what does an attorney do at an animation company

by Dr. Lucas Berge 6 min read

What does an entertainment attorney do for actors?

They negotiate with the agent and producer for the actor’s compensation. Some entertainment attorneys are also agents, managers or publicists. Talent agents and entertainment attorneys often work together on behalf of their clients. They secure talent releases and advise their clients on jobs and contracts.

What can you do with a degree in animation?

With a career in animation, you can bring life into an object or character using animations, special effects, and other visual images using electronic tools and/or computers for commercials, crime scene recreations, movies, inventions, website graphics, website tours, and more. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What does an attorney do?

Learn About the Salary, Required Skills, & More. An attorney, also called a lawyer, advises clients and represents them and their legal rights in both criminal and civil cases. This can begin with imparting advice, then proceed with preparing documents and pleadings and sometimes, ultimately, appearing in court to advocate on behalf of clients.

Do you need a license or certification to be an animator?

Though licensure and certification aren’t generally required of animators, you must be able to use the latest software. Software vendors offer ways to certify your skills, including certification in Adobe Animate and After Effects. Careers in Animation: What Can You Do With an Animation Degree?

image

What does a film lawyer do?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

Who is a cartoon lawyer?

It ended on July 22, 2007, with a total of 39 episodes, over the course of four seasons....Harvey Birdman, Attorney at LawOriginal networkCartoon Network (2000) Adult Swim (2001–07)27 more rows

What are the roles of an animation team?

What crew are involved with an animated feature?Producer.Director and/or animation director.Script producer.Writers.Art director/visual development director.Technical director.Legal Department.Production assistant.More items...

What is the best animation company to work for?

Where to Work: Top 100 Studios for Animation ProfessionalsStudioLocationWalt Disney Animation StudiosCalifornia, United StatesWarner Bros. AnimationCalifornia, United StatesWeta DigitalWellington, New ZealandZyngaCalifornia, United States96 more rows•May 24, 2021

What is an attorney called?

In the United States, the terms lawyer and attorney are often used interchangeably. For this reason, people in and out of the legal field often ask, “is an attorney and a lawyer the same thing?”. In colloquial speech, the specific requirements necessary to be considered a lawyer vs attorney aren't always considered.

Who owns Harvey Birdman?

Harvey Birdman: Attorney GeneralExecutive producer(s):Michael Ouweleen Erik Richter Evan W Adler Richard Ferguson-Hull Christina MillerMusic composed by:Michael KohlerScreenplay by:Michael Ouweleen and Erik RichterDirector(s):Richard Ferguson-Hull8 more rows•Mar 6, 2022

Do animators get paid well?

BLS data lists the 2017 median pay for animators at $70,530 a year. Glassdoor has the national average a bit higher at $74,000. Like many other fields, compensation for animators also depends on experience: it's not uncommon for senior-level animators or art directors to earn well into six figures.

What are the positions in an animation studio?

13 jobs in animationAnimator.3D creative designer.Graphic artist.3D modeler.Lighting technician.Artist.Compositing supervisor.Video game designer.More items...•

Is animation a stable career?

Is animation a stable career? Employment of multimedia artists and animators is projected to grow 8 percent from 2016 to 2026. This is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Projected growth will be due to increased demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television.

What is the richest animation company?

Today, the Walt Disney Company is worth an estimated $74.9 billion and it still churns out award-winning animated and live-action films.

Where do animators get paid the most?

The highest paying states for multimedia artists and animators are as follows:California - $82,170 per year.Washington - $75,740.Massachusetts - $73,470.New York - $70,660.Idaho - $69,450.District of Columbia - $69,140.Illinois - $68,830.Alabama - $67,260.More items...•

What animation studio is not owned by Disney?

DreamWorks is an American animation studio known for its high quality film features and franchises.

What do attorneys do?

On the other hand, these attorneys may work directly for professional organizations to perform duties they may desire. They most often deal with transactions—negotiating and drafting contracts.

What do entertainment attorneys do?

Entertainment attorneys also work with actors’ agents for contracts regarding upcoming projects. They negotiate with the agent and producer for the actor’s compensation. Some entertainment attorneys are also agents, managers or publicists.

What does a finance manager do?

They work on financing agreements for sponsorships, bank loans, co-production investments, grants and other types of investments. They prepare agreements for appearance releases, location releases, and licenses. They may also help clients join unions, guilds, and other professional associations if needed.

What is the most important skill for entertainment lawyers?

Networking is one of the most important skills for entertainment lawyers. They should have connections in the film or music industries so they can secure the best contracts for their clients. Other types of lawyers may focus on marketing to potential clients. Draft contracts for a client, review contracts from managers, publicists, record labels, ...

How long does it take to become an entertainment attorney?

Education. Like other attorneys, an entertainment attorney spends three years earning a law degree after receiving a bachelor’s degree. But an entertainment attorney chooses to focus on entertainment, most often graduating from a law school that offers a specialization in entertainment law.

What does a music lawyer do?

They act as general counsel for established artists, helping with marketing and merchandising deals, as well as real estate transactions and tax issues. Also, they help artists secure the rights to use music that other artists have written, complying with copyright laws.

Where do most entertainment lawyers work?

The location of the entertainment industry—Los Angeles for film, television, and music; New York for music, publishing, and theater; and Nashville for music— dictates that most professionals in the entertainment industry work in those cities, which have the greatest concentration of law firms that specialize in entertainment law.

What is an entertainment lawyer?

An entertainment lawyer is a law professional who specializes in legal matters related to the entertainment industry. Entertainment lawyers may focus on advising clients on entertainment contract laws, intellectual property or entertainment labor laws.

What does an entertainment lawyer do?

An entertainment lawyer can specialize in certain entertainment industries or legal aspects. Their duties can vary depending on their area of specialization, but common responsibilities can include:

Where does an entertainment lawyer work?

Entertainment lawyers can work in a law firm or they may work directly for a large entertainment company. Many entertainment lawyers live in or near large cities because cities tend to have more entertainment opportunities. An entertainment lawyer may choose to work in a certain location depending on their specialty.

How do you become an entertainment lawyer?

If you are interested in becoming an entertainment lawyer, consider following these steps:

What Does An Entertainment Lawyer Do?

In short, entertainment lawyers work with filmmakers to provide legal advice and counsel on a range of specialty topics. Entertainment lawyers mainly work with producers and executive producers. However, talent such as actors, directors, and writers may also need to hire one during their career.

Do You Need An Entertainment Lawyer?

The answer to whether or not you need an entertainment lawyer is: it depends. While beginning filmmakers and screenwriters typically don’t need a lawyer to start out, as your career advances, you may find yourself needing professional legal advice.

How To Find An Entertainment Lawyer?

Like all jobs in the film industry, most work comes through recommendations. If you know anyone who has previously hired an entertainment lawyer, ask them about their experience. Alternatively, a production company you know might be able to endorse a firm.

What Is The Cost Of An Entertainment Lawyer?

Whether you hire through a law firm or work with a freelancer, every individual will have a unique cost. Most lawyers have an hourly wage, but you can negotiate a flat fee for their services throughout the whole project. Many lawyers will also give a free consultation and use this time to ask straightforward about their services and costs.

In Conclusion

Entertainment lawyers advise and provide essential legal advice for filmmakers. Finding a good lawyer can be difficult, and you will need to negotiate terms in detail before hiring. They are also expensive, and you should consider their cost during your early budget breakdown.

What is entertainment lawyer?

What is an entertainment lawyer? Unlike divorce or corporate lawyers, an entertainment lawyer represents and protects the interests of creatives, companies and others in the many areas of the entertainment industry, such as film, television, new media, theater, publishing and music.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property, or IP, is big business. From a screenwriter’s spec script to a musician’s original song, anything created within this industry necessitates protection from those who may want to buy it, option it, license it—or infringe upon it with unauthorized use. An entertainment lawyer can see to it that a client’s intellectual property is handled properly and protected when copyright or trademark issues arise.

Which states offer competitive financial advantages for productions?

Many states outside of California and New York offer competitive financial advantages for productions, making it attractive to creatives on a budget to film in these other locations with local crew and other resources at their disposal.

Can an emerging creative lawyer be an entertainment lawyer?

And while true that these professionals can foster your career and provide some of the same benefits as an entertainment lawyer, namely industry connections and career advice, neither have the legal expertise of an entertainment lawyer.

Do entertainment lawyers provide free consultations?

Yes, most entertainment lawyers will provide a brief complimentary consultation. Keep in mind, though, that this consultation isn’t about getting free information for a legal issue. Rather, the consultation is to determine if that particular lawyer will be a good fit for your needs. 10.

Where is Anna Keizer?

Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and is currently in post-production on the short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and is executive producing.

Is an entertainment lawyer an employee?

Is an entertainment lawyer hired as an employee or contractor? Unless you are potentially forming a company that would require the ongoing services of an entertainment lawyer, they would not be hired as an employee. Rather, they are a contractor who is part of a law firm or the proprietor of their own business. 16.

Why are animation talent considered second class citizens?

In my experience, talent in the animation area are "second class citizens" to their live-action brethren, in part because they do not utilize unions, agents, managers, and attorneys like live action talent does.

How many episodes of Camp Chaos are there?

Also a producing entity, ECG will a launch a 13-episode series Camp Chaos on VH1 this fall. ECG is also producing Firedog, a direct-to-video $2 million animated feature.

What should a representative be like?

All talent have their ideals of what a representative should be like: honest, with integrity and a high regard for the client's unique and bountiful talent; but ruthless, dragon-slaying and loyal to a fault when negotiating with the buyer for money, rights and credit.

Who is Jean Marc Lofficier?

Jean-Marc Lofficier, Hollywood Comics. Jean-Marc Lofficier has a 1977 M.B.A. from the Paris Business School and a law degree from the Sorbonne University. Lofficier founded Hollywood Comics in 2000. Prior to that, he was vp of Starwatcher Graphics and an executive with Credit Lyonnais and Barclays Bank.

Is animation more expensive than live action?

Historically, animation projects cost more and made less than live action projects, so the old economics contributed to this status. Now, however, animation is not more expensive to produce and makes just as much money as live action.

Is ECG making Firedog?

ECG is also producing Firedog, a direct-to-video $2 million animated feature. In evaluating new clients I look for a creator who has thought out the entire world surrounding the story, a creator who can tell me how each character will react in every situation. Besides story, character development is key.

Who is Paul Husband?

Paul Husband is a Universal City, California-based manager in his eponymous firm Husband Management, Inc. He is also a practicing attorney who focuses on animation and tax matters. He was co-founder of AniManagement LLC in 1995 and was a licensed talent agent until 2000 He has been active in ASIFA-Hollywood where he serves as general counsel. Husband was an ASIFA-Hollywood director from 1997 to 2003. He represents primarily talent and production entities in animation and digital effects areas.

What are the duties of an attorney?

Attorneys' responsibilities can cover a wide range of duties, and they might vary somewhat depending upon the area of law in which they practice. Some common duties include: 1 Advise clients regarding ongoing litigation or to explain legal issues they might be facing or have concerns about. 2 Research the details and evidence involved in cases, such as police reports, accident reports, or pleadings previously filed in a case, as well as applicable law. 3 Interpret case law and decisions handed down by other applicable courts. This can involve analyzing the effects of a good many factors that might have been involved in other cases. 4 Develop case strategies, such as trying to resolve cases early and cost-effectively for his clients rather than go to trial. 5 Prepare pleadings and other documents, such as contracts, deeds, and wills. 6 Appear in court before a judge or jury to orally defend a client's rights and best interests.

What are the duties of a lawyer?

Some common duties include: Advise clients regarding ongoing litigation or to explain legal issues they might be facing or have concerns about. Research the details and evidence involved in cases, such as police reports, accident reports, or pleadings previously filed in a case, as well as applicable law. Interpret case law and decisions handed ...

What is an attorney?

An attorney, also called a lawyer, advises clients and represents them and their legal rights in both criminal and civil cases. This can begin with imparting advice, then proceed with preparing documents and pleadings and sometimes, ultimately, appearing in court to advocate on behalf of clients.

How many hours do lawyers work?

The majority of lawyers work full time, and many work more than 40-hour weeks, particularly those employed by large law firms or who work in private practice.

What is the law school test?

The law school must generally be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to meet attorney licensing requirements in most states. Testing: Admission to the vast majority of law schools requires first passing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which measures the candidate's affinity for studying law.

How often do bar associations require continuing education?

Many bar associations require that members must take continuing legal education courses yearly or sometimes every three years to maintain their memberships. Most state bar associations will not accept applicants who have felony convictions on their records or a history of substance or alcohol abuse.

Do criminal lawyers travel to prison?

An attorney must sometimes travel to meet with clients and, depending on his specialty, appear in court for trials, conferences, and mediation. Criminal lawyers spend a portion of their time in prisons when their clients are incarcerated. This is less common in some fields, however, such as estate law.

What is the 20% deduction for a loan out company?

The biggest reward for many entertainment professionals with a loan-out company will be getting the 20% tax deduction for pass-through business income under the new 199A tax deduction of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

What is 168 K?

For anyone who has not heard about it, Section 168 k is the new film tax deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that replaces Section 181. Most of the provisions are the same, providing a 100% tax deduction for feature film and television series in the first year of distribution.

Why did the network upfronts go virtual?

The effect was that less long-term deals were signed, with a lot of major advertisers making short term, quarterly ad buys rather than going all-in with upfront commitments.

What does AVOD mean in streaming?

Streaming is starting to look a lot more like network and broadcast as AVOD begins to take hold. AVOD means “advertising-based video on demand.”. From what I have been told, major advertisers have been looking for places to spend their money, and a lot of top shows are at subscription services.

What is packaging in WGA?

At the heart of all of the controversy between WGA and the agencies is packaging, which is representing an entertainment property (generally a film or television script), and attaching cast and then bringing the project to production companies, studios, networks and financiers.

What is the tax cut and jobs act?

It is true that what the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has given with one hand, it has taken away with the other. Employees with business costs are hard hit, and that effects many in the entertainment industry. When you are an employee you do not have the option of taking business expenses out of your calculation of income. The amount reported on the employee W-2 is your income and the only way to reduce your tax bill is through itemized deductions. Now under the Trump tax “cuts,” many of these itemized deductions are actually eliminated, such as unreimbursed employee business expenses, and a lot of others. Moreover, higher income employees will reach the alternative minimum tax, in which case most of the business deductions are then eliminated anyway, meaning that money spent on things like vehicles, business supplies, inventories, and office space is being paid for with after tax money. Essentially you are being taxed on your revenue, not on your profit.

Why do independent filmmakers rush into production?

That generally happens because the film producer is deriving all the benefits from the film from the production of the film itself. Most likely the producer and director fees are tied to production, and the filmmakers can use the film as a kind of resume to make their next feature.

How much does a Flash animator make?

This typically involves self-taught knowledge and freelance work. Salary: Flash animators are usually self-employed, with a median salary of around $60,000.

What do animators do?

These animators help investigators recreate crime scenes and collect evidence. You’ll need 3D and 2D experience as well as Terragen software. Experienced animators sometimes make the transfer to this field.

How much does a 3D modeler make?

Many attend 3D animation school before getting internships. Salary: Most work is on a freelance basis, but a contracted modeler can earn up to $100,000 at a big studio.

What degree do animators need?

Although some employers accept an associate degree or certificate for entry-level positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most employers will generally want an animator to at least hold a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions.

How to become an animator?

Experience Required. Employers usually want the animators they hire to have some experience, in addition to the theoretical knowledge a degree provides. You can create a portfolio and gain experience by pursuing internships and apprenticeships.

How much does a mathematical modeler make?

You’ll likely need education in math or engineering as well as animation experience. Salary: A mathematical modeler typically earns $80,000 per year and more.

How much do storyboard artists make?

A good portfolio and connections help you progress in this field. Salary: Storyboard artists can earn $80,000 to $100,000, but standard salaries can be much less in locations other than Los Angeles.

image