Ep 226 - Essential Legal Advice for Screenwriters with Joshua Lastine (Entertainment Lawyer)

The Successful Screenwriter with Geoffrey D Calhoun: Screenwriting Podcast

• Host: Geoffrey Calhoun
  • Instagram @screenwriterpod
• Guest: Joshua Lastine, Entertainment Lawyer
  • Instagram @LastineLaw
• Overview: Discussing why screenwriters, especially indie screenwriters, need entertainment lawyers to navigate the complexities of contracts and protect their rights and interests.

Key Highlights:

1. The Importance of Legal Representation for Screenwriters:
   • Joshua emphasizes the crucial need for screenwriters to have legal protection, from newcomers to seasoned professionals, to ensure all contractual details are in their favor and to avoid potential pitfalls.
2. Common Issues Screenwriters Face Without Legal Guidance:
   • Late or missing payments due to overlooked contract specifics.
   • The risk of unfavorable contract terms due to not understanding the legal jargon or missing critical clauses.
3. Why Entertainment Lawyers are Essential:
   • They provide vital protection for non-WGA writers who lack guild support.
   • Offer strategic advice on contract negotiations, ensuring screenwriters get fair deals and are not exploited.
4. Cost Concerns and Solutions:
   • Joshua addresses concerns about affordability, suggesting that building relationships with lawyers early can lead to flexible payment arrangements, such as a percentage-based fee.
5. Misconceptions About Entertainment Lawyers as Agents:
   • While lawyers can occasionally facilitate connections, their primary role is legal protection, not career management or promotion.
6. Working with Agents and Managers:
   • A collaborative approach with agents, managers, and lawyers typically yields the best outcomes for screenwriters, ensuring all aspects of deals and opportunities are optimized.
7. Advice for Reviewing Contracts:
   • Emphasizes the importance of ensuring contracts reflect all verbal promises and the need for clarity on payment terms and project expectations.
8. The Pitfalls of Not Having Legal Representation:
   • Shares cautionary tales of screenwriters trapped in unfavorable contracts or losing rights to their work due to inadequate legal protection.
9. Legal Considerations in the Writing Process:
   • Highlights the need for screenwriters to consult with entertainment lawyers even during the writing phase to navigate copyright issues and other legal considerations.

Conclusion:

• Joshua Lastine underscores the indispensable role of entertainment lawyers in safeguarding screenwriters' interests, advising early and ongoing engagement with legal professionals for career success.

Contact Information:

• Joshua Lastine can be reached through his website, lastineentertainmentlaw.com, and on Instagram @LastineLaw.

Closing Thoughts by Geoffrey Calhoun:

• Expresses gratitude to Joshua for his insights and to the audience for tuning in, emphasizing the value of legal advice in the screenwriting journey.