When it comes to actors, musicians, and other notable people, much information—from major events in their lives and careers to the personal fodder for tabloids—is made public and can generally be used for fiction films and documentaries. But the intimate, sometimes sordid details of the subject may not always be readily available on your average … Continue Reading
Professionals from the film industry filled the room to get tips on avoiding copyright infringement from the “legal Obi Wan Kenobi” as part of the South by Southwest Film session “FairUse-Docs & Fiction Films-Everybody Is Welcome!” Fair use is an exception that allows artists to legally reproduce or use copyrighted material under certain conditions without … Continue Reading
Thousands of actors, producers, and filmmakers assembled for this year’s South by Southwest Film Conference & Festival to attend screenings, keynotes, and workshops. At the Austin Convention Center, attorney Dan Satorius was on hand to offer advice to independent filmmakers hoping to raise money in support of their projects. During his panel “Other People’s Money: … Continue Reading
Two films with vastly different themes highlighted legal matters during the South by Southwest Film tract this year. In A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story,audiences were introduced to Lizzie, a 25-year-old Texan with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight. Lizzie’s appearance made her a victim of bullying throughout school and the … Continue Reading
By now, the basic narrative of the Michael Morton story is well known. A Texas man serves nearly 25 years in prison for his wife's murder, only to be set free after DNA tests exonerate him. But to know the facts is different from feeling their emotional weight.… Continue Reading
The Beacon, a supernatural thriller produced by Dallas lawyer Sally Helppie, took top honors at the Paranoia Horror Film Festival in California on March 15. The festival’s goal is to find "the next great thing in horror each and every year." Helppie, of counsel to Tipton Jones, is co-founder and president of Sabbatical Pictures, a … Continue Reading
