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“A good attorney is more important to a filmmaker than an agent or manager. Agents and managers have other clients with competing interests, or maybe even have their own projects. Attorneys, on the other hand, just look out for YOUR interests.”
-- a successful Independent Producer speaking on a panel at a recent film festival.

Every Movie Production Needs An Attorney

Whether you are a major studio, a small production company, or an independent producer, your production will need the help of an attorney at some point (or many points) in the process of making your film.

. . . You came to this web site, so you probably already knew that . . .

But perhaps you’re concerned that no lawyer is going to care as much about your film as you do. Or you believe you can save money by doing the legal work yourself. Or maybe you’re just not sure why you need an attorney.

Los Angeles entertainment attorney Keith E. Cooper created this website to address your concerns and answer some questions you may have about what a production counsel does. It is packed with useful information about copyright, trademark, production legal issues, and film festivals. Mr. Cooper’s excellence and dedication to his clients consistently wins praise . . .

"Turning to Keith Cooper was one of the best decisions we made for our film, ‘BETTER LUCK TOMORROW.’ His indispensable legal advice on rights and contracts paved the way for a smooth transition to being picked up for studio distribution. Keith helped make our feature film debut a spectacular success."
-- Ernesto Foronda, producer, ‘BETTER LUCK TOMORROW”

“We use Keith Cooper for our production legal. We have always found him to be very thorough, efficient, responsive, and cost-effective–in other words, THE BEST!”
-- Jim Zatolokin, producer, “CLIFFHANGER” with Sylvester Stallone and
“TWO DAYS” with Paul Rudd

A Good Production Counsel Can …

Provide comprehensive legal guidance from start to finish
Help you build a strong team to make your movie
Ensure that you and your project are treated with respect
Save you time and money

You Should Be Making Movies …

Not Worrying About Legal Stuff

Even if you’re making your first film, you probably know entertainment contracts contain traps for the unwary.

You need an experienced production attorney to draft your contracts (or, at least, review them). An attorney with a track record, who understands the language and culture of the motion picture business, who can communicate effectively for you, and who can guide you past the pitfalls of the negotiation process.

. . . Your working relationships will be better when your contracts are clear and each person knows what is expected of him or her, and what to expect in return.

. . . An experienced attorney who has knowledge of the technical aspects of filmmaking can be critical in keeping your costs (and stress level) down.

“Keith is very thorough about taking care of important details, and stays on top of things. And, I never have to chase him down to talk to him. I feel PERSONAL ATTENTION, never a sense that he’s too busy for me.”
-- Laura Friedman, producer, “IT TAKES TWO” with the Olson twins and
“FOXFIRE” with Angelina Jolie

You Need An Industry Veteran On Your Side

As a motion picture production executive, Keith Cooper worked on the development or production of a number of theatrical features starring Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Jeremy Irons, Anthony Hopkins, Mickey Rourke, Christopher Walken, James Spader, and others. Films completed during his tenure include …

‘A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL’ (written by Alan Ayckbourn, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Irons)
‘HOMEBOY’ (starring Mickey Rourke and Christopher Walken, with a score by Eric Clapton)
‘THE BLOB’ (starring Kevin Dillon, directed by Chuck Russell)
‘JACK’S BACK’ (starring James Spader and Cynthia Gibb)
‘SONS’ (starring William Forsythe, D.B. Sweeney, Jennifer Beals and the legendary director Sam Fuller)

“Keith Cooper has helped me out on several projects from negotiating screenplay and directing agreements with producers to dealing with distributors on delivery issues. He's dedicated and thorough, a great resource for independent filmmakers.”
-- Quentin Lee, director and producer, ‘ DRIFT’ and ‘ETHAN MAO’

As an attorney, he has drawn on his theater, film, and music experience to advise clients on more than 35 films, distributed by such companies as Paramount, Miramax, HBO, and Showtime including …

‘BOBBY’ -Golden Globe Best Picture 2007 nominee (directed by Emilio Estevez;
with Anthony Hopkins, Lindsay Lohan, Elijah Wood, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Christian Slater, William H. Macy, Helen Hunt, and Martin Sheen)
‘BETTER LUCK TOMORROW’ (directed by Justin Lin)
‘PROZAC NATION’ (with Cristina Ricci, Anne Heche, Jason Biggs, and Jessica Lange)
‘HOW TO KILL YOUR NEIGHBOR’S DOG’ (with Kenneth Branagh, Robin Wright Penn, and Lynn Redgrave)
‘GUINEVERE’ (with Stephen Rea, Jean Smart, and Sarah Polley)
‘NOBODY’S BABY’ (with Skeet Ulrich and Gary Oldman)
‘FOREVER LULU’ (with Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, and Penelope Ann Miller)

Drawing on his creative experience, Mr. Cooper is able to understand the artistic process and base agreements on what artists require to do their best work rather than simply relying on conventional legal boilerplate.

“Keith Cooper is FILMMAKER-FRIENDLY, a really smart guy who
knows what he’s doing!”
-- Scott Petersen, documentary filmmaker ‘ SCRABYLON’ and ‘OUT OF THE LOOP’

This web site is directed only to those persons who reside or conduct business in California, and nothing on this web site is intended as a solicitation of clients in other jurisdictions. The information regarding legal issues may apply only in California. Nothing on this web site should be construed as legal advice or an offer to enter into an attorney-client relationship. Information on this web site is general in nature and there is no representation or warranty that the information is current or accurate or applies in any particular case. Please read the Disclaimer for details before calling.

This website and its contents are Copyright 2003-2007 Keith E. Cooper, All Rights Reserved. No part of this site or its contents may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author.

Version 2.4
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Law Office of
Keith E. Cooper, Esq.
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 789-5886