De Minimis
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Podcast
  • Your Learned Friend
  • Anonymous Feedback
  • Art
  • Get published!
  • Constitution
  • Archive
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2017 >
      • Semester 2 (Volume 12) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (election issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
    • 2016 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 9) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 10) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (Election Issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
        • Issue 13 (test)
    • 2015 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 7) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
      • Semester 2 (Volume 8) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
    • 2014 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 5) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
      • Semester 2 (Volume 6) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 12
    • 2013 >
      • Issue 1
      • Issue 2
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 6
    • 2012 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 1) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 2) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12

So You Want to be an Entertainment Lawyer? An Interview with Clement Dunn of Marshalls+Dent Lawyers

20/9/2016

 
JACOB DEBETS
Volume 10, Issue 9

Jacob Debets sat down for a chat with Clement Dunn, 
a third year lawyer at Marshalls + Dent Lawyers
How did you come to work in Entertainment law?

I always wanted to do something in film, but after doing an undergraduate degree in cinema studies, I got the sense that it was a tough industry to break into.  So I decided to study law and see if I could get a job working in film and television in a legal capacity.  ​
Picture
So you actually followed the plan you had at the commencement of your degree? I have literally never heard of that happening – that’s awesome.

Yeah - I tried to do every elective I thought might be relevant to working in the industry: Media Law, Trademark Law and Film and Television Law. I followed that up with an exchange to the University of California, Los Angeles, where I took further entertainment law courses.  I came back to Australia, clerked at Marshalls + Dent Lawyers while doing PLT at College of Law, and was fortunate enough to get a job here at M+D when I was admitted to practice.

Can you describe your day-to-day work?

I work in a whole range of areas - tax law, employment law, contract law, copyright law. Every film is different, so we’re always learning new things. In terms of my day-to-day work, I’m constantly on the phone to clients and always drafting contracts. Some days I’m watching a film, other days I’m reading a script.

One thing I will emphasise is how involved entertainment lawyers are when they act on particular projects. This is due to the fact that, in a lot of cases, we’re not just providing advice on legal matters, but also arranging and structuring the finance.  

Best matter you’ve worked on that you’re allowed to talk about?

I got to do the contract for the animal trainers - the dogs and the penguins - on Oddball (2015). The team and I even got to visit the set to meet them. That was pretty special.

I didn’t know penguins had legal capacity?

Well, technically it was a contract for the animal trainers - but still, not many lawyers get to meet penguins as part of their job.

We can talk about it later, moving on – what’s the most frustrating part of your job?

Defamation law can be difficult – particularly in documentaries. When people see themselves being depicted in a negative light to so many viewers, they can get defensive. It’s all about keeping a balance between the integrity of the film and the legitimate concerns of the people being portrayed. The actually financing side can also be pretty complicated because you’re working with so many different parties.  Herding cats, my boss calls it.

In your eyes, what’s the most exciting legal development in Entertainment Law?

I’m interested in the fair-dealing defences to copyright infringement. These types of defences are expanding in the United States, although there haven’t been too many cases in Australia just yet. It’s interesting because, like so much to do with copyright, the law has a long way to go to catch-up.

Do you have any advice for law students who might want to break into the area?
An interest in and knowledge of cinema is helpful.  It’s a client-oriented practice, so being able to talk to producers and directors about their craft really goes a long way. Also, do copyright law and tax law. That stuff is kind of important.

Finally, favourite film (that you didn’t work on)?

That’s the hardest question you’ve asked. I’ll go with Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy (2003). My favourite Australian film is probably Ted Kotcheff’s classic Wake in Fright (1971).

Jacob Debets is a third year JD student and Managing Editor of De Minimis

The rest of this week's issue:
  • The Art of Computer Programming Without Really Trying
  • Mental Illnesses Aren’t $10 Words
  • MLS’ “Diversity” Problem: It’s Just Not Going Away

Articles like this:
  • Interview with Katie Robertson, Social Justice Lawyer Extraordinaire
  • Interview with Justice Neave
  • Where Can Legal Training Take you? Interview with Nicholas Reece

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Podcast
  • Your Learned Friend
  • Anonymous Feedback
  • Art
  • Get published!
  • Constitution
  • Archive
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2017 >
      • Semester 2 (Volume 12) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (election issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
    • 2016 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 9) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 10) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8 (Election Issue)
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
        • Issue 13 (test)
    • 2015 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 7) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
      • Semester 2 (Volume 8) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
    • 2014 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 5) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
      • Semester 2 (Volume 6) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 12
    • 2013 >
      • Issue 1
      • Issue 2
      • Issue 3
      • Issue 4
      • Issue 5
      • Issue 6
    • 2012 >
      • Semester 1 (Volume 1) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12
      • Semester 2 (Volume 2) >
        • Issue 1
        • Issue 2
        • Issue 3
        • Issue 4
        • Issue 5
        • Issue 6
        • Issue 7
        • Issue 8
        • Issue 9
        • Issue 10
        • Issue 11
        • Issue 12