Film and Game Queries Now Accepted!
Arts Law has decided to reinstate our legal advice services for Australia’s screen and video game creators despite the fact that in 2014 we lost all our funding from Screen Australia. This was a direct result of the $38 million funding cut to Screen Australia by the Federal Government. We understand that getting the legal issues right is vital for successful screen and video game projects and that you need our services.
If Arts Law has helped you recently (or in the past) please help us to continue to provide our services by doing 2 things:
- Write or email the politicians and Screen Australia responsible for these cuts and explain why Arts Law is important (we’ve included below text from a sample letter for the Minister for the Arts and Screen Australia to make it easy), and
- Make a donation to Arts Law (even small amounts help!) Donate here.
Sample Letter for the Minister for the Arts (copy and paste)
[Insert date]
Senator Brandis, Minister for the Arts
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Minister
I understand that in July 2014 Screen Australia cut all of the Arts Law’s funding for the legal advice and other support services they provide to screen and game creators nationally. I understand that Screen Australia did this because its funding was cut by the Federal Government by $38 million. With help from Screen Australia, Arts Law has been delivering their services to screen and game creators nationally for over 20 years. Without some form of ongoing support this work is threatened. [Screen/Game] creators such as me rely on Arts Law for this support which is otherwise not affordable.
Over many years, Arts Law has not only developed legal expertise and a great pro bono support network, but the following suite of services for Australia’s screen and game communities:
Free legal advice for individual screen and game creators and low cost advice for screen and game organisations, production companies and partnerships;
Low cost document review services for screen and game creators;
Development and maintenance of resources for screen and game creators such as sample agreements and information sheets;
Seminar programs to help screen and game creators understand the legal issues affecting them;
Provision of legal advice to festivals and competitions to ensure best practice for screen and game creators participating in these events.
Arts Law provides low cost accessible legal assistance and resources which are absolutely essential for any successful screen or game project. Without Arts Law’s help it would have been really hard for me to get these basic legal issues right. On behalf of myself and others like me, I ask you to reconsider the important role Arts Law plays in the ecology of screen organisations which support screen and game creators around Australia and ensure their funding is reinstated.
Yours sincerely
Your name
Contact details
Sample Letter for Screen Australia (copy and paste)
[Insert date]
Mr Graeme Mason, CEO
Screen Australia
PO Box 3984
Sydney NSW 2001
Dear Mr Mason
I understand that in July 2014 Screen Australia cut all of Arts Law’s funding for the legal advice and other support services they provide to screen and game creators nationally. I understand that Screen Australia did this because its funding was cut by the Federal Government. I urge Screen Australia to reconsider its decision. With help from Screen Australia, Arts Law has been delivering their services to screen creators nationally for over 20 years and now extends its services to game developers as well. Without some form of ongoing support this work is threatened. [Screen/Game] creators such as me rely on Arts Law for this support which is otherwise not affordable.
Over many years, Arts Law has not only developed legal expertise and a great pro bono support network, but the following suite of services for Australia’s screen and game communities:
Free legal advice for individual screen and game creators and low cost advice for screen and game organisations, production companies and partnerships;
Low cost document review services for screen and game creators;
Development and maintenance of resources for screen and game creators such as sample agreements and information sheets;
Seminar programs to help screen and game creators understand the legal issues affecting them;
Provision of legal advice to festivals and competitions to ensure best practice for screen and game creators participating in these events.
With the support of Screen Australia, Arts Law has developed a reputation of providing low cost accessible legal assistance and resources which are absolutely essential for any successful screen or game project.
Without Arts Law it would have been really hard for me to get these basic legal issues right. On behalf of myself and others like me, I ask you to reconsider the important role Arts Law plays in the ecology of screen organisations which support screen and game creators around Australia and reinstate their funding.
Yours sincerely
Your name
Contact details