DATES
All sessions will be held on Saturdays from 9:30am - 4:30pm (approx). Because the learning is cumulative, commitment to all three sessions is highly recommended.
- November 12
- November 19
- November 26
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Be sure to register by Friday November 4, 2022 (11:59pm EDT)
Questions? Email Laurie Januska, Director of Programming.
ABOUT
A 3-day workshop designed to demystify legal issues in media content production. Learn your rights, protect your IP, negotiate the best deal for YOU!
- Learn the basics of contractual terms and industry best practices, the basics of personal service contracts, and tips on working with guilds and unions.
- Learn the basic elements of working with intellectual properties, including registration and protection.
- Get to know more about corporate structures, basic regulatory procedures and policies regarding Canadian content, and so much more!
Entertainment Law is multi-faceted and unusual in that it overlaps with so many other legal areas: intellectual property law, employment law, contract law, tax law, insurance law, and sometimes international law. This three-day course is designed to provide an introduction/overview of key legal considerations - Contracts and Negotiations, Intellectual Property and Regulations and Policies - in the screen-based media industry.
2022 FEES
WIFT Toronto Members: $350.00 (+ HST)
Non-Members: $475.00 (+ HST)
ELIGIBILITY
The WIFT Toronto Introduction to Entertainment Law workshop is recommended for anyone who has an interest in learning the basics of the legal landscape in the screen-based industry. This is an introductory course designed to demystify topics for those who work in the screen-based industry. Previous experience working in or around entertainment law (or any of the three main topics of Contracts and Negotiations, Intellectual Property or Regulatory Procedures and Policies) will be beneficial, but is not required.
SESSIONS & INSTRUCTORS
DAY 1 – CONTRACTS AND NEGOTIATIONS
This day will include discussions around:
- Contractual customs and practices
- Drafting and negotiating key terms of agreements (talent, writer, production, etc.)
- Personal service contracts (basic terms, miscellaneous provisions and types of agreements)
- Standard form agreements (appearance releases, location releases, license agreements)
- Working with unions and guilds
- Working with broadcasters and distributors
- Favoured Nations clauses (scope re: terms, scope re: comparables)
- Royalties and residuals
- Completion guarantors
Instructor: Cheryl Grossman, Entertainment Lawyer
Cheryl Grossman provides legal advice to established and emerging production companies, distributors, publishers, writers, directors, television hosts, and other creative individuals. Cheryl started working in the media more than 20 years ago as a journalist at CJAD Radio, first in Montreal and then as a political correspondent from the Quebec legislature, and from there moved into television news and documentary productions that aired on the CBC, the National Geographic Channel, and the History Channel. During her legal career, she practised on Bay Street, and then moved to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. At the CBC, her work involved in-house and independently produced programs, distribution, special events, international treaty co-productions, and production financing. With her affinity towards the creative community and desire to help strong creators grow and be more empowered, she eventually launched her own entertainment law practice. Cheryl is also proud to have taken part in WIFT’s Media Leadership Program, which was a life changing experience with a brilliant group of ladies. She thinks the community that WIFT has helped to foster is fantastic!
DAY 2 – INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
This day will include discussions around:
- Identifying, registering and protecting intellectual property
- Copyright Act (including fair dealing), Trade-Marks Act, and clearances
- Acquisition and licensing of rights, Life rights
- Errors and Omissions insurance and clearance procedures
- Chain of Title
- Rights of privacy and personality
Instructors: Tara Parker, Partner, Goodmans LLP; David Zitzerman, Partner and head of Entertainment Law Group, Goodmans LLP; Aaron Barrett, Associate, Entertainment Law Group, Goodmans LLP
Tara Parker is a partner in the Entertainment Group at Goodmans. Represents major US and Canadian studios, broadcasters, independent producers and a range of creative and business clients, in the development, production, financing and exploitation of film, television, and other digital media projects. Recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada (named 2021 Toronto Entertainment Lawyer of the Year), The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, The Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Entertainment Law), Chambers Canada, Who’s Who Legal Canada and Euromoney’s Guides to the World’s Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers and Women in Business Law (media). Frequent speaker/panelist at media conferences and guest lecturer on entertainment law at the University of Toronto Law School and Ryerson University. Has appeared as a guest expert on “format/reality programming” and “copyright/street art” on BNN and CTV networks. Advisory Board Member for the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media. Tara has contributed articles to various entertainment law publications. Past President and Chair of Crow’s Theatre. Member of LSUC, WIFT-Toronto, Film Ontario and ACCT and past member of OBA’s Entertainment, Media and Communications Law Section Executive.
David Zitzerman is a partner and head of the Entertainment Law Group at Goodmans. He has exclusively practiced entertainment law for over 25 years. His practice focuses on film, TV and online media in Canada and the United States. Clients include independent producers, Canadian networks, Hollywood studios, US networks, cable and OTT services, European broadcasters, distributors, publishers, private equity investors, talent guilds/agencies, authors, writers, directors and actors.
David is recognized as a leading entertainment lawyer by Lexpert, Who’s Who Legal, The Best Lawyers in Canada (2010 Toronto Entertainment Lawyer of the Year), Euromoney’s Best of the Best (one of top 30 media lawyers in the world) and Guide to the World’s Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers.
David is an Adjunct Professor of entertainment law at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and is a frequent commentator on entertainment industry issues for Business News Network. He is the co-author of Entertainment Law in Canada published by LexisNexis. He is a director and serves on the Executive and Investment Committees of the Canadian Film Centre, is a director of the Canadian Screenwriters Collection Society, is on the Program Advisory Committee of the Ryerson School of Radio & Television Arts, is a Gold Patron of the Toronto International Film Festival and is a member of Film Ontario, the Canadian Media Production Association, Women in Film and Television-Toronto, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and the Canadian Association of Recording Artists.
Aaron Barrett is an associate in the Entertainment Group at Goodmans. He is developing a practice in entertainment and sports law, e-sports law, and sports gambling law.
Prior to joining Goodmans, Aaron worked as a business affairs consultant at Reisman Law Offices – a boutique entertainment law practice. There, he helped represent a wide range of clients from the entertainment industry. Aaron also interned in the legal department at the United States Anti-Doping Agency in Colorado Springs, where he worked to preserve safe and clean sport for Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, Parapan American and UFC athletes.
Aaron received his law degree with distinction from Western University. Before attending law school, Aaron graduated as the winner of the Gold Medal for Politics at Acadia University.
DAY 3 – REGULATORY PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
This day will include discussion around:
- Canadian Content overview
- Corporate Structures (production services, co-ventures and treaty co-productions)
- Financing of film and television production
- Broadcast licensing and regulatory issues
Instructors: TBA