Knowing a few legal basics can make the difference between watching your work on the big screen or seeing your big dreams go up in smoke. Legal issues arise in every aspect of film production. This workshop, led by media and entertainment lawyer Laura Possessky, is designed to teach film professionals about key legal issues and concepts to navigate common legal problems and to determine when legal counsel may become necessary. Core concepts of copyright, contracts and business law will be covered. This is an interactive program with class exercises and discussions. Participants are encouraged to submit requests for discussion topics in advance and to come to the workshop with questions - lots of them!

Maximum Participants: 12 

Cost: $150 ($125 for Docs Insiders).

To Register: Because of limited space, advanced registration is highly recommended!
Registration is a two stage process:

(1) Payment:
By Credit Card or PayPal
Click here for the regular fee.    
Click here for the Docs Insiders fee.  Click here to find out more.

By Check:

Please make the check payable to "Docs In Progress' and include the name of the program in the memo line.  Mail to:
Docs In Progress
8700 First Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

(2) Submit a Registration Form:
Download  Word Document   PDF
Complete and e-mail to Adele Schmidt at adeleATdocsinprogressDOTorg.

About the Instructor: Laura Possessky is a media and entertainment lawyer with the firm of Gura & Possessky, PLLC. For over a decade, she has counseled artists, nonprofits, associations and small businesses on intellectual property protection and on content transactions in publishing, television, film, media and the internet. She also advises clients on First Amendment issues relating to fair use of third-party content and intellectual property. Prior to working in private practice, Ms. Possessky was with the Smithsonian Institution, negotiating agreements for museums revenue-generating activities including publishing, film and image licensing, product development, art consignments and special events including the Presidential Inauguration. She currently serves as the President for Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts and as an elected Member of the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar. She received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. She is licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia. 

REFUND POLICY

If your circumstances change and you must withdraw from a program after registering, please be aware of our refund policy:
Withdrawal 30 or more calendar days before the first day of the program: 75% refund
Withdrawal 11-29 calendar days before the first day of the program: 50% refund
Withdrawal 10 or fewer calendar days before the first day of the program: No refund

LOCATION

The Documentary House is the home of Docs In Progress and is located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland at 8700 First Avenue (corner of First and Fenwick). We are only a few blocks from the Silver Spring Metro. Some free parking is available in the gravel lot behind our house. Additional parking is available in the Cameron Street Garage across the street (free after 7 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends).  For more detailed directions, visit our Directions Page.

WEATHER POLICY

In the event of severely inclement weather, we will make a decision by 3 pm on whether to cancel that evening's programs. (For Saturday programs, we will make the decision by 6 pm on Friday). If you have not received a notification from your instructors, call our office at (301) 789-2797 (if we are not there, we will leave an outgoing message).