Managing Common Legal Risks in Production
While every project is unique, producers should work from the same script when it comes to protecting themselves and their film or series’ interests. Esteemed producers and entertainment lawyers provide insight into the amalgam of measures that should be taken to set yourself and your project up for success during physical production, and share wisdom to help you avoid potential legal issues later.
Moderator
Roger Goff, Entertainment Lawyer & Producer, Goff Law Corporation
Panelists
Kirk D’Amico, President & CEO, Myriad Pictures
Joanne Hoffman, Legal Counsel, www.HoffmanEntLaw.com
Phil Strina, EVP and Head of Production Legal, Business & Legal Affairs, Lionsgate
Speakers
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Roger GoffEntertainment Lawyer & Producer, Goff Law CorporationRoger Goff is a producer and entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles. In over 35 years as an entertainment professional, Roger has handled hundreds of transactions across the entire industry spectrum including film, television, music, digital media and entertainment technology. He has represented financiers, producers, directors, writers, actors and other artists and entrepreneurs. He has also produced and executive produced several films as both a lead producer and part of production teams.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Roger worked in radio and television broadcasting, commercial production, advertising and as a studio musician. He holds an FCC license as a broadcast engineer and graduated from the studio guitarists program at Musicians Institute (in addition to receiving his B.A. from UCLA and his law degree, with honors, from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles). He began his legal career as a corporate attorney handling mergers and acquisitions and private securities transactions. He quickly transitioned to the music industry and spent many years representing independent record labels.
As an attorney in the film industry, Roger has handled financing and production for over a hundred films, including the Academy Award winning “Dallas Buyers Club,” “Welcome to the Rileys” (produced by Ridley Scott), “Splinter,” and “American Gun.” Roger has been an executive producer or producer on several films, including “Man Down,” starring Shia Labeouf, Gary Oldman and Kate Mara, “Krystal,” directed by William H. Macy and starring Rosario Dawson, Kathy Bates, Nick Robinson and Grant Gustin, “Cut Throat City,” directed by RZA and with an all-star cast including Ethan Hawke, Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, T.I., Eiza Gonzalez and Kat Graham; and “The Tiger Rising” with Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid.
Most recently, Roger produced “The Locksmith” starring Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth and Ving Rhames – a crime thriller released earlier this year. Roger is a member of the Television Academy and the PGA.
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Kirk D'AmicoPresident & CEO, Myriad PicturesAward-winning producer Kirk D’Amico founded Myriad Pictures in 1998 and has positioned the company as a leading sales and distribution home for diverse films and emerging talent. D’Amico has produced or executive produced over 60 films and Myriad has distributed hundreds of films worldwide. The current release slate includes April Mullen’s SIMULANT starring Sam Worthington and Simu Liu and Luke Sparke’s BRING HIM TO ME starring Barry Pepper, Sam Neill, and Rachel Griffiths. D’Amico produced DEAD FOR A DOLLAR starring Christoph Waltz, Rachel Brosnahan, and Willem Dafoe and is serving as Executive Producer on TIFF Industry Select film, Rebecca Snow’s THE BOY IN THE WOODS.
In 2010, D’Amico also co-founded Canadian distributor and production company Photon Films. Based in Toronto, Photon has released a diverse slate of bold films in Canada both theatrically and across all platforms. Notable films include THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER starring Tilda Swinton, SOUND OF METAL starring Riz Ahmed, and THE HATING GAME starring Lucy Hale.
For more information about MYRIAD PICTURES visit www.myriadpictures.com or follow Kirk on Twitter. For more information about PHOTON PICTURES visit www.photonfilms.ca
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Joanne HoffmanLegal Counsel, www.HoffmanEntLaw.comJoanne Hoffman brings to her practice over 20 years of experience in motion picture development, finance, production, distribution, licensing and merchandising. As an attorney and former development executive, she has a rare insight into the creative and business dynamics of the entertainment industry, enabling her to provide straightforward legal advise, effective solutions and cost saving results.
Joanne’s practice focuses on a wide range of entertainment-related transactions, with a client roster including major corporate entities, award winning producers, distributors, sales agents, filmmakers, authors and screenwriters. Joanne currently serves on the board of the Los Angeles Community College Foundation and leads the working group of Guardian Scholars, an organization dedicated to providing support to former foster youth. She has also provided pro-bono legal services for entities such as Meals on Wheels, Amnesty International, the Office of the Dalai Lama and STARHOUSE, an organization dedicated to providing long-term transitional housing to women who suffer from domestic violence. Joanne previously served on the Independent Film and Television Legal Committee for over a decade.