Labor Law and the Entertainment Industry

This course studies labor law through the lens of the entertainment industry, where the collective bargaining relationship between the studios and their unionized employees undergirds almost every facet of “Hollywood.” The actors, directors, writers, and crew of the major television shows and motion pictures you know and love are members of their respective unions. This course will demonstrate how that reality shapes the industry--from the negotiation of the talent agreement to the distribution of the project and everything in-between. At the conclusion of the course, I will provide you with three potential essay topics touching on material covered during the course. You will have one week to draft a three- to five-page essay on one of those topics of your choosing. This class is pass/fail.