PRODUCTION TIPS: It's Better to Avoid a Lawsuit Than to Win One pt. 2
The second article of a 3-part series In part 1 , we looked at the reality and possibility of being sued for creating art and entertainment followed by ways to avoid legal problems with the script and other artworks used in making the film. As we all know, the main (but not only) reason why you as a producer would hire a lawyer is to avoid lawsuits. Although it might not seem like it when you are itemizing your production budget, it is money well-spent (provided you get a good lawyer). However, in this day, age and economy, there are filmmakers who literally have no budget. But even without a budget, you are still vulnerable to lawsuits so you need to do what you can to protect and defend yourself. That's why I place so much emphasis on documenting everything you do and keeping it in a safe, accessible place. This protects you and minimizes the risks you face. In part 2, let's look at what you can do when dealing with actors, crew, locatio...