Product Review

Today's film industry is a legal and financial obstacle course that all independent filmmakers must learn to master. The most comprehensive guide to negotiating that obstacle course is The Biz, a highly accessible overview of the industry's important business, legal and financial aspect.

Filled with industry-savoy advice, it clearly explains:

The 4th Edition comprehensively updates all chapters.

• Raising financing
• Business structuring
• Securities laws
• Budgeting essentials
• Dealing with the guilds
• Loans
• Completion guarantees
• The legal and financial ramifications of distribution deals
• Calculating net profits
• Film-industry accounting practices and contingent payments
• Copyright, publicity, and trademark laws
• Screen credits
• Talent demands
• Litigation problems
• Bankruptcy
• Taxation of film companies
• The Internet distribution of film
. . . and much more.

The Biz also includes a dozen useful sample forms and agreements.