What should actors talk about in a consultation?

“The two biggest things we’ll cover are your budget and your goals. You may go into a consult thinking that your goals are a certain way, but it’s important to still talk through everything so that the attorney can direct you. And if you have certain expectations, that’s obviously something you want to communicate. For example, if you get an agreement, and the other side says they need it back by a certain date, that’s something you want to communicate and see if it’s doable for the attorney. It will depend on the situation. If it’s a one-page agreement, it won’t take that long to review it.”

 

Any tips for actors looking over a contract on their own?

“Two of the big things to look out for are exclusivity and a certain end date. I’ve had a contract come my way that was exclusive with no end date in mind. The project was in development, so we had no idea if or when it would get picked up, and if so, when it would be completed. So look out for that. If your contract is exclusive and doesn’t have an end date, you would technically be in breach of it if you enter into another contract. It’s dumb, but I still see it.”

Trier’s insights provide actors with the information toolkit they’ll need when walking into their first consultation with an entertainment attorney. Remember to include all the details, regardless of your specific goals, so that the attorney can be fully informed and know how to best help you. And if you end up deciding to review a contract on your own, be sure to take Trier’s advice and look out for its exclusivity and end date so you don’t end up in breach of contract.

 
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