Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, James Pacitti, founder of Pacitti Law Firm, discusses the essential legal steps content creators must take before filming a movie or television series. James shares expert legal advice on protecting your intellectual property, forming business entities, securing a clean chain of title, and understanding the importance of proper agreements during development and production.

00:01 – Show Introduction 00:27 – James Pacitti’s background and path into entertainment law 02:31 – First legal step after coming up with a project 03:03 – Copyright basics and registration 05:04 – When and why to form an LLC 07:27 – Common legal documents before filming begins 08:47 – Writer collaboration agreements and copyright ownership 09:45 – What is “chain of title” and why it matters 11:56 – Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance explained 13:46 – What can go wrong if agreements are missing 15:22 – Who James represents: creators, producers, and more 17:22 – Biggest legal mistakes content creators make 18:39 – Final thoughts and takeaways

Cut to Legal with James Pacitti is a podcast focused on guiding content creators through the complex legal landscape of the entertainment industry. The show features James Pacitti sharing real-world legal advice for independent filmmakers, writers, producers, and anyone looking to turn creative ideas into successful productions.

Visit pacittilawfirm.com to learn more or to schedule a consultation.