Have you ever wondered how the content on your screen got there? Who created it, owns it, and how can you do it too? If you're a content creator, filmmaker, producer, artist, or just love scrolling through entertainment, you've probably asked yourself these questions and more. Join Entertainment & Intellectual Property attorney, Pete Salsich - The Screen Lawyer – and his occasional guests as they explore different aspects of screen content. From intellectual property protection and busines ...
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We're a married couple of filmmakers, supporting our family of seven through doing work we love, together. It's been a long and difficult journey, and we still have a lot to learn, but for us, it's well-worth the effort. We developed this podcast and the Feature Filmmaker Academy for anyone who wants a career making feature films, especially those balancing that pursuit with the responsibility of parenthood and providing for a family. Tune in as we study success patterns of industry professi ...
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The marketing community's destination for direct, unencumbered conversations about the future of our industry. Featuring guests from the wide, diverse groups that are involved in every aspect of marketing. From brand CMOs to freelance artists. From rural, suburban, urban and global backgrounds. And from every circle of the ad tech ecosystem.
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Bringing Hollywood Home: Eric Norwine’s Midwest Film Revival #305
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29:23In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich talks with filmmaker and former teacher Eric Norwine, co-founder of Covered Bridge Studios. Eric shares his journey from St. Charles, MO, to LA’s film scene (Funny or Die), and back home to build a Midwest production hub. He discusses his mental health struggles, the power of Missouri’…
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Ep. 104 - Hitting a Home Run on a Micro Budget Film with Lee Cipolla and Katherine Borda
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1:12:22Send us a text What happens when a decades-long dream project suddenly gains unstoppable momentum? For married filmmakers Lee and Katherine, their baseball-themed feature "Rally Caps" represents both the unpredictable magic and sobering business realities of modern independent filmmaking. After 15 years of development, what began as a passion proje…
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Inside Independent Filmmaking with Producer/Director King Hollis #304
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30:02In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete Salsich chats with Dallas-based filmmaker King Hollis about his path through the film industry, from early projects to navigating the realities of independent filmmaking. They cover storytelling, representation, creative problem-solving, and the business side of bringing ideas to life. Whether you'…
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Ep. 103 - Crafting Transcendental-style Films Outside Hollywood with Josh and Jessica Jordan
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1:14:05Send us a text Josh and Jessica Jordan share their unique cinematic journey where Eastern spirituality meets Texas landscapes in their black and white feature film "El Tonto Por Cristo" - the tale of an Orthodox monastery on the coast of Texas where an unlikely saint emerges. Support El Tonto Por Cristo's theatrical run here: https://www.kickstarte…
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Ep. 102 - Legal Essentials for Filmmakers with Entertainment Attorney Pete Salsich III
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1:00:42Send us a text Legal expertise isn't just a box to check—it's a vital component of successful filmmaking that can make or break your project. Entertainment attorney Pete Salsich III pulls back the curtain on the often intimidating world of film law, revealing how proper legal structuring serves as the foundation for creative freedom rather than an …
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FILM IN MO: Producer Cole Payne and the Missouri Film Tax Credit #303
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41:54In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich welcomes Cole Payne, a Missouri-based film producer and co-founder of Traverse Media, who played a pivotal role in enacting Missouri’s film tax credit. Cole shares his journey from growing up in Russellville, Missouri, to studying entertainment management in Springfield, and eventually…
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Ep. 101 - When Faith Meets Film with Nathan and Meghan Leon
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1:09:15Send us a text Nathan and Meghan Leon share their journey as Christian filmmakers who have found creative ways to balance their family life with independent film production while maintaining creative control and authenticity in their storytelling. • Started from creative backgrounds with Nathan in an Act One mentorship program and Meghan with a mas…
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Rap, Reputation & the Law: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar #302
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19:48The hip-hop world has been on fire with the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, but this battle has now spilled out of the recording booth and into the courtroom. While rap beefs typically play out through diss tracks, Drake has taken an unprecedented step by filing a federal defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG). In thi…
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Season 3 Kickoff: Lights, Camera, Legal Action! #301
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19:59In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich kicks off 2025 with a look at the bustling film scene in Saint Louis and the Midwest. He highlights the impact of the Missouri Motion Media Tax Credit, which has energized local film production, and previews exciting developments for the year ahead. Pete discusses upcoming cases involv…
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Ep. 100 - Q&A with Anna Thalman at the St. Louis International Film Festival
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26:59Send us a text Celebrating the 100th episode, we take a look back at our journey from conceptualizing our first low/no-budget feature film, "The Loved & Lost" to making a living as feature filmmakers now. We share a memorable Q&A session captured during our festival run. The discussion highlights the emotional themes, affordances and limitations of…
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Ep. 99 - Self-Distributing a Profitable First Feature with Chris Peters
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1:08:07Send us a text In this episode, we chat with Chris Peters, co-founder of Crave Content, about his journey from making backyard films with his brother-in-law David Lawrence to establishing a successful film production brand. Chris shares the creative development process of merging two short films into a feature-length narrative. We discuss the inven…
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Ep. 98 - The Domino Effect with Producer Daren Smith
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1:08:30Send us a text Join us as we chat with independent film producer, author, and creative entrepreneur Daren Smith to uncover the often-overlooked role producers play in bringing a story into existence. Daren discusses his collaborations with director Garrett Batty on indie films "Faith of Angels" and "The Carpenter" and how he navigates the complex w…
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Dr. Kinshuk Jerath, a professor at Columbia Business School, discusses technology-enabled marketing and the rise of retail media networks. He explains the similarities and differences between ad networks and retail media networks, highlighting the contextual relevance and closed-loop system of the latter. The conversation also touches on the impact…
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Business Mentoring for Filmmakers: Saint Louis Filmworks #218
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27:11In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich interviews Mary Kay Sheets, the Executive Director of Saint Louis Filmworks, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers in Saint Louis. They delve into the organization's origins and mission, which began in 2020 with the goal of centralizing local creative talent and promo…
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Pete Salsich III, an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, discusses the importance of copyright in the entertainment and media industry. He explains how copyright is at the heart of all contracts and licensing agreements in the industry. Pete also advises businesses on safeguarding their media, entertainment, and marketing businesses f…
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Trump, Copyright, and the Music Debate in Political Rallies #217
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13:30In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich dives into the controversy surrounding the use of music in political campaigns, particularly focusing on the Trump campaign's repeated use of copyrighted songs without proper permissions. He discusses the legal complexities of blanket licenses from organizations like ASCAP and BMI, the…
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From San Francisco to St. Louis: Tim Breitbach on Filmmaking #216
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26:02In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich sits down with Tim Breitbach, founder of Optimal Entertainment, to discuss his journey from a creative director in San Francisco to a filmmaker and entrepreneur in St. Louis. Tim shares his experience co-founding Content Films and directing "Dopamine," which premiered at the 2003 Sunda…
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Indie Filmmaking: From Theaters to Amazon and Tubi #215
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38:51In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich interviews Saint Louis filmmaker Bruce Carlton Cunningham Jr., who shares his journey from actor to independent filmmaker. Cunningham discusses the challenges of wearing multiple hats in low-budget productions, the importance of marketing, and the complexities of film distribution. He …
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AI, Copyright, and the ‘NO FAKES Act' #214
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23:22In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete Salsich dives into a recent U.S. Copyright Office report that highlights the potential inadequacy of current laws to address the challenges brought by AI, particularly in the areas of deepfakes and digital replicas. The episode also discusses the "NO FAKES Act," a bipartisan legislative initiative …
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St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase - Live Broadcast #213
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34:24On Wednesday, July 24th, Pete Salsich hosted a live recording of The Screen Lawyer podcast in partnership with Cinema St. Louis' 2024 Filmmakers Showcase. The program focused on the ever-evolving world of independent film distribution. Pete engaged a panel of industry experts, including Andrea Sporcic-Klund (Missouri Film Commissioner, Director of …
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Ep. 97 - Less is More - Change Your Life in Ten Minutes
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11:25Send us a text In this episode as we uncover the powerful impact of time constraints on getting things done. We illustrate how setting tight time limits can drastically reduce procrastination and boost your focus. These principles apply whether you are managing household chores or attempting to finish a film with our 1 year timeline in the Feature …
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Cinema Saint Louis: Festivals, Education, and Community with Emmett Williams #212
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28:24In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich welcomes Emmett Williams, Director of Festival Curation and Education for Cinema Saint Louis. Emmett shares his insightful journey from documentary filmmaker to his current pivotal role, revealing his passion for nurturing the local film community. Discover the collaborative process be…
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Eyitayo Olayemi discusses his journey as a business owner and the growth of his podcast, Diary of a CMO. He shares his plans to move away from the traditional agency model and focus on building strategic partnerships. Eyitayo also talks about his childhood in Nigeria and the importance of family and relationships. Eyitayo discusses his typical day …
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AI, Copyright, and the Future of Music #211
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31:38Join hosts Pete Salsich and Gary Pierson on The Screen Lawyer Podcast as they unpack the groundbreaking lawsuit shaking up the music industry. Discover how AI innovators like Suno and Udio are clashing with major music labels over copyright infringement, and what this pivotal battle means for the future of music and artists' rights. Original Theme …
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Creativity and Technology with Stephanie Lynch
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59:58Check out Stephanie's list of AI Tools here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M8mgfkgvuQKClWpV7N_hQZ6zTkjs1YjM5taIazCZlM4/edit?gid=0#gid=0 And the Squarespace study she references is here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/squarespace-survey-reveals-gen-z-find-digital-life-more-important-and-memorable-than-in-person-life-301324221.htm…
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Bringing Hollywood to the Heartland with Kelley Hiatt #210
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23:47In this episode of The Screen Lawyer, Pete Salsich dives into the transformative potential of Missouri's new Film Tax Credit with Kelley Hiatt from the Saint Louis Film Office. Discover why the Netflix hit series Ozark, set in Missouri, was filmed in Georgia and how Missouri aims to turn the tide with its own competitive incentives. Original Theme …
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Tom Riordan, CEO of WordPower, discusses his journey from ad tech to AI and offers insights on how businesses can start using AI tools. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and understanding where you are on the AI journey. Riordan suggests starting with low-hanging fruit use cases like copywriting and analytics. He highlights the power o…
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‘Her’ Reality: AI, Scarlett Johansson, and Voice Rights #209
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22:08In this week’s episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich delves into the recent controversy involving Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI. Johansson was asked by OpenAI to lend her voice to ChatGPT, reminiscent of her role in the film "Her," but ultimately she decided against it. Despite her refusal, OpenAI proceeded with a voice strikingly…
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Ep. 96 - Self Distributing on Film Hub with Lenni Uitto
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1:14:18Send us a text Director of the post-apocalyptic film, Permafrost, Lenni Uitto takes us behind the scenes and shares his experiences making and ultimately self-distributing his first film with Film Hub. Join us as we unravel Lenni's journey from coding to creating post-apocalyptic films. From making camping videos on YouTube to experimenting with Af…
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My guest this week is Jeremy Corray, the EVP of Digital Engagement at Coolfire Studios. We discuss the evolution of video content strategies over the past decade, the accessibility and democratization of video production, and the rise of social video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. We touch on the importance of authenticity and storytelling in b…
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Ep. 95 - Approaching Your Career Like a Passionate Hobbyist
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28:23Send us a text In this episode we explore why thinking like a hobbyist filmmaker may be the fastest way to eventually transition into a professional career. Learn how starting with passion projects and investing in your hobby can lead to professional growth and financial sustainability. We delve into the concept of building filmmaking assets, illus…
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Stacy Bohrer, Vice President of Buyer Development for OpenX, discusses her career in ad tech and the challenges of scaling operations. She emphasizes the importance of servant leadership and creating a safe and authentic work environment. Stacey also addresses the issue of made-for-advertising sites and how OpenX is addressing inventory quality and…
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Warner Chappell v. Nealy: Copyright Infringement and Statute of Limitations #208
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19:58In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich delves into a recent U.S. Supreme Court case that addresses the complexities of copyright infringement claims under the Copyright Act, particularly focusing on the statute of limitations and the recovery of damages for older infringements. The case in question is Warner Chappell Music …
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This week, my guest is Scott Moore, the Founder and CEO of Covalent Partners. In his illustrious career, he has served as the CMO of Best Buy Mobile and Wynn Resorts, as well as an Advisor for several venture capital firms. We explore the definition of innovation and its importance in business. We also delve into the conditions necessary for compan…
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Jackie "JP" Phillips, owner and CEO of Unheard Media, shares her journey as a self-made entrepreneur and the importance of mentorship. She emphasizes the need to stop and help others, as it can lead to valuable connections and opportunities. JP discusses the mindset of an entrepreneur, including the ability to handle rejection and overcome fear. Sh…
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LeBron's Ink: Legal Explorations of Tattoo Copyrights #207
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27:50In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich explores the legal complexities of tattoos and copyright law. He discusses a recent lawsuit where tattoo artist James Hayden sued LeBron James and 2k Games for featuring his designs in a video game without permission. Drawing from his experience in a similar case involving Mike Tyson's…
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Carrie Kramer, co-founder of FutureProofd, discusses the challenges and key elements of a successful sales function. She emphasizes the importance of leadership setting relevant goals and metrics that align with the marketplace and the needs of the sales team. She also highlights the significance of authenticity in sales, encouraging salespeople to…
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Humanizing the Legal Profession Through Content Creation with Jeremy Corray #206
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35:42On this week’s episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete Salsich is joined by his longtime friend and colleague, Jeremy Corray. Together, they dive into Jeremy's career journey, exploring the transition from traditional advertising to branded content, the legal aspects of online marketing, the emergence of social media influencers, and the vital r…
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Ep. 94 - The Grit and Vision of Indie Filmmaking with Matthew Taggart
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1:27:17Send us a text Join the conversation as filmmaker Matthew Taggart pulls back the curtain on the life of an indie filmmaker, from his first leap into directing with "The Counterfeit Kid" to managing the delicate balance of family and film. Matthew's journey offers a relatable peek into the highs and lows of bringing a vision to the big screen, navig…
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Ep. 93 - Four Walling and Self Distribution
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28:21Send us a text Where do I distribute the funds that I have procured for my film? How much will each facet of making a movie cost me so that I know how to lay out the budget? Once you have finished your film, you can receive laurels from festivals; even the small film festivals. These laurels help promote trailers and posters that are used to market…
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Exploring the Future of Media with Ryan Green #205
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33:49In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich welcomes Ryan Green, Fractional Chief Media Officer at The Last Splash. They explore the concept of media placement and its transformation in the digital age, highlighting the role of AI in targeted advertising. Ryan shares his perspectives on the future of digital advertising and the …
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Send us a text Check Out Our Most Recent Film Free "Make Your Feature Film" ChecklistBy Anna Thalman
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In this episode of the Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete Salsich welcomes special guest Ed Herman, the seasoned attorney and co-owner of Brown & Crouppen. Ed reflects on his diverse career path, highlighting the importance of flexibility and embracing life's unpredictability. From high-profile trials to innovative digital entertainment collaborations wit…
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New York Times v. Artificial Intelligence #203
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21:05In this episode of the Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete dives into the intricate world of copyright lawsuits surrounding the training of large language models. These lawsuits challenge the boundaries of fair use defenses and introduce new legal arguments, promising to reshape the landscape of AI copyright law. Original Theme Song composed by Brent Johns…
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Unraveling 'What's on Your Screen?' with The Screen Lawyer #202
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27:53In this week's episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, it's finally Pete Salsich's turn to answer the question: "What's on your screen?" Original Theme Song composed by Brent Johnson of Coolfire Studios. Podcast sponsored by Capes Sokol. Learn more about THE SCREEN LAWYER™ TheScreenLawyer.com. Follow THE SCREEN LAWYER™ on social media: Facebook: http…
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The Screen Lawyer Podcast Returns for Season 2 #201
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19:49Welcome to Season Two of The Screen Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, your host Pete Salsich takes you on a journey through the highlights of Season One while offering an exciting glimpse into what's to come in Season Two. Get ready to dive into the legal intricacies of the entertainment industry as we tackle a wide range of topics. From ongoing leg…
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Lights, Camera, Persevere: Indie Filmmaker Meg Halski on the Frontlines of Storytelling #118
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51:41Season 1 Finale! In this week's episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich is joined by Meg Halski, a multifaceted creative force encompassing roles as a filmmaker, writer, director, showrunner, and world-builder at Halski Studio in St. Louis. Meg unfolds her compelling journey in the world of commercial production, recounting experien…
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The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Implications for Creatives #117
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37:57We are excited to have Dani Durban, counsel at Capes Sokol, return for another insightful episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, Pete Salsich and Dani dive into a comprehensive analysis of The Corporate Transparency Act ("CTA"), designed to combat shell companies in the United States by mandating entities to disclose ownership infor…
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Tax Credits and Film Production with Hollywood Producer Michael Beugg #116
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47:49We're thrilled to have Hollywood producer Michael Beugg, renowned for his contributions to "Up in the Air" and "La La Land," as our special guest on the latest episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast. In this episode, Michael sheds light on the complexities of labor disputes, the pivotal role of the Screen Actors Guild, and the art of budget planning …
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Copyright Horror Stories: From Crystal Lake to Dancing Zombies #115
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26:25Frankenstein, Dracula, Zombies, and Jason Voorhees share more than just horror fame. In a special Halloween episode, the Screen Lawyer Podcast delves into the intricate web of copyright law that has significantly influenced the existence (and potential future use) of these iconic movie characters. Original Theme Song composed by Brent Johnson of Co…
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