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Contact Hetz and Jones to discuss your Entertainment Law issues. We handle matters in all areas of Entertainment, such as:
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Film |
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Television |
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Art |
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Music |
Partner James Hetz has extensive experience in the entertainment industry. As an attorney, he has represented film and television producers, directors, screenwriters, stunt companies, film and television production companies, music bands, songwriters, actors, solo music artists, and independent record labels.
While in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Hetz engaged in work in film and television as a background actor on a full-time basis, eventually earning eligibility for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Additionally, he pursued positions in artist representation at large agencies such as William Morris Agency, Abrams Artists Agency, and United Talent Agency.
He worked in the production and legal departments in Nu Image/Millennium Films where he handled daily production matters, including script budget review, above the line/below the line agreements and offers, dailies, and preparation of film projects for sale to domestic film distributors, performed copyright chain of title on extensive film library, reviewed, edited and revised film and music publishing, administration, and collection contracts. Film productions included above the line talent like Kiefer Sutherland, Juliette Lewis, William Hurt, Shelley Duval, Courtney Love, Billy Zane, Robert Downey Jr., Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Ron Silver, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dean Cain, Thomas Ian Griffith, Melanie Griffith, Patrick Swayze, Penelope Ann Miller, Kenneth Branagh, Robin Wright Penn, Lynn Redgrave, Dennis Hopper, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Anne Heche, Michelle Williams, Marissa Ribisi, Michael Rapaport, Giovanni Ribisi, Skeet Ulrich, Russell Wong, Tom Berenger, Tom Berenger, Jeremy Sisto, and Amanda Peet.
In the music business, he has been involved in an executive capacity of an upstart record company, Wilderness 9 Records.
As a lifelong musician he has a deep appreciation for the struggles independent musicians and music professionals face in the business side of music. He has had several associates and former band members attain commercial success (Jett Beres, Sister Hazel; Andy Levine, Sixthman Entertainment-Sister Hazel)(Jeff Cameron, Jeff Hanson Management & Promotions and an
Executive Producer for Creed and Alter Bridge).
Some of his notable accomplishments include: negotiating an option contract on a client's screenplay with Hollywood film and television actor Joel David Moore. The deal was originally struck with Sodium Entertainment in Burbank, California. Mr. Hetz also negotiated a four album recording and distribution deal for the artist MADPO aka Queeno with DM Records/Ichiban Records. The deal resulted in the release of MADPO's song "What U Drankin' On" on the compilation CD "Bootleg Crunk" which spent four weeks on the Billboard charts. He has also developed private placement memoranda (PPM) for independent film producers to raise financing for their respective film projects.
Most recently, Mr. Hetz was appointed an Associate Professor of Law at the Barkley School of Law and taught Entertainment and Sports Law to second and third year law students. Additionally, he is an Instructor of Law at Barry University School of Law teaching courses in Copyright Law and Intellectual Property Law.
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