Resources for Businesses
Links to other web sites are provided as a convenience to our users, and Keith E. Cooper assumes no responsibility for the content of web sites referenced. Inclusion of a link on this page does not constitute an endorsement of the linked site, nor does the inclusion here of a reference to a web site represent an endorsement of its sponsors. Material included here or in linked websites may not be current or accurate, and you should consult with a competent professional before relying on any written commentary. Feel free to E-mail us with suggestions about links that we should add (or delete), and please let us know if any links do not work.
Legal Information & Organizations
California Code – Statutes of the state of CaliforniaCalifornia Lawyers for the Arts
Entertainment Law Digest – News on recent cases filed and developments in entertainment law.
Law Guru - General legal question/answer forum for consumers.
Law Library of Congress – America’s law library.
Law News Network - News for legal professionals.
Production Counsel - Law firm website devoted to filmmakers and legal issues related to film making.
USC Law School – My alma mater.
U.S. Code – The statutes of the United States.
U.S. Copyright Office – Copyright information, registration, and searches.
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office – Trademark information, registration, and searches.
Government Information
California State AssemblyCalifornia State Senate
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance – Online guide to U.S. government grants and loans in all areas.
Congressional Email Directory - searchable database of email addresses of elected officials from all fifty states and U.S.territories.
FedWorld Information Network -a one-stop location to access or order U.S. Government information, created through an agency of the Department of Commerce.
Rulers.org - Lists of heads of state and heads of government (and, in certain cases, de facto leaders which don't occupy either of those formal positions) of all currently existing countries and territories.
U.S. Department of State – Information about passports, travel & work abroad, and advisories.
U.S. Government Information Locator Service - GILS records identify public information resources within the Federal Government, describe the information available in those resources, and assist in obtaining the information.
U.S. House Of Representatives - Legislative information and information about members, committees, and organizations of the House and other U.S. government information resources.
U.S. Senate Home Page - Information about senators, committees, and publications.
The White House -Press releases and White House documents.
Research Tools
CIA World Factbook - Contains facts on every country in the world, including information on each country's geography, population, government, transportation, defense systems and more.DefenseLINK - Information Service from the Department of Defense with links to the Office of the Secretary, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Reserve, National Guard and more.
FedStats - On-line access to the full range of public statistics and information produced by over 70 US Federal Government agencies. Stats from crimes to crops are downloadable in ready-made spreadsheet form.
Library of Congress – America’s library. Repository of all copyrighted material.
Missouri School of Journalism – The world’s first journalism school, and by most accounts still the best.
Refdesk.com – Free and family-friendly research center. Bills itself as ‘The single best source for facts on the Net’.
U.S. Historical Documents – From the Library of Congress, includes the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.
Movie Industry News & Research
Box Office Guru - Comprehensive box office information.IndieWire.com - News about independent films.
The Internet Movie Database - Extensive, searchable database of information about film.
IFILMpro - Database services, comprehensive tools and resources, such as the Hollywood Creative Directory.
Movie Bytes - Screenwriting contests and markets.
Release Schedule – Schedule of when upcoming studio films are slated for release.
Script-O-Rama - Find downloadable scripts of your favorite movies, for free.
Movie Industry Organizations
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Official site of the "Oscars."Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Official site of the "Emmys."
American Film Institute - Dedicated to advancing and preserving the art of the moving image.
American Film Marketing Association - For the international independent film and television industry.
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) - Performing rights society, contains search for music rights holders (be sure to also search BMI and SESAC).
Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers (AIVF)
Association of Talent Agents (ATA)
Filmmakers Alliance - A non-profit, Los Angeles-based filmmakers collective.
International Documentary Association
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) – Performing rights society, contains search to find music rights holders (be sure to also search ASCAP and SESAC).
A Minor Consideration - Addresses the concerns of children in the industry.
Motion Picture Association of America - Issues ratings and advocates for the motion picture industry.
National Endowment for the Arts
SESAC – Performing rights organization, contains search for finding music rights holders (be sure to also search ASCAP and BMI).
Women In Film
Producer Resources
Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) - Directory of film commissions and media support offices worldwide.California Film Commission
California Film Permits Online Application
CinemaScout - Online state-sponsored location scouting for California.
Crew-List.net – Online crew listings for all categories.
Film Independent (FIND) - Organization for independent filmmakers in Los Angeles.
Film L.A. – Los Angeles’ official one-stop full service office for the production community, with services that include pre-production planning, streamlined processing and coordination of approvals for on-location shoots, neighborhood notifications, and liaison and advocacy with public officials on issues relating to filming in Los Angeles.
Independent Feature Project (IFP) - Organization dedicated to independent filmmaking and filmmakers in New York, Chicago, and several other U.S. cities.
Internet Marketing for Filmmakers - Run by a former Internet marketing expert turned filmmaker. If you're interested in bypassing the studio route and traditional distribution systems, this site is the place to go to learn how.
Production Counsel - Law firm website devoted to filmmakers and legal issues related to film making.
ProductionHUB.com - Online resource and industry directory for film, television, video and digital media production. Free services include Production Directory, Search and Request, Job Listings, Events Calendar, Equipment Trader, Classifieds and NewsStand.
WebMovie.com - Search engine for producers seeking services and technologies.
What Every Filmmaker Needs to Know About the Law - A 4-volume DVD and book series designed to help filmmakers avoid legal problems. A very affordable way for professional filmmakers to get answers to legal questions without the high cost of paying an attorney's hourly rates. Covers legal issues from setting up a company through the entire production process.
Guilds And Unions
American Federation of Musicians (AFM)American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA)
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
International Cinematographers Guild
Motion Picture Editors Guild
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians (NABET)
NABET-CWA Local 57 Hollywood (ABC)
NABET-CWA Local 53 Burbank (NBC)
Producers Guild of America (PGA)
Screen Actors Guild (SAG)
SAG Indie
Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE)
Writers Guild of America (WGA)