Dave Stern is an entertainment lawyer who provides creative and practical solutions for complex matters in the areas of Sports, Entertainment and Corporate/Commercial Law. In particular, Dave’s practice focuses on audio-visual production, distribution and exploitation (films, television series, digital media projects), brand licensing, influencer representation and commercial transactions. Dave also represents labels, bands, producers and artists in the negotiation of recording, management and publishing agreements. In addition, Dave is involved in establishing optimal corporate structuring for his clients.

Dave has a unique sports background, as he previously worked in the legal departments of both the Oakland Raiders and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., where he was regularly involved in software licencing, the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, sponsorships, contests and promotions, collective bargaining, athlete/player contracts, broadcasting and distribution.

He has counselled 36 film & tv projects, including Blackberry, Seven Veils, Humane, and many more.

In this conversation, we dive into his journey and the world of movie-making. While having a strong story matters, it is important also to understand how to make a "successful" film, from a legal and business perspective.

Using the example of an independent film with less than 5 million in funding, we explore what is needed to get a film off the ground, including what legal protections you should have in place, the intricacies of film financing, attracting talent (both in front of and behind the camera), maximizing distribution opportunities, and more.

Lastly, as this was recorded during the writer & actor strikes, we discuss two main sticking points in those conversations - the future of residuals and AI in film and television.