Friday, February 22, 2002

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

February 22, 2002

JOB OPENING
We have an immediate opening for a paralegal or secretary to join our law firm. Here is a description of the position:
Busy Beverly Hills entertainment law firm has opening for well-organized, responsible secretary/paralegal. Must type 60 wpm and have at least one year of experience. Requires a person who pays great attention to detail, and has excellent writing, grammar, communication and computer skills. E-mail resume and short writing sample to atty@marklitwak.com. No phone calls please.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS
After 8 years at 9595 Wilshire Boulevard we are moving. Effective February 28, 2002 we are relocating our offices and moving one block away to: 433 N. Camden Drive, Ste. 1010, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Our telephone and fax numbers remain the same. Our zip code has changed slightly. Our E-mail address is: atty@marklitwak.com

Saturday, February 16, 2002

“The Accountant” nominated for Academy Award

February 16, 2002

“The Accountant” nominated for Academy Award

Congratulations to producer Lisa Blount and writer/director/star Ray McKinnon of Ginny Mule Pictures for their live action short “The Accountant” which has been nominated for an Oscar. Attorney Pete Wilke, who is our securities expert and is Of Counsel to this firm, created the Private Placement Memorandum and handled the production legal work for the picture. I saw the film at the Austin Film Festival this past fall and it was wonderful. It was also shown at Slamdance.

"The Accountant" is a "Farm Comedy." The story centers on a dubious main character who "advises" folks on methods they might use to save the family farm from going the way of too many such farms in America. The film was shot on location in the South on 35 mm. The film, about 40 minutes in length, might best be described as a "dark comedy" that gives the viewer a whole new appreciation (or first time appreciation as the case may be) for the "Accountant's" favorite canned beverage, PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon beer).
The website for the film is www.ginnymule.com

Friday, February 08, 2002

MANAGER ATTEMPTING TO OPTION SCREENPLAY VIOLATES LABOR CODE

February 8, 2002

MANAGER ATTEMPTING TO OPTION SCREENPLAY VIOLATES LABOR CODE

Agents are licensed by the California Department of Labor. Managers are not. Agents can procure employment for artists, while managers cannot. It is not always clear, however, when a manager’s activities are considered procuring employment. One might think that selling a writer’s finished script is not procuring employment because the writing services have been completed. But a recent decision by the California Labor Commissioner has come to a different conclusion.

A manager attempted to sell two of his client’s screenplays. After the manager left the management business, the writer optioned the works the manager had previously submitted. The writer didn’t pay the manager a commission on these deals, as the writer was obliged to do under the terms of the management contract. The manager sued. The suit was stayed while the Labor Commissioner determined whether the manager had acted illegally because he was not a licensed talent agent.

The Labor Commissioner concluded that absent compelling evidence that no future services of the writer are contemplated, a manager shopping scripts is procuring employment and violating the labor code if he is not a licensed talent agent. The commissioner noted that screenwriters who sell spec screenplays usually want to be hired to do any rewrites needed, and often they are hired for that purpose. Indeed, in this case, the writer was employed to render additional writing services.

Because the manager acted in violation of the Talent Agencies Act, the management agreement was unlawful, and the manger is unable to enforce its provisions.

HOLLYWOOD PITCH MARKET(TM) - MARCH 2 & 3, 2002

Carlos DeAbreu, the founder of the Hollywood Film Festival, will be holding another seminar in Los Angeles: SELL YOUR IDEA/STORY/BOOK/SCRIPT OR FILM TO HOLLYWOOD BUYERS. The seminar will include two days of intensive Networking. Additional information can be found at: http://www.hollywoodfestival.com/writing/index3.html. I will be one of a number of speakers.