Since the earliest days of cinema, Hollywood has come to Utah for its scenery. The dramatic buttes of Monument Valley have been favored backdrops for iconic westerns. The sylvan mountain valleys have “stood in” for locales from Switzerland to Colorado, and the eerily empty Salt Flats have approximated locations ranging from airless Mars to a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
On Friday, October 25, Hollywood will again come to Utah, this time with a different business purpose. On that day, four Hollywood insiders will visit the College of Law for a seminar that tracks the course of movie projects from deal-making through development, marketing and distribution at major Hollywood studios, with an emphasis on related legal and business concerns of intellectual property rights, copyright, talent contracts and negotiations.
The seminar, “Hollywood2Go: How the Filmmaking Business and Law Really Work,” will be held in the College’s Sutherland Moot Courtroom from 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The presenters are Bob Rubin, Jeffrey A. Korchek, Julie Spielberg-Senet, and Roger L. Armstrong,
Professor Christian Johnson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, explains that the seminar is unique because of the background and experience that the presenters bring from their work in Hollywood and the entertainment industry. He adds that “These topics will prove useful for lawyers interested in developing their practices around the entertainment industry and the film making activity that goes on in Utah in particular.“
“Hollywood2Go: How the Filmmaking Business and Law Really Works” promises to deliver insider information on how movies get launched from beginning to end; the history, evolution and current structure of the motion picture business; how to protect intellectual property; and how talent deals are negotiated, among other topics. The fee for attorneys (and the general public) is $200,with 6 hours of CLE available (applied for). There are also a limited number of discounted $50 slots available for filmmakers and students.
About the presenters
Bob Rubin has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as an entertainment attorney, deal-maker, studio executive and home entertainment executive. He has served as Executive Vice President at two studios -Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures – where, among other responsibilities, he oversaw all legal and business affairs for production, animation, home entertainment and consumer products. He is the founder of Hollywood2go.
Jeffrey A. Korchek is currently Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs at Mattel, Inc., the world’s largest toy company and home to Barbie, Ken, and Hot Wheels. He previously served as senior executive for USA Entertainment, literary agent at Broder Kurland Webb Uffner, and Executive Vice President in Charge of Business and Legal Affairs at Universal Pictures. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, a J.D. from the Law School at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Wharton School.
Julie Spielberg-Senet has been an entertainment attorney of over 20 years and an executive at motion picture studios, representing a wide array of clients, including individuals, start-ups and production and distribution companies. She began her legal career in private practice working in real estate, banking, corporate and entertainment. After her recent move to Park City, Utah, she is looking forward to co-teaching an entertainment law class with Roger Armstrong in the Spring at the College of Law.
Roger L. Armstrong has been active in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years, first as a studio marketing executive and most recently as a prominent transactional entertainment attorney. Mr. Armstrong serves on the Motion Picture Advisory Committee for the State of Utah. He also serves on the Legislative Affairs committee to the Sundance Film Festival Advisory Board and on the board of directors for the SLC Film Center. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is admitted to practice in California, New York, and Utah.
Limited meter parking available in the College of Law parking lot. Free parking available at Rice-Eccles Stadium or take TRAX University Line to the Stadium stop and walk a half block to the north.
The event is co-sponsored by the Utah Film Commission and the University of Utah Film Department.
For more information, call 801-585-3479.