Hollywood Dealmaking: Negotiating Rights and Talent Agreements for Film, TV, and Digital Media

“This book is a must-have resource for anyone looking to break into Hollywood or seasoned veterans who need a quick reference guide.”––Matt Belloni, Founding Partner of Puck News and host of The Town with Matthew Belloni

The legal resources of studios and networks are legendary, often intimidating independent producers, writers, actors, directors, and others as they try to navigate through the intricate maze of negotiations. This invaluable reference presents the interests of talent as well as the point of view of creative executives, producers, entertainment attorneys, agents and managers, and key guilds—making clear the role that each plays in the dealmaking process.

Readers will find expert insights to talent and production deals for television, feature film, key streaming platforms, and other digital media, as well as an in‑depth overview of net profits and other forms of contingent compensation. Hollywood Dealmaking, Fourth Edition, also addresses changes resulting from new union agreements, and the evolution in dealmaking as global streaming platforms and FAST channels erode the past dominance of cable and linear television. In addition, this comprehensive guide includes:

• Basics of copyright law and impacts of recent legislation and court decisions on the deal-making landscape
• New section on non-writing executive producer (NWEP) deals
• Explanations of various talent employment deals
• Details of rights acquisition deals
• Sample contracts and forms
• Deal considerations of new technologies such as generative AI
• Glossary of industry lingo and terminology
• And much more!

Peppered with facts on the deals of superstar players and with summaries in each section to clarify complex legal issues, Hollywood Dealmaking is an essential resource for industry novices and veterans alike who want to sharpen their negotiation skills and successfully close each deal.

Dina Appleton is Executive Vice President of Global Business and Legal Affairs at Cineflix Media. Prior positions include SVP at Entertainment One, Special Counsel at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, and Head of Business Affairs at a multi-service talent agency in Los Angeles, California.

Daniel Yankelevits is Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs at Sony Pictures Television. He serves on the planning committee of the USC Institute of Entertainment Law and Business and teaches a course at the USC Gould School of Law entitled "Entertainment Law & Industry." Daniel is a graduate of Harvard Law School and resides in Los Angeles, California.