Jesse Saivar

Contact Jesse

Q: I have recently optioned the autobiography of a person that I’d like to use as the subject for a feature film. In the last quarter of the book, a historical figure whom my subject served with in the military is featured in a number of scenes. Do I have to get clearance from the person’s estate before using them in the script? I assume the author got permission to use her story in his book, but does this permission extend to a film?

A: Judging by your question, I think I can assume that your historical figure is truly historic (i.e., he or she is history). Either that or you are pondering getting clearance from someone’s large house. I’ll assume the former. The fact that your person of interest is an historic figure and is no longer with us makes your question much easier to answer. Continue reading the full story . . . »

Dan Nabel

Contact Dan

There is an old Chinese proverb which cautions against drawing attention to something you are trying to conceal. As the story goes, a man named Zhang built a small fortune of 300 ounces of silver through hard work. Fearful that someone might steal his fortune, Zhang decided that the best thing to do was bury it. After burying the money, Zhang then had a brilliant idea to further ensure his money’s security. He decided to mark the spot with a sign that read: “This land does not have 300 ounces of silver buried here.” Continue reading the full story . . . »

Matt Galsor

Contact Matt

Q: My company is producing a film which has a character that is taken from another very well known film. This new story has absolutely nothing to do with the previously established film, is not in any way a sequel and we never even see the other person, they’re invisible in the mind of a lunatic and it’s questionable whether they exist or not. He just mentions them by name and says that they’ve been friends since he saw that movie. What’s our legal leg to stand on to be able to keep this character by name, in the script, which adds a great deal of humor as he interacts with the character and we can’t see it… or is it better to hedge our bets and make it a completely made up invisible friend? I seem to be stumping every lawyer friend I have with this one, as it’s a peculiar case… any thoughts? Or, is there an alternative in just securing permission from the controlling entity of the previous film? Continue reading the full story . . . »