My turn to seek advice

[Tony]

David,

Could the producer I assume it is a “he” be involved with the female prior editor? Does he have more than an emotional bond to the person?

If so don’t expect anything to change.

I would be more concerned about getting the proper payment for your services as you can’t take screen credit to the bank to deposit.

You can also put your real title in your resume as no one ever hires you based on your screen credits but rather your actual experience.

Tony Salgado

[Chris Bové]

[Mark Suszko] “Let the girlfriend or whatever have her credit…”

(Hee hee!)

______
/-o-o-\
\`(=)`/…Pixel Monkey
`(___)

Just finished editing “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo” – see it on PBS Sept 4, 2006 at 10pm.
(Yes, that is Labor Day)

[David Roth weiss]

[Michael Munkittrick] “Everything that you

[David Roth weiss]

Mark,

Of course none of us ever intends to get into disputes, and all of us take up projects from time to time without deal memos, even though we all say we will never do it… I did it again… Stupid me…

In any case, I have decided to take all emotion out the equasion. Its strictly business now — it is only proper that every project have credits that accurately reflect the participation of those who applied their talents to the effort. Thats my position and I will not waver…

THNX for your input…

DRW

[Monica F.p.williams]

Hi David
This documentary exist because of you, deal memo or not. And this is not the just friend talking.
The fact of the matter is that you saved the first version and you are taking the feature lenght to the next level and is beautiful. Ask him If he was so happy with the first editor, why he hired you to fix the first cut and to do an entirely new one?
My two cents
Monica

“Art is all about craftsmanship. Others can interpret craftsmanship as style if they wish. Style is what unites memory or recollection, ideology, sentiment, nostalgia, presentiment, to the way we express all that. It’s not what we say but how we say it that matters.

[David Roth weiss]

Thanks Monica, I’m just gonna have to sic you and Fellini on Bob…

[Nestorl]

David,

Sorry to jump on this topic so late. You got great feedback from the other posters. I just want to ad on issue that applies to your case. Did you sign deal memo or a work for hire release? If you did, and the credit is not included on the deal memo, then there is no legal issue but instead will be an ethical fight. However, if you did not sign a work for hire release, then you as one of the creative forces behind the documentary (as are the director, composer, dp, and writer) own the copyright of the work. This is the most common mistake made by producers not familiar with copyright law. Unless you explicitly waived your copyright claim to the project, you have copyright claim to the entire project and any D+ attorney would be able to place an injunction against any and all future distribution of the film.

So hopefully it will never get there, but it is always nice to know that you have this weapon just in case. Cheers, nestor.

—————————
Nestor L. Lopez
Executive Vice-President
Explorart Films
http://www.explorart.com

——
Statements presented in the message are statements of opinion only and should not be considered legal advice. Please contact a qualified entertainment attorney.

[Steve Wargo]

The credits should now read:

For her: Wannabe editor who couldn’t make it work

For DRW: Editor who came along and saved our bacon by taking over someone else’s hopeless work, re-writing quite a bit of it and making it happen.

For him. Teary eyed jerk who puts his little friend before the actual business at hand.

This stuff constantly fries me. If someone can’t do the job, they deserve no credit other than “person who tried” at the very most, and we know that will never happen.

This just happened to us on a feature and the original editor got “editor trainee” as his credit. The guy who came in later and fixed and finished got “editor”

Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona

It’s a dry heat!

[David Roth weiss]

[nestorl] “Unless you explicitly waived your copyright claim to the project, you have copyright claim to the entire project”

That’s an interesting one I hadn’t heard before Nestor. It certainly makes me feel better about not signing a deal memo. I can’t wait to inform Bob (Exec. Producer/Director) of this. His paranoia will increase dramatically.

[Ron Lindeboom]

[Steve Wargo] “This just happened to us on a feature and the original editor got “editor trainee” as his credit. The guy who came in later and fixed and finished got “editor””

I have to agree with Steve on this one. I have also seen times when someone started a project and didn’t hit the mark and got replaced later. The first person got an “Assistant Editor credit but full editor’s credit, that’s an insult to the craft and the profession.

Glad to see you up and about, Steve. How are you healing up after the motorcycle accident? We hope all is coming back together nicely.

Best always,

Ron & Kathlyn