Every year tens of thousands of filmmakers go out to market or submit to festivals with the hope of getting their films distributed, only to learn that by not taking the proper steps to deliver a cleared film, they're dead in the water. In a recent survey in a popular filmmaking magazine, over 40% of filmmakers had never heard of clearances and 75% didn't know how to go about clearing their film. Managing clearances ahead of time can save you huge headaches down the road. Not only will you allow yourself the best chance to secure a sales agent and/or distribution for your film or project, but you will protect yourself legally! The last thing anyone wants after all the time and effort it takes to make a film is to find out it's being held up by expensive legal issues.

The truth of the matter is, understanding and working through the issues associated with clearances is not as difficult as it sounds. It does however require knowledge, focus and discipline. It requires someone keeping an eye on the entire shoot and that begins with a script breakdown report and continues throughout production.

To teach this all important webinar, we're bringing you two times the knowledge! First, Stephanie Weier is the CEO/Founder of The Domain Group. Holding a passion for filmmaking, branding and legal compliance, Stephanie has worked on building The Domain Group to be a leader in the industry with 20 years of service working for studios, indie producers, game companies, web content and commercials. Founding the company in 2001, Stephanie has lead The Domain Group to having completed over 1000 films in 15 years. She holds a EJD in Contract and IP Law from Concord Law University.

Lori Dalton is the President of The Domain Group and is one of the most comprehensive and detailed clearance analysts in the industry. Her project management ability has helped position The Domain Group as both a clearance house and branding company.

Combined, Stephanie and Lori have over 40 years of experience. Their company has over 1,000 credits including Happy Death Day, Breaking Bad, Crazy, Stupid, Love (Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell), Blue Valentine (Ryan gosling, Michelle Williams) Edge of Darkness (Mel Gibson) Gimmie Shelter (Vanessa hudgens) and Ray (Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington) to name a few! Together, Stephanie and Lori will lead you through the land of clearances, so you can concentrate on making the film you want to make without worry!

Stephanie and Lori will teach you how to make sure your delivered project is a rockstar with distributors, and why a little more work in this area during pre-production and production can save you lots of time and money down the road. They'll start by showing you the details of a script breakdown report and explain why you need to have one. Then, they'll dive into the world of clearances, big and small so you know exactly how to handle each situation. On the fence about what to clear? They'll explain what you need to clear and what to leave alone. They'll explain what to do if your clearance request is denied. They'll also explain the all important difference between featured use and background use and why the distinction matters more than you think. They will break down title reports and copyright reports and discuss trademark law. And, most importantly, they will show you exactly what you need to do to protect yourself in case you are challenged legally in any way.

Don't overlook this all important aspect of the filmmaking and producing process! Lori and Stephanie will have you navigating the world of clearances like a pro and assuring you're protected from the start of pre-production.

PRAISE FOR STEPHANIE AND LORI'S TEACHINGS:

"These women rock!"

- Laurie T.

"A masterclass. So, so, good!"

- Monica H.

"This is one of those subjects that prevented me from moving from screenwriting to making my own films. I always worried that I would do something wrong and get sued. No longer. Fantastic information delivered in a fun way."

- Michael E.

"I had no idea. I should have, but I didn't. Now I do. This was a fantastic webinar on a subject every filmmaker and producer - and probably writer - should understand."

- Gary G.

• General Overview:
  • What You Need to Know about a Script Breakdown Report (The Domain Report)
  • What You Need to Know about Clearances
  • What Do you Need to Research In Your Movie in Order to Be Cleared for Distribution?
  • What You Need to Know about Clip Licensing
• Breaking Down the Title / Copyright Report
• Breaking Down the Script Breakdown Report
  • Why Filmmakers Don’t Like Dealing With Clearances
  • Why are Some Clearances More Complicated Than Others?
• To Clear or Not To Clear
  • Are Items in Your Film Being Used as Intended? (With Examples)
  • The Difference Between Featured and Background Use
  • Other Factors to Consider
• Important Standard Language for Releases (With Example)
• What Happens if Something You are Trying to Clear is Denied use?
• Breaking Down Public Domain and Fair Use
• Case Studies
  • 12 Monkeys
  • Hangover Part II
• What is the Difference of Copyright vs. Trademark in the Entertainment Industry?
  • Examples of Copyright
  • Examples of Trademark
• Q&A with Stephanie and Lori

• Filmmakers and producers planning to or who are in the process of submitting to film festivals.
• Filmmakers and producers ready to approach distribution companies.
• Filmmakers and producers ready to approach sales agents
• Filmmakers who are starting a project and want to have everything done correctly from the start.
• Producers who want to ensure their project is cleared for distribution.
• Directors who want to ensure each shot is cleared for distribution.
• Screenwriters who want to understand how clearances could impact their writing
• Screenwriters or other creatives looking to make films or other projects
• Financiers