Have you ever heard a film producer or financier say, “I have access to half the financing”? It’s often followed by, “If you have the other half, we can do this.” I’ve heard this, many times. Words like these can be the start of a successful deal, or of a scheme to defraud. Take theContinue reading "Could UBS Have Stopped a “Con” on Investors in a Bull Durham Musical?"

Film and TV projects start in various ways. Sometimes a producer will formally option a writer’s idea or work. But the process of working through a wide range of possible outcomes, as option agreements typically do, can exact a lot of brain damage – and cost – on a project that may never get toContinue reading "16 Reasons Why? Producer Dana Brunetti Hits Detachment by Discovery from “Manhunt” Series"

The hit TV series Bones (the “Series”), featuring a crime-solving, forensic anthropologist, ran from 2005 through 2017, a total of twelve seasons. It starred Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz and was produced by Barry Josephson based on books by Kathy Reichs (collectively, the “Creatives”). At 246 episodes, Bones is one of the longest running one-hour prime time series ever.Continue reading "“Bones” Decision: Fox Hit With $128M Penalty; How Much Did the Studio Wrongly Hide from Profit Participants?"

Writer/director Frank Darabont is the creator of mega series The Walking Dead (the “Series”); talent agency Creative Artists is the Series’ packager; and AMC Studio is the producer and distributor of the Series, and licenses it for broadcast to the AMC Network.1 Plaintiffs Darabont and CAA, who share in the profits of AMC Studio, claim that theContinue reading "The Walking Dead: Should AMC pay less than $2M Per Episode, or more than $20M?"

Twentieth Century Fox produces the hit TV series Bones for its broadcast network and also makes the series available on Hulu of which it is a one-third owner. Did Fox properly report and share monies it received from its license of Bones to Hulu?  Two complaints recently filed by revenue participants claim it did not.1 The Big Picture AsContinue reading "“Bones” Complaints: Did Fox Properly Account for Hulu monies?"

What is a fair deal between a captive TV production company and a network parent?  That may depend on who you ask. In a pending lawsuit, writer/director Frank Darabont, creator of mega TV series The Walking Dead, along with talent agency Creative Artists Agency, claim that AMC Entertainment and affiliates artificially lowballed license fees via aContinue reading "The Walking Dead: Is AMC’s License Fee “Improper” and “Outrageous”?"