M.E.L.O.N.

Imagine No Permissions

by Tony Berman

Researched & edited by Shana Dines

Since the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York decided against Yoko Ono Lennon earlier this month in a well-publicized copyright infringement case, many filmmakers are further confused about where the lines are drawn around the concept of “Fair Use”. 

Ono Lennon was denied an injunction against the makers of the documentary film "Expelled," about Intelligent Design theory, for using a 15-second excerpt from Lennon's renowned song "Imagine" without her permission. 

Events: Filmmaker's Resource Sharing Group

For any current or future filmmakers out there, the Filmmaker's Resource Sharing Group is a potluck event you may be interested in. 

• WHEN:   Thursday, March 6th - 7 pm to 10 pm
• WHERE:  Metrospace Theater - 379 Highland Avenue, SF

Film/TV Business: Writers' Strike Pt. 3

by Howie Cockrill

In the Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, I discussed the “who” and “what” of the current WGA strike and some of the history leading up to the current situation. 

In this article I’m going to touch on a few areas that are being affected or are affecting the WGA strike.

Film/TV Business: Writers' Strike Pt. 2

by Howie Cockrill

Following up on "Writers' Strike Part 1," in which I discussed the basic "who" and "what" of the current strike by the WGA against the AMPTP - this article is geared toward giving some background information to understand where the current dispute comes from.

The topics are:

• Timeline - WGA and AMPTP
• 1960 WGA Strike
• 1988 WGA Strike

Film/TV Business: Writers' Strike Pt. 1

by Howie Cockrill, Esq.

If you watch television, live in Los Angeles, read Entertainment Weekly, are in the entertainment industry or know someone who is – chances are you’ve heard that there’s a writer’s strike going on.

But who is involved and what do they want?  And, aside from some extra facial hair on our favorite actors and talk show hosts, what have the effects been?

This will be a multipart article giving a broad-brush, non-partisan view of the current writer’s strike  - essentially “Writer’s Strike 101.”