Sandra Forman is a Boston based entertainment lawyer.
Sandra’s clients include filmmakers, directors, screenwriters, book authors, talent, distributors, and new media makers. Sandy’s primary focus is the representation of independent film and television producers with a specialty in documentary filmmaking. She provides consultation and legal support for her clients as they move through all phases of their projects, from financing and development through production and distribution. Sandy is committed to helping her clients protect their works and further their success at all stages of creation and exploitation.
BACKGROUNDBefore starting her career as an entertainment lawyer in Boston, Sandra Forman worked at WGBH Public Television where she co-developed the Commercial Marketing Department and created ancillary distribution opportunities for WGBH programs worldwide. She later founded Forman Entertainment Group for the purpose of developing film and television projects and simultaneously became counsel to the Boston law firm of Budd, Wiley and Richlin.
In addition to her work as an entertainment lawyer, Sandy served for over 12 years as project director and legal counsel for the Eyes on the Prize Re-Release Project. Eyes on the Prize is the definitive documentary series on America’s Civil Rights Movement. In 2003, Sandy began to work with her client, Blackside, producer of Eyes on the Prize, to raise funds to clear the extensive rights in the series and prepare the 14 hours of programming for rebroadcast on PBS and distribution in the educational market. Her efforts resulted in major funding for the re-release of the series from the Ford Foundation, the Gilder Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In her role as project director, Sandra Forman managed all of the complex facets of this considerable endeavor and as the project’s lawyer, handled the legal contracts relating to rights renewal and distribution of the series.
PRACTICE AREASSandra Forman offers experienced legal representation across a wide range of practice areas in the fields of entertainment and copyright law which include:
Financing, production and distribution agreements in connection with film, television and new media projects and scripted and unscripted television series
Production legal work
Licensing deals with commercial and public television networks, studios, cable entities, and production and distribution companies
Optioning of literary and life story rights
Legal review of films and literary work to evaluate potential rights violations including invasion of privacy, defamation and copyright infringement
Advising on copyright matters
Rights clearances and licensing
Fair use and first amendment analysis
Writing opinion letters in support of errors and omissions insurance coverage
Book publishing contracts
Talent agreements
Writer, producer and director agreements
Collaboration and co-production agreements, domestic and foreign
SPEAKER & PANELISTSandra Forman is a frequent guest speaker at universities, conferences, and media organizations. Sandy has been a panelist and conducted round table discussions and free legal clinics for such organizations and events as: Making Media Now Conference, Center for Independent Documentary, Women in Film & Video NE, the Vermont International Film Festival, the Maine Jewish Film Festival, the Boston Documentary Summit, Northampton Film Festival, Massachusetts Production Coalition, Woods Hole Film Festival, and Kopkind/CID Filmmakers Retreat Seminars.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONSFilmmakers Collaborative, Board of Directors
Women in Film and Video New England, Advisory Board
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of MA, Pro Bono Panel
Massachusetts Production Coalition, Consulting Attorney
EDUCATIONUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison, B.A., Art History
Northeastern University Law School, Boston, J.D.
Telephone: 781-453-9887
Fax: 781-453-9897
Webmail Contact:
Law Office of Sandra Forman
1150 Great Plain Avenue, #920134
Needham, MA 02492
Entertainment Law Boston
(c) 2022 Sandra G. Forman, Esq.