A Writer’s Guide to Negotiating Creative Rights Like a Pro
by Tisha Morris, Esq.
Available in paperback and eBook
The independent creator’s essential guide to navigating the business side of entertainment. This comprehensive resource empowers writers with the critical negotiation strategies and legal knowledge needed to safeguard their creative rights and maximize their financial returns.
Written by an entertainment attorney who represents writers and creators, this book pulls back the curtain on the agreements, deal points, and industry dynamics that determine whether a project actually makes it to the screen.
From understanding chain of title issues to option agreements, shopping agreements, and purchase deals, this book provides pro tips and actionable insights to learn how to effectively communicate the value of your work and build sustainable career momentum.
The Screen Playbook
Where storytelling meets business strategy.
The essential business guide for independent creators developing projects for film and television.
Written by an entertainment attorney, this book pulls back the curtain on industry standards.
About the Author
Tisha Morris is an entertainment attorney and founder of Legacy Arts Law PC where she represents writers, filmmakers, and creators in film, new media, and publishing. She advises on contracts, dealmaking, and creative business strategy, and is the author of multiple books on creativity and personal development.
Tisha is actively involved in the entertainment and legal communities as a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, California Lawyers for the Arts, LGBTQ+ Lawyers LA, Women in Film, and Women in Music. She also serves on the board of the Ojai Film Festival and is a licensed attorney in California and Tennessee.
When she’s not practicing law, Tisha resides in Ojai, California, with her wife, poodle, and stepcat, where she works on writing her debut legal thriller novel.
An insider’s guide to protecting creative rights in the entertainment industry.
Table of Contents
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I want you to succeed and fulfill your greatest dreams through your creative work. And to do that, you need to know the business side of the craft. Writing the script or the book is only the beginning. The real journey begins when you, or someone else, wants to turn your work into something more. That’s where the business side comes in.
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Chapter 1: Intellectual Property
Chapter 2: Copyright Basics for Creatives
Chapter 3: The Source Material
Chapter 4: What is Chain of Title
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Chapter 5: Your Role as the Dealmaker
Chapter 6: Your Professional Team
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Chapter 7: Pitching the Project
Chapter 8: Producer Attachments
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Chapter 9: Development Agreements
Chapter 10: Rights Transfer Agreements
Chapter 11: Story Rights
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Chapter 12: The Major Deal Points
Chapter 13: Long-Term Deal Points
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Chapter 14: The Boilerplate Terms
Chapter 15: Speaking the Industry Language
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Knowing Your Value at Every Stage
Managing Your Portfolio of Work
Building and Maintaining Professional Relationships
Protecting Your Intellectual Property Over Time
Tracking the Termination Right
Fair Use, Public Domain, and Emerging Rights
Forming a Legal Entity
Becoming a WGA Member
The Attorney as Creative Ally
Creative Freedom as the Destination
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