LEGAL VISION — Episode 1
Title: The Oscar-Winning Intersection of Creativity and Legality – "The Only Girl in the Orchestra"

In our premiere episode, we explore what it takes to tell bold, socially relevant stories—and how to legally protect them.

Host, Damien Swaby sits down with two trailblazers:

Together, they unpack the intersection of storytelling and legal strategy:

• How to tackle high-risk subjects with confidence

• When and how fair use applies in documentary work

• Why legal reviews should be part of your creative process—not an afterthought

• The ethical and legal challenges behind using real people, archival footage, and public content

Whether you're tackling a politically charged film or an intimate artist portrait, this episode offers essential legal insights to keep your creative vision intact.

Lisa Remington is an Oscar- and Emmy-winning producer behind over two dozen acclaimed documentaries, including The Only Girl in the Orchestra, Hunt for Planet B, The Price of Everything, and Disclosure. Her work has premiered at major festivals like Sundance and Cannes, and aired on HBO, Netflix, and PBS. Upcoming projects include Judy Chicago Untitled, The Bend in the River, and One Point Five, set for release in early 2026.

Lisa Callif is a founding partner at Donaldson Callif Perez, is a leading entertainment attorney known for clearing legal hurdles for independent filmmakers. She specializes in fair use, copyright, and personal rights, with clients including Richard Linklater, the Safdie Brothers’ Elara, and Artists Equity. She has advised on major docs like The Only Girl in the Orchestra and co-authored three books on legal issues in filmmaking. Lisa frequently speaks and writes on entertainment law and teaches at UCLA and industry events.

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LEGAL VISION – Empowering creators with the tools to tell bold stories—legally and ethically.

Episode Summary:
In this episode we sit down with Dale Nelson, a legal trailblazer whose career spans blockbuster franchises, international IP strategy, and a lifelong defense of creative freedom.

Dale joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2019, bringing with her over 25 years of experience from Warner Bros. Entertainment, where she served as Vice President and Senior Intellectual Property Counsel. At the studio, Dale played a pivotal role in protecting and managing the rights to some of the most influential entertainment properties of our time — from the Harry Potter universe and DC Comics to the studio’s legacy catalog of classic films and shows.

Her work covered every facet of IP law across the globe — including rights clearance, production and marketing approvals, piracy strategy, and legislative policy — and her expertise was trusted by nearly every division at Warner Bros.

Prior to Warner Bros. , she was a litigator at Lyon & Lyon, handling IP enforcement and protection for a broad range of industries. She’s also a respected educator, having lectured at Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Southwestern, Loyola, and the University of Barcelona.

Today, Dale works with a new generation of storytellers: independent filmmakers, documentarians, podcasters, artists, and creatives who are reshaping the narrative landscape. She helps them understand their rights, navigate fair use and free speech issues, clear material safely, and protect their stories without compromising their vision.

From courtroom battles to classroom lectures, Dale’s voice has become a trusted resource for understanding how intellectual property law intersects with expression and innovation.

Topics Covered:

• What it's like to be Senior IP Counsel at a major Hollywood studio

• Real-world lessons from managing global franchises like Harry Potter and DC Comics

• How to approach rights clearance as an independent creator

• The legal blind spots that can derail a project — and how to avoid them

• Understanding international copyright, moral rights, and rights of publicity

• The balance between free speech and intellectual property

• What creators need to know before hitting “publish” or “record”

This is a must-listen for anyone who creates, publishes, or distributes content — and wants to do it safely, confidently, and with integrity.

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W: https://donaldsoncallifperez.com

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of The Filmmaker’s Legal Lens, we sit down with Chris Perez, partner at the entertainment law firm Donaldson + Callif + Perez, to unpack the financial and legal realities of getting your film made and distributed.

Chris brings deep insight from years of working with independent producers, helping them navigate equity raises, tax credits, debt financing, and investor negotiations—while also planning ahead for deliverables, rights clearance, and distribution readiness.

You’ll hear how to avoid common traps, like giving away too much backend too early, failing to budget for legal review, or structuring deals that disincentivize distributors from getting involved. This episode is packed with strategy—not theory—for filmmakers at any stage of production.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

Preparing for Distribution – Legal & Practical Strategy

• Why distribution needs to be baked into financing discussions
• What buyers and streamers look for in your chain of title and deal memos
• The legal deliverables checklist: what you need before you sell
• Why lack of legal planning kills good projects in post-production

Next Episode:

Coming up: Dale Nelson, partner at Donaldson Callif Perez and expert in fair use law, joins us to discuss how to protect your right to tell the story that needs to be told—especially when it's controversial, sensitive, or legally risky.

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Episode Description:
In this episode, we sit down with Alex Yousefzadeh, a seasoned attorney at Donaldson Callif Perez. From his early academic days at NYU to his specialized legal training at Southwestern Law, Alex has carved a niche helping filmmakers and creatives tackle everything from rights acquisition to distribution.

Topics covered include:

• What fair use really means in a production setting
• The mystery of orphan works and how Alex helps clients solve it
• Navigating production legal issues from development to distribution
• Why storytelling matters—even in legal briefs

Guest Bio:
Alex Yousefzadeh joined Donaldson Callif Perez in 2015 . He earned his B.A. from NYU’s Gallatin School and his J.D. from Southwestern Law School, where he focused on intellectual property and entertainment law. Alex also created innovative tools to help clients trace copyright holders—work that remains crucial in an industry often limited by the lack of orphan works legislation.

Resources & Mentions:

• Donaldson Callif Perez (https://www.donaldsoncallif.com)
• Fair Use Doctrine Overview
• U.S. Copyright Office: Orphan Works
• NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study
• Southwestern University School of Law

Episode Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Madison Karsenty, Partner at Donaldson Callif Perez LLP, to explore the legal framework supporting today’s most compelling media and entertainment projects. Madison shares how her practice spans every stage of the production process—from rights acquisition and clearance to financing and distribution—and unpacks the legal risks tied to defamation and personal rights in documentary content.

Topics Covered:

• Madison’s path to becoming a Partner at a leading entertainment law firm
• Key legal challenges facing documentary filmmakers today
• Trends in defamation lawsuits and how creators can stay protected
• Insights from her co-authored article on balancing risk in non-fiction storytelling
• The importance of mentorship and legal education in shaping the next generation of media attorneys

Guest Bio:
Madison Karsenty is a Partner at Donaldson Callif Perez LLP, specializing in entertainment and media law. Recognized by Variety and Realscreen as a rising leader in the field, she also serves as an adjunct professor at USC Gould School of Law and regularly speaks on legal panels at top universities.

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Episode Summary:
In this enlightening episode, Damien Swaby sits down with attorney and fair use advocate Michael Donaldson to explore the critical concept of "fair use." They discuss how it protects creators, common misconceptions, and practical examples that impact filmmakers, content creators, and digital storytellers alike.

What You’ll Learn:

• What fair use actually means

• Why it's essential for creators today

• How fair use applies to films, podcasts, and digital media

• Legal myths around copyright

• Real-world cases and success stories

Guest Bio:
Michael Donaldson is a veteran entertainment attorney and one of the leading experts on fair use law. His work has empowered independent filmmakers and creators to use copyrighted material legally and confidently.

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