Selecting a Foreign Sales Agent and Setting a Contract Time Frame

As an attorney with Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo in New York City, Steven C. Beer focuses on areas of media and entertainment such as film licenses and copyrights. An area in which Steven C. Beer has extensive knowledge is in foreign distribution, where film producers often create significant commercial revenue streams through strategically navigating international licenses.

In addition to securing a reliable and effective foreign sales agent, film producers must negotiate sales agency agreements. These authorize the agent to work exclusively within designated foreign territories and arrange licenses. 

One major aspect of these agreements to consider is the length of the term, with a brief initial two-year period often agreed upon. This provides the agent with time to achieve revenue milestones that allow the agreement to be extended. With the film’s value decreasing significantly over the two year period beginning at its release, this also helps ensure that all possible avenues are explored in maximizing the value of the asset.

Legendary Performers Filled the Summerstage 2017 Program

Thanks to the support of donors such as media and entertainment attorney Steven C. Beer, the City Parks Foundation is able to provide arts, sports, and cultural programming to New York City residents absolutely free. Steven C. Beer, who currently serves with the firm of Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, has helped guide the careers of contemporary legends such as Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears.

The City Parks Foundation offers a spectacular line-up of free public concerts every summer at Summerstage events held in parks throughout all five boroughs. The program’s mainstage, at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, was only one of the many participating venues for some 100 performances over the summer of 2017.

That year, Mavis Staples opened the season with a Central Park performance as the headliner in a concert that also featured Toshi Reagon. Staples, now in her late 70s, is an icon both in the music field and for her lifelong commitment to civil rights.

Later in the season, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic performed a Summerstage concert in Flushing Meadows. Clinton, also now in his 70s, remains another strong performer dedicated to expanding his musical message for a new generation. Current members of P-Funk include seasoned performers and emerging young talent.

Other acts in the Summerstage lineup across New York in 2017 included Regina Spektor, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Elvis Costello & The Imposters.

With good reason, the blog Gothamist has called Summerstage one of the best recommendations for living in New York City.

Stages in Film Production

A partner at Franklin Weinrib Rudell and Vassallo, Steven C. Beer represents companies and individuals in media and entertainment. Steven C. Beer also executive produced the Disneymania album and maintains an interest in film production.

Film production involves three distinct stages that encompass the process from developing an idea to completion of the final copy.

Pre-production in films begins after tasks such as financing, writing a screenplay, casting and staffing are completed. Pre-production includes scouting for location, identifying and preparing props and wardrobe, choosing and developing special effects, scheduling and setting production and construction, partially finalizing the script, and reading through scripts with the cast and other staff in the project.

Production describes the phase where actual shooting and recording happen. Cameras roll and actors take on their scenes. This is the point where the project needs to proceed, and cancellation is not an option. Lighting requirements, framing and other elements are applied when capturing scenes for this process.

Post-production begins when all scenes have been captured. Tasks in post-production include video footage editing, soundtrack editing, title, graphics, and special effects addition, as well as re-shooting, if necessary.