Legal Casting Call! How Lawyers Can Secure a Role in NJ’s Television and Film Industry
Date: Dec 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, and Online
Member Price: $203.00
Non-Member Price: $254.00
Areas of Law: For All Attorneys
Earn up to 6.1 credits! (More Information)
Featured Speaker
- Basil Iwanyk
Moderator
Presenters
Presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Motion Picture Commission
New Jersey is emerging as the nation's third-largest film and television production hub, driving demand for localized legal expertise. Register today for this essential program to tap into the latest strategies you need to know from some of the state's leading experts, so that you can confidently navigate even the most complex entertainment law matters that come your way. As an attendee, you will learn how to identify new client pipelines in this growing ecosystem, and how to use that knowledge to get the best results in the matters you handle. Our panel of experts will also share the most important recent trends in production and media financing.
Beyond entertainment law, the panel will detail how these studio expansions create cross-disciplinary opportunities in corporate, real estate and tort law. You will learn how to handle contract negotiations and land use issues for production companies so you can take on these matters with confidence. You will come away with the strategies you need to secure new corporate clients and expand your practice in New Jersey's entertainment industry.
Learn the latest strategies for getting the best results in entertainment law and local production representation, including:
- How to position your firm to secure new clients in the entertainment sector.
- Contract negotiation and business formation for independent studios.
- Land use, zoning and local government relations for production sites.
- Production legal issues, talent representation and media financing.
- The unique legal demands of local film and television productions.
- The impact of studio expansions from the perspective of Thunder Road Films founder Basil Iwanyk.
Reserve your seat today.
Legal Casting Call! How Lawyers Can Secure a Role in NJ’s Television and Film Industry
Presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Motion Picture Commission
9:00 Welcome and Overview - Norberto Garcia, President, NJ State Bar Association
9:05 State of the Film and Television Industry in the State – Gov Sherrill?
9:15 Introduction to the Film and Television Industry in New Jersey and Its Many Opportunities for Lawyers – Evan Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority
9:40 Topic One – Twilight Zoning: Navigating Land Use Laws and Communicating with Local Governments and Communities
From soundstages and production facilities to location shoots that temporarily transform a neighborhood, New Jersey’s growing film and television industry brings a host of land use, zoning and municipal considerations. This panel will explore how attorneys can help productions, developers and local governments navigate approvals, permitting, community concerns and other legal issues that arise when Hollywood comes to town. It includes a discussion of “Film Ready New Jersey,” a five-step certification program of the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission (NJMPTVC). The program is designed to prepare municipalities to host motion picture and television productions by sharing useful information with local leaders on filming operations needed to support productions.
10:40 Break
10:50 Topic Two – The Firm: How to Make Your Firm Attractive to the Industry in Order
to Be Hired as Outside Counsel
11:40 Topic Three – A Studio Is Born: The Phases of Opening a Studio From Planning to Ribbon Cutting
What does it take to turn a development concept into a fully operational film studio? Using New Jersey’s emerging studio landscape as a backdrop, this panel will walk through the lifecycle of a major studio project. Panelists will talk through the many legal, business, real estate and reputational considerations that arise along the way and the roles attorneys can play at every stage.
12:30 Lunch
1:15 Featured Address by Basil Iwanyk, Founder of Thunder Road Films.
2:00 Topic Four – Lights, Camera, Commerce! - How Ancillary Industries Fit into NJ’s Film and TV Puzzle
The economic impact of film and television extends far beyond the studio gates. Productions rely on an ecosystem of hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, caterers, construction firms, equipment providers, professional services and countless other businesses. This panel will explore how New Jersey companies can become part of the film and television supply chain – and how attorneys can help those businesses navigate contracts, growth, risk and new opportunities. This will include NJ411 Production Services Directory and Take 2 Upcycling Program, which connects film and television productions with local educational, arts, and nonprofit groups to donate surplus set pieces, wardrobe, building materials, and props.
2:40 Break
2:50 Topic Five – Back to the Future: A Look Ahead for 2027
Where does New Jersey’s film and television industry go from here? This forward-looking conversation will examine the next phase of the state’s growth as a production destination, including studio development, workforce training, education, infrastructure and the evolving needs of productions and communities. Panelists will discuss the issues likely to shape the industry in 2027 and beyond, as well as where attorneys can find new opportunities as New Jersey’s film economy continues to develop.
3:30 Adjourn, Cocktail Hour
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