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Episode 8: From Script to Screen. The Legal Essentials Every Filmmaker Needs to Know
What does it actually take to get a film off the ground — legally, creatively, and professionally?
Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive whose award-winning films have been distributed by Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced the A24 film Misty Green, written and directed by Chris Rock. In this episode, Anne sits down with Miles to break down the legal essentials every filmmaker needs to know — from the moment that great script lands in your hands — and to pull back the curtain on what it really means to build a career in Hollywood.
What we cover:
- The key legal steps every filmmaker should take at inception: incorporation, media insurance, and shopping agreements
- What "piercing the corporate veil" means and why paying your taxes on a production entity actually matters
- Chain of title — what it is, why every distributor will require it, and what happens when a lawyer gets it wrong
- The CAMA collection account: what it does and why the language in those agreements is critical
- What production attorneys actually do, and when you need in-house versus outside counsel
- How Miles broke into the industry — community college to USC film school to A24
- Misty Green: the star-studded cast, the Chris Rock you haven't seen before, and why Cannes is the target
- The Netflix/Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition conversation — and what it means for independent producers
ABOUT MILES ALVA Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive based in Los Angeles. His award-winning films have been showcased at prestigious festivals and distributed by major studios including Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced Misty Green for A24, written and directed by Chris Rock, starring Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosalind Elazar, Anna Kendrick, Anthony Anderson, Busta Rhymes, Topher Grace, and Alexandra Shipp.
LINKS:
- Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts: https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/
- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod
- Follow MLF on Instagram: @mylawyerfriend.podcast
- Follow MLF on TikTok: @mylawyerfriendpodcast
- Substack: https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/
My Lawyer Friend is hosted by Anne Easton, entertainment and corporate attorney, and Brittany Ledford, serial entrepreneur. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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By Anne EastonWhat does it actually take to get a film off the ground — legally, creatively, and professionally?
Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive whose award-winning films have been distributed by Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced the A24 film Misty Green, written and directed by Chris Rock. In this episode, Anne sits down with Miles to break down the legal essentials every filmmaker needs to know — from the moment that great script lands in your hands — and to pull back the curtain on what it really means to build a career in Hollywood.
What we cover:
- The key legal steps every filmmaker should take at inception: incorporation, media insurance, and shopping agreements
- What "piercing the corporate veil" means and why paying your taxes on a production entity actually matters
- Chain of title — what it is, why every distributor will require it, and what happens when a lawyer gets it wrong
- The CAMA collection account: what it does and why the language in those agreements is critical
- What production attorneys actually do, and when you need in-house versus outside counsel
- How Miles broke into the industry — community college to USC film school to A24
- Misty Green: the star-studded cast, the Chris Rock you haven't seen before, and why Cannes is the target
- The Netflix/Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition conversation — and what it means for independent producers
ABOUT MILES ALVA Miles Alva is an independent film producer and studio executive based in Los Angeles. His award-winning films have been showcased at prestigious festivals and distributed by major studios including Disney, 20th Century Fox, Amazon, and Netflix. Most recently, he produced Misty Green for A24, written and directed by Chris Rock, starring Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Rosalind Elazar, Anna Kendrick, Anthony Anderson, Busta Rhymes, Topher Grace, and Alexandra Shipp.
LINKS:
- Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts: https://mylawyerfriendpodcast.com/
- Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyLawyerFriendPod
- Follow MLF on Instagram: @mylawyerfriend.podcast
- Follow MLF on TikTok: @mylawyerfriendpodcast
- Substack: https://mylawyerfriend.substack.com/
My Lawyer Friend is hosted by Anne Easton, entertainment and corporate attorney, and Brittany Ledford, serial entrepreneur. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney.