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Bryan Sullivan Quoted in The Hollywood Reporter on ‘Rust’ Settlement
Category: News, Press | Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Quoted in The Hollywood Reporter on ‘Rust’ Settlement
Bryan Sullivan was recently featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s article “Inside the Secret ‘Rust’ Settlement: Why Did Halyna Hutchins’ Widower Drop His Suit to Become an Executive Producer?” The article examines the options available to Matthew Hutchins and the film’s producers during the suit, and why the late cinematographer’s husband ultimately decided to settle.
In the article, Bryan explained why the film’s producers operated under Rust Movie Productions (RMP), a limited liability corporation, and the impact it had on this case. He noted, “the whole point of creating [Rust Movie Productions] is for liability purposes.”
Bryan’s insight was also featured in a subsequent article in The Hollywood Reporter which examines how the creation of Rust Movie Productions LLC was an attempt by ‘Rust’ producers to use the LLC as a shield.
Click below to read the full articles.
Farce on Top of Tragedy: ‘Rust’ Producers Escape Accountability – The Hollywood Reporter
Deadline Covers Clash Over Film Depiction of Iconic Michigan State University Football Team
Category: News, Press | Thursday, September 29th, 2022 | Comments Off on Deadline Covers Clash Over Film Depiction of Iconic Michigan State University Football Team
Deadline recently covered an ongoing clash between Michigan State University, former football players and their family members, and the producers behind an unauthorized film in production about the school’s legendary football team. Surviving members of the 1965-1966 teams, who battled racial and social injustice as the first fully integrated football team and went on to win national championships, as well as their family members and the university community, with MSU’s support, have been ardent about their opposition to the project and how it falsely depicts the events of this critical juncture in history.
The full article can be found below.
‘Black Spartans’ Film Tackled By Michigan State University Over Depiction Of Iconic Football Team
Bryan Sullivan Pens Forbes Article on Defamation Lawsuits Against Netflix
Category: Press, Publications | Wednesday, September 14th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Pens Forbes Article on Defamation Lawsuits Against Netflix
Bryan Sullivan’s article entitled, “Netflix’s ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ And ‘Inventing Anna’ Subjects Of Defamation Lawsuits” was recently published in Forbes. The article examines the extent to which creators can legally bend and stretch the truth to conform to their storylines, without causing defamation to the real people they are portraying.
Using precedents from “The Wolf of Wall Street” case, Bryan examines what the “based on a true story” tagline means for the industry at large. “With the rise of true crime and historical dramas, producers navigate shaky territory where they balance telling a compelling story without crossing the line into defaming real-life people,” he said. “This requires diligence and creativity as was found in the “Wolf of Wall Street” case where the producers engaged in vetting efforts and created a character from a composite of three people.”
Read his full article here.
Early Sullivan First-In-the-Nation Lawsuit
Category: Press | Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | Comments Off on Early Sullivan First-In-the-Nation Lawsuit
It was 2018 and Critical Race Theory was still largely under wraps in America, and in particular, with respect to its tremendously racialized and sexualized aspects being “taught” in public schools. Brave parents in Santa Barbara were trying to get the teaching materials from their schools, but were repeatedly prevented from seeing the materials.
Fair Education Santa Barbara retained Early Sullivan, and attorneys Eric Early and Peter Scott, who brought what is now considered the first lawsuit in the nation against CRT, suing the Santa Barbara Unified School District, its Superintendent (who was ultimately removed due in large part to the lawsuit) and a group of so-called social justice warriors called Just Communities Central Coast.
Thanks to this first “shot across the bow,” Early Sullivan succeeded in obtaining the “teaching” materials from the District and bringing to light the indoctrination going on in our kids’ schools. As shown in the attached release, JCCC is now gone and a prairie fire was sparked across the nation.
Bryan Sullivan Sheds Light on Entertainment Copyright Claims for The Hollywood Reporter
Category: Press | Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Sheds Light on Entertainment Copyright Claims for The Hollywood Reporter
Bryan Sullivan was recently quoted in The Hollywood Reporter in an article that explores story theft claims in Hollywood. The article outlines that, while many movies share similarities with others in the same genre, there is grounds for a copyright claim when two works are substantially similar and it can be proven that the most recent creator had access to the previous work. Notably, ideas sent through scripts and pitched in meetings are the frequent subjects of copyright claims, but Bryan shares that claims like these are often rooted in misunderstanding.
“If you pitched it to them looking for feedback, like ‘Hey, what do you think of this idea,’ you don’t have any right to sue them if they go off and are hugely successful with the expression of the idea,” Bryan shares.
The full article can be found below.
That Was My Idea! How Hollywood Is Avoiding Story Theft Claims
The Hollywood Reporter Covers Early Sullivan’s Early Success in Lawsuit Against Endeavor
Category: Press | Thursday, August 4th, 2022 | Comments Off on The Hollywood Reporter Covers Early Sullivan’s Early Success in Lawsuit Against Endeavor
The Hollywood Reporter recently covered an L.A. Superior Court ruling that the entertainment and representation company Endeavor must face a claim of Early Sullivan client and media and technology consultant David Carde alleging that his idiosyncratic analysis of the company’s business model was used heavily in Endeavor’s communications with the market leading to its $10.3 billion IPO in 2021.
The article can be found below.
Endeavor Can’t Evade Consultant’s Suit Over IPO Marketing
Bryan Sullivan Featured in Newsy Segment Examining the Role of Movie Producers
Category: Press | Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Featured in Newsy Segment Examining the Role of Movie Producers
Bryan Sullivan appears in a Newsy segment entitled “Why Do Movies Have So Many Producers?” examining the role of the movie producer and why, in recent years, there has been an increase in the average number of producers credited per film. Having been named as an Executive Producer on several films himself, Bryan sheds light on the various ways producers collaborate and contribute to film projects. When discussing the coveted “Produced By” credit, Bryan notes that the Producers Guild makes a concerted effort to reserve this title only for those who are heavily involved in managing a film’s production.
The full segment can be viewed below.
Why Do Movies Have So Many Producers?
Bryan Sullivan Authors Forbes Article on Implications of Roe v. Wade Reversal for Hollywood
Category: Press | Thursday, July 7th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Authors Forbes Article on Implications of Roe v. Wade Reversal for Hollywood
In a recent Forbes article, Bryan Sullivan examines Hollywood’s reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, allowing states the option to legally ban abortion.
Bryan shares that there has been significant criticism from both high-profile Hollywood companies and individual celebrities, and that some actors are beginning to refuse work on productions taking place in pro-life states. Bryan notes that some of the pro-life states in which actors are refusing to work, particularly Georgia, are popular production sites for entertainment projects due to favorable tax breaks.
“Though there may be more leeway in other pro-life states that are less attractive to film in, the momentum Georgia has built in film and television production in recent years leaves room for skepticism on whether the state’s abortion ban will have any significant effect on its role in Hollywood as a premier filming location,” Bryan writes. “Despite the vocal protests against the abortion ban, the tax breaks might be too strong for media companies to overlook – even if it means missing out on some of the best talent.”
The full article can be found below.
Roe v. Wade Reversal’s Implications For Hollywood
Bryan Sullivan Pens Forbes Article on Defamation Lawsuits In Light of Johnny Depp/Amber Heard Trial
Category: Press | Monday, June 13th, 2022 | Comments Off on Bryan Sullivan Pens Forbes Article on Defamation Lawsuits In Light of Johnny Depp/Amber Heard Trial
Bryan Sullivan recently wrote an article for Forbes on the nature of defamation lawsuits in light of the highly publicized defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
In the article, Bryan shares that defamation lawsuits are generally very difficult to win, as the necessary amount of proof required may be difficult to obtain. He also calls attention to significant repercussions that defamation lawsuits can lead to, noting that plaintiffs waive their rights to privacy, as court documents and potentially sensitive information become public knowledge during a suit. Furthermore, Bryan explains that, due to various rules and procedures, some defendants are able to avoid payment even after a guilty verdict.
“Most defamation lawsuits are not worth bringing,” Bryan writes. “However, when the statements are so defamatory that they could bring down a company or ruin a career, and for someone who can afford the cost of such a claim, the risk is worth the reward, whether monetary or not.”
The full article can be found below.
Johnny Depp And Amber Heard Case Shows That Defamation Claims Are Risky. So Why Bring Them?
Devin McRae Speaks with New York Times About Lawsuits in the Aftermath of Popular Home Makeover Shows
Category: Press | Friday, May 27th, 2022 | Comments Off on Devin McRae Speaks with New York Times About Lawsuits in the Aftermath of Popular Home Makeover Shows
In a recently published New York Times article exploring what goes on behind the scenes of popular home makeover television shows, Devin McRae weighs in on the construction lawsuits that have become increasingly common in their wake. The article describes how homeowners who participate in such shows are promised the home of their dreams, only to find in some cases that once the cameras are done filming, they are left with a “construction nightmare.” Homeowners who participated in many of the most popular home renovation shows revealed to the Times that after their episodes were complete, they were left with homes that were unfinished or poorly constructed, and rife with health and safety hazards due in part to workmanship that was not up to code.
The article details how the contracts that participants enter into to appear on such shows often include a strict waiver precluding participants from speaking to the media or press about their experience, and that legal recourse is discouraged. Still, the Times was able to take a closer look at numerous lawsuits, both settled and ongoing, that have been filed after homeowners appeared on shows including HGTV’s “Love It or List It,” Fox’s “Renovate My Family,” and others such as “Property Brothers” and “Flip or Flop Las Vegas.”
While some homeowners have sought significant reparations, Devin shares that the damages awarded in most construction lawsuits are likely to be for the cost to make the necessary repairs, and not much higher. “You’re probably not talking about seven figures,” he notes. “The fight is probably in the low hundreds.”
Read the full article below (subscription required).