Oklahoma native and veteran entertainment industry authority Jay Shanker has just released the third edition of his book, Entertainment Law and Business. Published by Juris Publishing, the 700-page comprehensive guide to the legal and business sides of the entertainment industry is now available in hardcover through the publisher, major online retailers and select retail specialty bookstores. Prior to relocating his legal practice to the Oklahoma-based law firm of McAfee & Taft in 2005, Shanker practiced law in Los Angeles for 25 years.
Last published in hardback in 2005, the third edition is not only updated and expanded to reflect recent changes in the industry, but also reorganized to reach a broader audience. With sections covering each of the major industry sectors, Entertainment Law and Business is billed as the go-to guide for practical insider information on the legal transactions involved in the most common major entertainment industry agreements and business deals.
Shanker’s intent with this new edition was to create an affordable and easily accessible resource not only for experienced entertainment industry lawyers, executives, entrepreneurs and creative artists, but also for individuals and businesses looking to enter the field, including artists, investors, attorneys and other businesspeople, helping to create a global entertainment community and giving those individuals a competitive edge. In addition to its exposition of both statutes and treaties controlling copyright, trademark and other intellectual property issues common to entertainment industry transactions in the U.S. and abroad, the book contains extended discussion of major industry transactions and trends in the motion picture, television, theatre, publishing and music arenas, as well as a set of over 50 contract forms on CD providing examples of common contracts in each of these fields.
As a 30-year veteran of entertainment industry deal-making at the highest levels, Shanker is experiencing first-hand a shift within the industry away from the customary ideas and practices that have become so iconic in mainstream film, television and music production and distribution. Having moved from ”Hollywood” to America’s heartland, he is one of many industry professionals now touting the potential for homegrown Oklahoma talent and resources to make a mark on the national and international scenes.
“New technologies are altering forever the way entertainment content is created, published and distributed. Major, highly capitalized brick and mortar companies have lost their ‘lock’ on that process,” says Shanker, “and the result is increasing opportunity for new talent and voices – whether in film, music or books – to find a sustaining commercial audience.”
“The new expanded edition of the book takes into account many of these changes in the way artists, entrepreneurs and companies in the entertainment industry do business, and delivers this information for the experienced industry professionals and lawyers which has been is traditional audience.” But according to Shanker, “Juris recognized that lots of newcomers are entering this arena at a dizzying rate with a need for a comprehensive reference to the way the industry conducts its business. Consequently Entertainment Law & Business also strives to be an entry point for artists, entrepreneurs and even non-specialist lawyers for understanding the complexities of deal-making in the key entertainment industry sectors of film, theatre, music and book publishing. For many just entering the industry, the price of the book is likely to be a much better investment than an hour consultation with an entertainment lawyer – since, after all, the book represents nearly a full century of its three authors’ combined entertainment law practice experience.”
Since returning to Oklahoma, Shanker has continued to serve his clients from coast to coast while immersing himself in the Oklahoma arts and entertainment community, sharing his insights and talents with Oklahoma and regional entertainment clients and with such organizations as the Oklahoma Creativity Project, Untitled [Art Space], deadCENTER Film Festival and Kamp’s Kabaret.
Shanker’s practice encompasses all aspects of entertainment, online and new media law. His business affairs and legal expertise extends to the development, production and distribution of television and motion picture programming, recorded music projects, live stage and events, book publishing, online and interactive media, and fine arts representation. During his career, Shanker has represented public, private and not-for-profit companies, along with individual producers, directors, writers, actors, musical artists, industry executives and entrepreneurs. His individual clients have over the years garnered prestigious international awards in every major creative media, including Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Clio award recognition.