On March 18, 2015, Chapman University Fowler School of Law Professor Kathy Z. Heller discussed The Legal Process for Independent Filmmakers at a Screen Actor’s Guild Foundation event at SAG’s Los Angeles studio. Speaking to an audience of actors, independent film producers, and directors, the presentation was broadcast live to the entire SAG membership and is now shared on SAG’s YouTube channel.

The talk was part of a series of informational presentations by and for SAG members. Prior speakers in the series have included major entertainment industry professionals, such as legendary television producer Norman Lear.

Kathy Z. Heller is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Law and Executive Director of the Entertainment Law Program at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law. She has served as Assistant General Counsel at United International Pictures, the foreign distribution company for MGM, United Artists, Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios, where her work included copyright, corporate, and employment law as well as negotiation and drafting of motion picture acquisition and distribution agreements. She was also Vice President and Special Counsel for Congressional Relations at the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., where she coordinated the formulation of policy and lobbying for the major U.S. motion picture studios. Since 1993 she has been in private practice representing corporations that provide products and services related to the entertainment industry, and corporations and individuals engaged in domestic and international media production and distribution. From January 2006 until joining the law school faculty in August 2007, she was the Director of the Media and Public Interest Institute at Chapman University’s Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. She is a member of Women in Film and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles.