An attorney's perspective on filmmaking
and the law

On Chronicling Criminals

George Rush    Sep 27, 2011    
Though it's legal to film illegal acts, crime can certainly complicate your filmmaking process.
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  • The Naked Truth on Nudity in Film

    George Rush
    Jul 12, 2011

    A legal expert offers advice on staying within the law while shedding extra layers.

  • The Art of the Steal

    George Rush
    Apr 12, 2011

    Whether in the foreground or background of your narrative feature, pieces of art require copyright consideration.

  • What you Need to Know to License Music for Film

    George Rush
    Mar 8, 2011

    Breaking down the common licensing terms.

  • Film Festival Season: Five Last-Minute Music Clearance Tips

    Annie Lin/The Rights Workshop
    Dec 7, 2010

    The Rights Workshop offers timely advice on clearing music rights pre-Sundance.

  • Copyright Crosses Borders

    George Rush
    Nov 16, 2010

    Laws and treaties protect artists' rights overseas and make the permissions-gathering process all the more important for filmmakers.

  • The Price of Fame

    George Rush
    Aug 31, 2010

    When filming a public figure, the rights to privacy as well as publicity need to be considered.

  • Crowd Control

    George Rush
    Jul 13, 2010

    No matter what kind of film you’re making, eventually all filmmakers encounter the common legal problem of filming in a crowd.

  • Do You Pass the Test?

    George Rush
    Apr 26, 2010

    You are awesome. Spectacular, incredible, interesting, accomplished and generally just way awesome. Everyone wants to hear every possible thing there is to know about you.

  • Public, Private: A Need-to-Know Guide

    George Rush
    Feb 23, 2010

    People are fascinated by the lives of others. But can someone make a doc, biopic, historical or narrative film about a famous person without their permission?

  • What's In a Name?

    George Rush
    Jan 5, 2010

    The thing about titles is they re too short to receive copyright protection. For copyright purposes, a title is like a label of a copyrighted work.

  • A Challenge to Filmmakers

    George Rush
    Nov 3, 2009

    George Rush skips legal concerns and instead speaks to a larger issue: the lack of quality independent filmmaking today.

  • Fine points on Festivals

    George Rush
    Aug 17, 2009

    Avoiding Disaster: Festivals are a good way to have your film discovered by distributors, to build buzz and to build an audience—if you're well prepared.

  • Facing the Music (Rights)

    George Rush
    Jun 16, 2009

    Avoiding Disaster: Clearing music is one of those horrible, arduous, frustrating tasks that needs to be done in order to show or sell a film.

  • Risky (Film) Business - What (Not) to Do

    George Rush
    Apr 21, 2009

    Avoiding Disaster: George Rush advises on how to secure funding for your film and protect yourself along the way.

  • 'Medicine for Melancholy' and the Art of DIY Legal Agreements

    George Rush
    Mar 3, 2009

    For many narrative filmmakers, hiring a lawyer is either an afterthought or not a financial reality, but moving forward with a film without considering legal is a huge mistake.

  • Casting: Names and Numbers

    George Rush
    Jan 16, 2009

    Avoiding Disaster: George Rush writes on the conundrum of not getting money for a project without a known cast, and not getting a cast without a bunch of money.

  • Notes on Digital Distribution

    George Rush
    Oct 8, 2008

    Avoiding Disaster: George Rush offers tips on bridging the worlds of creativity and business.

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  • Nov 3, 2011
    Thursday

    Shoot Online: "Bodega Goes Bicoastal, Opens San Francisco Office Under Exec Producer/Partner Clint Goldman"

    "Bodega, a New York-based content creation/production company, has extended its reach Westward with the opening of a San Francisco shop headed by executive producer/partner Clint Goldman." More at shootonline.com.

  • Nov 1, 2011
    Tuesday

    Napa Register: "Napa Goes Big Right out of Film Fest"

    "After whetting local appetites through a successful soft launch last year, 91 films are now listed in the 2011 Napa Valley Film Festival program guide. Those films—many of them short—will be played on 12 screens throughout the Napa Valley, including screenings in Calistoga, Yountville, St. Helena and the city of Napa." More at napavalleyregister.com.

  • Nov 1, 2011
    Tuesday

    Daily News: "Animator John Lasseter to Recieve Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame"

    "John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, will receive the 2,453rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today," reports Daily News Wire Services. More at dailynews.com.

  • Oct 27, 2011
    Thursday

    Balboa Theatre Saved: SFNTF Partners With Gary Meyer to Keep Theatre Open

    Press release: The San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation announced today that it is partnering with Gary Meyer to keep the City’s historic Balboa Theatre (1926) open and to develop a sustainable long-term plan for the theater. The Theater Foundation also announced it has reached an agreement to lease the theater through 2024—securing the future of one of San Francisco’s oldest operating cinemas. More at sfntf.org.

  • Oct 24, 2011
    Monday

    San Francisco Jewish Film Festival Announces New Executive Director

    Press release: The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival announced its new Executive Director: Lexi Leban, who begins working with the festival November 7, 2011. A longtime member of the Bay Area film community, Lexi has worked in all aspects of film, from production to distribution. She’s also worked with numerous film festivals, including the Mill Valley Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, and the Global Social Change Film Festival in Bali. Lexi is currently Academic Director of the Digital Filmmaking & Video Production Program at the Art Institute of California, where she built the department from its inception. Her most recent feature documentary, Girl Trouble, which follows young girls in San Francisco’s juvenile justice system, aired on PBS’s acclaimed series Independent Lens in January of 2006, and won Best Bay Area Documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival. More at sfjff.org.


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Good Government<br />Producer Hilary Armstrong and director Sascha Rice were at San Francisco Film Society |... Artist in Residence<br />Uruguayan director Federico Veiroj, who arrived in San Francisco for a two week residen... Bienvenuti<br />Bingham Ray, executive director of SF Film Society, Fabrizio Marcelli, consul general o... Lolz<br />Guest programmer Jay Wertzler presented 'Anthropomorphlolz,' a collection of weird-cent... Opening Night Glitch<br />Director Eric Leiser used a canny hybrid live action/animation approach in ‘Glitch in t... A Guitar, a Drum and a Bat<br />One of the highlights of Cinema By the Bay was the live performance of a new score for ... Revealing the Price of Sex<br />Editor Stephanie Challberg, director Mimi Chakarova and cinematographer Adam Keker were... Sci-Fi Stuff<br />Director Sam Burbank, with SFFS programmer Audrey Chang, screened his debut narrative f... Filmmakers Feted<br />SFFS and San Francisco Film Commission hosted the Cinema By the Bay Filmmaker Services ... Let It Rain<br />Joshua Moore’s feature film directorial debut, 'I Think It’s Raining,' featuring a mesm... Vive La France<br />Denis Bisson, French cultural attaché, Rachel Rosen, San Francisco Film Society directo... Right On<br />Ling Woo Liu, director of the Korematsu Institute; Emil De Guzman of the San Francisco ... Pro-Labor, Pro-Pluto<br />Director Travis Wilkerson, right, with Sean Uyehara of San Francisco Film Society, was ... Under Suspicion<br />Reporters from the Center for Investigative Reporting presented video, audio and animat... Counting Crows<br />Kim Aubry of ZAP Zoetrope Aubry Productions and codirectors Kris Samuelson and John Hap... Legacy of Rin Tin Tin<br />Korey, a three-year-old German Shepard and his handler, Dez Murray, coordinator of dog ... The Awesome Eye<br />Local filmmaker Soumyaa Kapil Behrens (left) screened a compilation of films about ways... Docfest Turns Ten<br />Docfest celebrates its tenth year as one of the city's top independent film festivals a... Teachers Answer Back<br />Codirector/editor Brian McGinn (left) and producers Ninive Calegari and Dave Eggers off... Berlin is Back<br />Sophoan Sorn, festival director, and Sabine Erlenwein, festival president, presided at ...
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