The Hidden Legal Work Behind Getting a Project on Screen

By Ben Bruskin

When audiences watch a film or television show, they usually see the finished creative product: the story, performances, music, visuals, and production design. What they do not usually see is the legal and business work that helps make the project possible.

Entertainment is a creative industry, but it is also a rights-driven industry. Before a project reaches an audience, lawyers and business affairs teams often help answer practical questions about ownership, rights, music, artwork, archival footage, trademarks, publicity rights, contracts, distribution, and delivery.

This is one reason I became interested in entertainment law. Before law school, I worked in television, where I saw how much coordination and accuracy goes into the business side of media. That experience made me interested in the legal structures that support creative work.

As a J.D. candidate at Southwestern Law School, I have focused on entertainment law, contract drafting, copyright, and the business/legal affairs side of film and television. The more I study the field, the more I appreciate that entertainment law helps define what can be made, how it can be financed, how it can be distributed, and who has the right to exploit the finished work.

Rights clearance is a good example. Clearance is not just about spotting whether something appears on screen. It requires understanding context, risk, permissions, and the business goals of the production.

Contract drafting is another core part of the process. Entertainment agreements need to translate business terms into clear legal language. Strong drafting requires understanding the deal, the industry context, and the client’s goals.

Film and television are collaborative mediums. Creative, legal, business, and production teams all contribute to getting a project made. My goal is to continue developing the skills needed to support that process through practical legal analysis, careful drafting, and an understanding of how entertainment projects move from idea to audience.