What exactly is an entertainment lawyer and… do you need one?
Double-tap if you’ve ever looked over a deal memo or contract, only to think to yourself: 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯?
Good thought. Complex answer.
An entertainment lawyer is — just that. A lawyer who specializes in deals pertaining to the entertainment industry. They are negotiating, detail-minded, fine-print-pros.
But first, let’s not forget: your agent is perfectly capable of handling most, if not all deals you’ll be up for.
An entertainment lawyer, however, has deeper knowledge of minute and potentially complex details that can effect your career and finances in a substantial way.
But at what cost?
Most lawyers charge actors either an hourly rate or 5% of the final deal (as of 2021).
So when exactly is an entertainment lawyer necessary, if at all? Probably not for smaller roles (co-stars/small guest star arcs). And remember: your union has certain built-in protections already.
But if any of these apply, an entertainment lawyer might be worth looking in to:
🔺 Series regular deals
🔺 Mutiyear movie deals
🔺 Commercial deals
🔺 Pilot test offers
🔺 Holding and/or option deals (especially when exclusivity is involved)
🔺 Development deals
🔺 Movie deals when getting paid Schedule F or higher
🔺 When net or gross percentages are involved in backend deals
Of course, you are welcome to hire a lawyer for any reason other than the ones listed above. At the end of the day, it’s a risk/money assessment. How much $$ are you willing to invest in for a potentially deal and for what size role?
#themoreyouknow #thecastingdirectorscut #terminologytuesday
Related reading: What Does All Shows Produced (ASP) Mean for a Series Regular?, What Is a One-Liner in Casting? How to Audition for One and What Does It Mean to Audit an Acting Class?.
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