ENTERTAINMENT LAW CIRCULAR
April 2023
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High Above Cayuga's Waters: David Albert Pierce Accepts Visiting Professor Position at Cornell Law School
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David Albert Pierce has accepted an invitation to serve as a Visiting Professor of Entertainment Law at Cornell Law School commencing this coming Fall Semester 2023.
David will teach two advanced level courses: a lecture course titled, Film Law From Development to Distribution and a legal clinic that focuses on real life entertainment law legal issues and services for pro bono clients.
While teaching at Cornell, David will continue to maintain his practice remotely during his 4 months stay in beautiful Ithaca, New York.
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David Albert Pierce's over 25 years of experience in the practice of Entertainment Law has served as a great resource in his near equal teaching career. David has taught at Elon University, Loyola Marymount Film School, UCLA Extension, and has been a multi-day featured lecturer at St. Petersburg School of Film & Television in Russia and Shanghai School of FIlm & Television in China, as well as assorted symposiums and speaking panels throughout the United States and Canada. |
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Aditya Ezhuthachan Lectures at USC |
Pierce Law Group LLP Managing Partner, Aditya Ezhuthachan, recently gave a lecture to students at USC's Gould School of Law. As a guest speaker for Professor Paul Levine's class "Entertainment Law in Practice", Aditya covered the ins and outs of Film Finance. |
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Industry Wisdom:
A look at Some Recent News Affecting the Entertainment Industry
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California Senate Pushes Forward new Film Set Safety Bill |
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Following the Rust shooting onset accident and the conversations surrounding gun safety on sets, the California Senate is pushing forward a new bill to establish new safety rules on California film sets.
Bill SB 735, if passed, would establish several new requirements for productions, including but not limited: requiring a dedicated safety set advisor to be present on every motion picture program, prop masters/armorer/assist prop masters to have specified state permits, and would prohibit live ammunition on a motion picture production, excepted in prescribed circumstances.
While this bill is receiving unanimous support in the California Government, the Alliance of Special Effects & Pyrotechnic Operators (ASEPO) has voiced the group's, comprised of crew members, opposition to this bill. Concerns mainly arise from increased bureaucracy and worries that this bill would drive away business in California. Amidst this opposition, though, it looks like this bill has high possibility of reaching the governors desk.
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Pierce Law Group LLP has been a long provided productions with Crisis Management Counsel to film productions as well as being experts in the area of OSHA Safety on film sets. Click Here to see David Albert Pierce interview on NewsNation regarding the Rust film set tragedy.
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Writer Guild of America Releases Strike Rules, Amid Looming Contract Expiration |
2023 has proven to be a tumultuous year for union negotiations. First, the DGA delayed their negotiations opting to have the WGA go first. Now with the WGA current contract set to expire May 1st and no word on a new deal, a strike seems all the more real.
While there has been no official word from the Writers Guild if the strike is happening, they have released new rules that would apply if a strike was to occur.
In the event of a strike, WGA members are prohibited from writing, revising, pitching or discussing future projects with members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. While on strike, other rules include: Literary Reps must stop negotiations for writers, an obligation for writers to picket as assigned, an obligation for members to inform the Guild of those they suspect to be engaging in strike-breaking activity. Those who violate the rules ca be subject to disciplinary actions, including imposition of fines or membership suspension or expulsion.
Both the Director's Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA have released statements in support of the WGA.
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Viral AI-Generated Drake Song Raises New Legal Concerns |
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Already amassing millions of streams, you may have heard of Drake's new song, before it was taken down. The issue? Drake didn't release it.
According to the mysterious Tiktoker known as "Ghostwriter," they were able to use Artificial Intelligence to compose a new song, seemingly performed by Drake and the Weeknd. While this is yet to confirmed, what is known is that a song has been released, seemingly from an artist, without their knowledge, admission or consent.
This is raising new concerns about the future of the music industry and AI. If an Artificial Intelligence made the music, or rather the sounds that mimic Drake perfectly, does that constitute a violation to the performers Rights of Publicity? It may appear that this certainty does violate those rights, but in terms of Rights to Publicity which protects against misappropriation of one's name and likeness, the original post made no effort to present the song as authentic, clearly saying AI was behind it. So ought this be considered a violation? Does likeness extend to voice, or is that only applicable to those who profit from their voices?
This is just one of many questions this Viral Song brings up and with this a potential new reality for the industry, it's a conundrum needing answers soon. For now Universal Music Group, Drake's Label, has quickly shut-down the song from further spreading, but with the promise of more AI music, it should only be a matter of time before the courts decide how to mitigate this new frontier.
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Pierce Law Group LLP Client News |
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Are You There God?, Its Us, Pierce Law Group |
Pierce Law Group LLP is pleased to once again be working with Lionsgate, this time serving as Child Labor Law Counsel on the film Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
The film is an adaptation of Judy Blume's critically acclaimed book from the '70s about a young girl coming of age. The film stars Rachel McAdams. The film officially releases in theaters on April 28th. Watch Trailer
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Comedy Store & Netflix Make History With First Live Event on the Streamer |
Pierce Law Group is proud to have help provide legal services for Netflix first ever live streaming event, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.” The Chris Rock Special was bookended by a live pre and post watch party event (“The Show Before The Show” and “The Show After The Show”) that was telecast live from the world famous Comedy Store. Pierce Law Group LLP has served as outside general counsel and business affairs services for The Comedy Store for the past 20 years and now also serves as general counsel and business affairs for its subsidiary Comedy Store Studios with its mission to expand into recorded and televised comedy content. The Chris Rock special live feed from The Comedy Store was historic.
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Web Series Cooper's Bar gets full season expansion to Television with pick up by AMC Network
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The Series, created by Pierce Law Group LLP client Alfredo De Villa, is moving from the first season short-form web format to 30-minute episodes to be on AMC television network. The show stars Rhea Seehorn ("Better Call Saul"), in addition to Louis Mustillo, David Conolly, and Daniella Garcia-Lorido with season two set to feature Whitney Cummings and Patrick Fabian as guest stars.
In Season 1, Rhea Seehorn was nominated for a Emmy in the category of Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.
David Albert Pierce and Aditya Ezhuthachan negotiated the pick up deal with AMC and Pierce Law Group LLP serves as television production counsel for the Series.
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Rob Schneider on Tour: Bringing his Laughs to Morongo Resort
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Pierce Law Group LLP client Rob Schneider is set to perform at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa on May 26th. His Comedy Tour kicks off in Vacaville and will continue state-side throughout the year. This is his only show in SoCal, so be sure not to miss this very funny show. Click here for tickets!
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SNAG to Hit Theaters April 28th
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Pierce Law Group LLP Clients' Lamar Billups and Ben Milliken's produce this new action thriller coming soon to theaters and Apple+.
An Australian lone wolf's quiet existence is shattered when he learns that the woman he once loved and thought was dead is alive and held captive by ruthless gangsters. Now, to take on this dangerous criminal organization, he must seek out allies and storm into a world of violence to rescue the love of his life in this gritty, modern day violent fairytale. The film features actors Ben Milliken, Jaime Camil, Jonny Beauchamp, David Zayas, Sofia Castro, Michelle Ortiz and Ana Ortiz.
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Remembering celebrity author Bill Zehme |
It is with such great sadness to report the news of our dear friend and client Bill Zehme who passed away March 26, 2023-- the definitive writer on the subject of comedy.
He wrote most of all those great annual comedy issues of Rolling Stone Magazine in the 80s and 90s and his autobiography of Andy Kaufman is considered a literary masterpiece in that he wrote it as if he were in Andy's weird brain.
Those who work at Pierce Law Group knew that when Bill called in, they might as well leave for the day because that phone call with David Albert Pierce would easily last 2 or 3 hours or more-- 15 minutes of business and the rest just laughing. Zehme and Pierce were kindred spirits as they would talk for hours and hours about comedy, comedians and Rat Pack stuff.
Bill was one of the very elite few who could actually call David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and Johnny Carson personal friends. He and Letterman were both sons of florists in the mid-west who did business with one another before either of their sons got into comedy (how's that for trivia) and that just made Dave trust this fellow tall guy from the mid-west even more in terms of granting entrance to Letterman's inner sanctum.
Bill was a "pack rat" and once gave David Pierce as a holiday gift an original swanky gold plated standalone toilet paper dispenser holder from a men's room at Sinatra's Cal Neva Lodge & Casino in Tahoe (and for which Sam Giancana held a small minority interest) knowing that David was the one other guy to fully appreciate this heirloom which he had procured during his research while writing Sinatra's bio.
He was highly complimentary of David Pierce's legal counselling and referred to Pierce as the incomparable bombastic Pierce (in reference to the way Carson referred to his own attorney) he would also call Pierce "Maestro" and "My Hero" and praise Pierce's legal writing in a way that only a fellow "wordsmith" could do.
Pierce's last phone call with Bill was about 2 months ago as the two men discussed a deal which if it goes forward will be an amazing tribute to his journalistic abilities. They also joked and talked about life. Bill ended that call with his regular sign off, "I love you, pal" with that distinct Chicago accent.
Bill Zheme passed away March 26, 2023 after many hard fought years battling cancer which ultimately metastasized in his liver and elsewhere in a very harsh way. . . Or maybe, Andy Kaufman has commandeered him and they are both now touring around covertly as travelling florists or a wrestling tag team. Wherever he has gone, Pierce Law Group LLP will miss his warm heart, and the wonderful way he told a story. "We bid you a very heartfelt good night."
To read more about the amazing life of Bill Zehme and his incredible experiences as a celebrity journalist, read the Vanity Fair obituary: Click Here for Vanity Fair Article.
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After nearly a decade of battling Colorectal Cancer, Bill Zehme passed away March 26 of this year. To learn more about this disease and to support research efforts, visit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance
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Pierce Law Group Controller Produces Show at The World Famous Comedy Store |
Our very own Ben Kuerschner, spends days as the Pierce Law Group LLP Firm Controller, and nights as a comedy writer. Be sure to catch his live stage show "Family Dinner," featuring Full House's Jodie Sweetin, May 6th show in The Belly Room at the world famous Comedy Store.
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Looking for Home Entertainment? Check Out Podcasts from Pierce Law Group Clients |
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Catch a peek into the lives of Steve Treviño and his wife, "Captain Evil", where they discuss life, marriage, and parenting. More importantly, you get to see what the two put up with.
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Our client Tony Hinchcliffe presents "Kill Tony" at the world famous Comedy Store. Listen to the podcast.
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Looking for a good laugh? Live from the world famous Comedy Store, Rick Ingraham and Eleanor Kerrigan talk with national headliners and Comedy Store regulars.
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Brian Moses and DJ Coach Tea host the official Roast Battle podcast giving an in-depth look at the hit international TV series as well as weekly live shows from the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, CA.
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Comedian Theo Von hosts this hilarious podcast about this past weekend. Twice a week on the show Theo offers earnest suggestions to callers, as well as gives his take on recent events. You just never know what he might say!
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Whoa! You won't want to miss Nikki Bon's new podcast "Whoa, Dad!" where she reunites with her absentee, rock and roll, space cadet dad. Listen to her attempt to mend their relationship and teach him how to be a good dad.
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The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting. In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story. LeVar’s narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to bring stories to life. So, if you’re ready, let’s take a deep breath...
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Recognized For Excellence
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DISCLAIMER
The information you obtain in this newsletter is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters, and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
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