Minutes of 5/2005 Meeting of the Entertainment Executive Committee
 

The meeting was CALLED TO ORDER at approximately 8:45 AM.

Marissa Roman served as chairperson of the meeting.

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

* * *

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The upcoming panels and other events were discussed.

APRIL 20, 2005 PANEL

The April panel was successful with ample attendance, knowledgeable speakers and an active question and answer period following the panel discussion. The topic had garnered much interest and the section received much positive feedback from the attendees. Richard Wilner moderated the panel and was applauded for keeping the discussion on track and moving forward. Pam Forster completed a good portion of the ground work for the event and had prepared the handout materials.


MAY 5, 2005 - LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Ken Freundlich reported by teleconference that the evenings schedule was finalized with the potential of some exciting surprise guests. He was now concentrating on the final editing of the tribute video. Attendance was at an all time high of more than 450 persons. The tribute book was also a great success.


JUNE 15, 2005 PANEL
 
The topic for the luncheon will be idea submissions. Matt Belloni reported that to date John Schulman, the General Counsel at Warner Bros. and Michael Plonsker, a talent side litigator at Aschuler, Grossman, et al for idea submissions lawsuits against studios and networks, had confirmed their participation on the panel. Matt would like to round off the discussion with the participation of an agent or manager and is in the process of finding such a representative since his contact at Endeavor was not available. The panel will be balanced in that the discussion will address the issues facing those submitting their work and those accepting such submissions. The handouts will be two versions of form submission agreements: (a) one with a present grant of rights and (b) the other more closely resembling a confidentiality agreement.


JULY 20, 2005 PANEL

Joe Schleimer has organized a panel regarding enforcing participation agreements with three panelists confirmed. Larry Stein has agreed to participate and he recently filed a participation lawsuit with respect to "Lord of the Rings." Steve Sills, a leading industry forensic accountant, is another panelists and Jim Perry, a litigator in this area will speak from the plaintiff’s perspective. Joe will also add a final panelists to discuss the defense’s perspective. He had approached Lou Meisinger but there was a scheduling conflict. Lou suggested his colleague Marty Katz as a potential alternative.


JULY CONTINUED
 
In addition to the regularly scheduled July panel, there was some discussion about moving forward with the Grokster panel in early July (3rd or the 10th). The decision is anticipated at the end of June and both the IP and the Entertainment sections are anxious to be the first to discuss the decision. Ken Freundlich and Susan Pollyea will discuss the details of the event but agreed to take a very practical approach to the discussion.


SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

The topic remains as issues relating to completion bond guaranty companies. Marissa Roman has contacted Marion Spiegelman at Film Finances as potential panelists and is waiting to hear back from her. If she is not available then she will call her contact at IFG.


VINTAGE BOUQUET will be held on June 12, 2005 this year.

FUTURE EXCOM MEETINGS

The May meeting took place on May 4, 2005 (on the regular meeting date of the first Wednesday of the month). The June meeting will take place on June 1, 2005.


* * *

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting ADJOURNED at approximately 9:20 AM.