Minutes of 10/2004 Meeting of the Entertainment Executive Committee

Minutes of the 10/6/04 Meeting of the Entertainment Executive Committee

In attendance:

Garrison Alexander alexander.weho@yahoo.com
Peter Baghdassarian peterb@filmroman.com
Hilary Bibicoff hbibicoff@ggfirm.com 
Dave Bortman davesq@earthlink.net
Gordon Firemark gfiremark@firemark.com
Ken Freundlich kfreundlich@earthlink.net
Pamela Forster pamelaforster@earthlink.net 
David Helfant david_helfant@paramount.com
Susan Pollyea susan.pollyea@sbcglobal.net
Susan Rabin srabinlaw@aol.com
Caroline Raufi craufi@stroock.com
Marissa Roman mroman@akingump.com 


The meeting was CALLED TO ORDER at approximately 8:40 am.

Ken Freundlich served as chairman of the meeting, and Marissa Roman served as co-chair.

There was no READING OF THE MINUTES of the last meeting.

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Caroline Raufi and David Helfant reminded everyone of the pre-ABA conference cocktail party being co-hosted by the ABA and the Entertainment Section on Wednesday October 7th at the Century Plaza Hotel.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Next, the upcoming panels and other events were discussed.

OCTOBER 20, 2004 PANEL

Pamela Forster informed us that the panelists were set and discussed the materials that would be provided to attendees. They would pass out a pamphlet and Marissa Roman would include a sample Deal Memo. There was a discussion about the releases necessary for such written materials and the committee concluded that this point was covered by the bar's general release language. There was also a discussion about including disclaimer language regarding use of such materials. We were informed that there are no sponsors for this panel.

NOVEMBER 17, 2004 PANEL

Caroline Raufi and Gordon Firemark are organizing a panel regarding how to structure deals to survive bankruptcy. Schuyler Moore, a bankruptcy specialist in Entertainment industry deals, and a bankruptcy attorney Arnold Quittner have agreed to participate as panelists. Additional suggestions were proffered by various members of the Executive Committee. Hilary Bibicoff suggested a Bankruptcy trustee Tim Yu and Peter Baghdassarian informed us that his colleague John Hyde had presided as trustee on several high profile bankruptcy cases and may be interested in speaking. The panel details need to be finalized.

We decided that not to approach the Bankruptcy Section to co-sponsor the event with our section.

DECEMBER 15, 2004 PANEL

Ken Freundlich and Susan Rabin are organizing a panel on music synch license issues for live television shows. Potential panelists were discussed. The panel details need to be finalized.

JANUARY 19, 2005 PANEL

This will be an evening event consisting of 3 separate 1-hour panels, consisting of (1) a guild update panel (which Marissa Roman agreed to organize), (2) a litigation update panel (which David Helfant agreed to organize), and (3) an ethics panel (which Pamela Forster agreed to organize). Howard Fabrek will moderate and Ken Freundlich suggested his friend Bob Kehr for the ethics panel. Bob has updated the ABA ethics rules and worked for the State bar association. The details for each panel need to be finalized.

FEBRUARY 16, 2005 PANEL

After some discussion the panel topic was selected. Gordon Firemark and Garrison Alexander will organize a panel regarding the changing faces of advertising in media. Gordon Firemark suggested including an FCC lawyer, a speaker from Rogers & Cowen and/or from a management company or agency. There was some discussion about the potential panelists but the panel details need to be finalized.

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LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Tom Hansen has been selected as the next recipient of the LOY award. There was some discussion to set the even for the first week of May 2005 (in advance of people leaving for the Cannes Film Festival). We have been informed that Mr. Hansen will want personal involvement in organizing the event and that he will ask his wife and assistant to assist in the marketing and planning of the event.

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ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

Susan Pollyea informed us that she is in the process of organizing a standing IP committee with the CA State Bar. She asked if our committee members would be interested in joining the committee and/or assisting her. After some discussion, the committee members decided not to become involved.

Sponsorship - Gordon Firemark discussed potential new sponsors. He suggested that his landlord would be an ideal candidate to sponsor one of our events since they he offers office space and support for sole practitioners. There was also some discussion regarding a barter with the Hollywood Reporter (ad in exchange for the bar's promotion of their publication).

Installation Dinner - The installation dinner was successful and well attended. Several committee members attended. There was some discussion that it was inappropriate to include political views in the candidates speeches.

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NEW BUSINESS

Gordon Firemark talked about putting together a nuts and bolts panel for the Barristers regarding entertainment programs. After some discussion we decided to organize 4 sessions on 4 topics (each 1-2 hour) over the course of a year. We decided to begin ASAP and organize the first to occur in January. We discussed various topics and decided that the Barristers would promote and market the courses on our behalf. Hilary Bibicoff offered to teach the first course on the topic of negotiating Option/Purchase Agreements.


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FUTURE EXCOM MEETINGS

The December meeting will take place on December 1st (on the regular meeting date of the first Wednesday of the month).

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There being no further business to discuss, the meeting ADJOURNED at approximately 9:35 am.