Our clients include companies
involved in producing, financing and distributing motion pictures and
television and video programming, as well as those in the music
industry and the theater. The firm regularly counsels these clients on
intellectual property, contract, film financing and rights management,
and other business matters. In addition, Allison Rapp
has a background in the music industry, particularly in
promotional and media campaigns.
- Advising The Johnson Group, a Northern Virginia
film production company specializing in documentary films, in
connection with rights and music clearances and production and distribution
agreements for Paper Clips. This moving feature film tells
the story of a group of middle-school children in Whitwell, Tennessee
who set out to collect one paper clip for every soul lost in the
Holocaust, and learned a lifelong lesson of tolerance in the process.
It was released by Miramax in 2002, has been shown in theaters throughout the United States and has won numerous audience awards at film festivals.
- Serving as counsel to Gail Prensky, an
award-winning documentary film producer, who is developing a
film about the little-known story of the Judische
Kulturbund, created by Jewish artists in response to exclusion from
German cultural life. www.tisproject.com
- Co-founding and representing InterStar
Entertainment, Inc., a domestic film distribution company. The company
formed a joint venture with Group W Productions after developing a
national network of over 3,000 movie theaters. The venture produced and
distributed four films, including Highlander II, A Midnight Clear,
Split Second, and Knight Moves.
- Co-founding and advising Entera Entertainment,
Inc., an international film finance and distribution business. A
slate of eight films is in various stages of development. www.enteraentertainment.com
- Representing the Directors Guild of America and
the Artists Rights Foundation (now The Film Foundation) in connection
with copyright policy and law reform dealing with artists rights.
Arnold Lutzker has worked with leading directors and their heirs in connection with test
case litigation in France, Denmark and Italy over artists' rights. http://lcweb.loc.gov/film/
- Representing national cable network and
independent filmmakers and websites in connection with licensing the
right to use copyrighted music on the Internet and in other media.
- Representing musicians, music groups,
producers, managers, and other music business professionals in
negotiating recording, distribution, publishing, management, and
license agreements.
- Providing opinions on the "fair use" of works
by musicians, filmmakers and educators.
- Representing film producers in negotiations
with cable networks for broadcast of documentaries.
- Representing a filmmaker in mediation to obtain
unpaid amounts from a hiring party for services rendered.
- Advising music groups concerning trademark
clearance and ownership issues.
- Negotiating an option agreement for the film rights to a best-selling book.
- Counseling investors in connection with the acquisition of ownership shares in an international
film sales and distribution company.
- Negotiating on behalf of and advising a producer in connection with film financing, rights
acquisitions and distribution deals.
- Serving as general counsel to the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, including negotiating
contracts and advising on bylaw revisions, employment issues and other corporate activities.
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