Semester in LA

Calling all undergrads, graduates and potential students wanting to learn more about the entertainment industry. Columbia College offers students a chance to spend a semester in Los Angeles for five weeks and work on the Hollywood Studio lot with professionals in the industry. Experience what it is like to write a one-hour script or produce a feature screenplay. Have you ever wanted to produce your own music in the studio or know what it takes to sell a project after it is complete? If you answered yes to these questions then Columbia College Chicago is the place for you to be.

Columbia College offers classes in the following subjects:

• Journalism

• Screenwriting

• Producing

• Drama Writing for Television

• Acting

• Entertainment Marketing

• Adaptation

• Graduate Producing

• Comedy Writing for Television

• Directing

• Costume Design

• Music Composition Graduate

• Transmedia & Cross-Platform Development

• Graduate Journalism

This program does not offer financial aid, however, they do offer a chance to be chosen to receive a scholarship. The student will receive 12-16 credits for attending the five-week intense program. ON average students spend roughly between $1500-$2500 for the entire trip. Student is responsible for covering their food, travel and accommodations.  

Some of the places that students have received jobs or internships are:

• Lionsgate

• Phoenix Pictures

• The CW

• Ridley Scott & Scott Free

• CSI: NY

• The Gersh Agency

• Variety

• American Idol

• Fox Network

• Underground Films

• Warner Brothers

Having an opportunity to showcase your skills and talents you have learned in front of industry professionals is a chance of a lifetime. So many people wish they could sit in front of a producer or animator and gain the opportunity to impress them with their creativity. If you are an undergrad, graduate or potential student and looking to get your brand out there to the entertainment industry, please take the time to visit http://www.colum.edu/Academics/semester-in-la/about/.  

Breezy's Performing Arts Academy

Do you have a talented child? Can your child sing, act, dance or rap? Ever wanted to try out for American Idol or America's Next Top Model? Well if your child is between the ages of 5 and 14, bring them to Breezy's Performing Arts Academy.

Breezy's Performing Arts Academy or BPAA is a performing arts training program for children ages 5-14. BPAA is committed to training the next generations of dancers, singers, rappers and actors to serve the world. BPAA is a summer program offered to youth who want to succeed in the entertainment industry and also gain more knowledge in numerous fields of the arts.

Breezy's Performing Arts Academy’s mission is to educate youth how to become more polished in dance, theater and music. They train the youth to better themselves with their talents and skills and overcome any fear they may have within the arts program.

BPAA believes in building leadership skills and bringing the community together as one. They believe in providing positive role models to the youth and offering the children an opportunity to overcome any fears they may have and release them thru art instead of violence.

Stacey “Ms. Breezy” Gill is the Director and Founder of Breezy’s Performing Arts Academy. Ms. Breezy has worked with several major artists such as R. Kelly, Ginuwine, Idris Elba, Twista, Jagged Edge, Trina, Juelz Santana, Mindless Behavior, Young Dro and countless others. It doesn’t stop there! She has taken all of her experience and talent and solidified it by earning a degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management specializing in Music Business from Columbia College in December 2012. She currently is enrolled at Full Sail University getting her Masters degree in Entertainment Business. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about this phenomenal academy, please contact BPAA at www.bpaa.weebly.com. 

Industry Expert Podcast Research

Listening to a podcast done by Entertainment lawyers Gordon Firemark and Tamera Bennet, I realized how some legal liabilities could affect my performing arts academy business. The podcast was their 44^th episode and it revolved around different cases and controversies in the entertainment industry.

One of the topics the two lawyers discussed was the lawsuit against singer Robin Thicke and his hit song “Blurred Lines”. Marvin Gaye, a famous singer, songwriter and musician, had a song titled “Got to give it up”. Marvin Gaye is now deceased and his family is suing Robin Thicke over his song Blurred Lines, saying it sounds just like Marvin Gaye’s song, Got to Give it Up.

The Gaye’s family claims that Thicke’s song has the same feel and sound as Marvin Gaye’s song. Bridgeport Music is also claiming that Robin Thicke’s song sounds like Funkadelic’s song “Sexy Ways”. The three writers of the song Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke, Clifford Harris and Pharell Williams, countersued the family saying they did nor infringe on Gaye’s song and there were no similarities.

Tamera Bennet opinion was that the song Blurred Lines did not resemble Got to Give it Up. She claimed they were both easy to listen to but no infringement. In my opinion, I think the song is a resemblance of Gaye’s song. Robin Thicke also stated that Gaye’s song is one of his favorite songs of all time. Firemark made a good point when he said that if a lawyer was to bring in evidence that Thicke said comments like, “We should make a song like this”, or that “This is my favorite song of all time”, then he might be found guilty of copyright infringement and declaratory relief.

Breezy’s Performing Arts Academy has to be aware of stealing other people ideas and trying to find a way to make it their own. Sine my company is a performing arts academy, we create music and videos that are sometimes similar to other songs and videos. As long as we stay far away from infringing on another person’s sound or feel, we can protect our company from any lawsuits with out business.

Take a look below at the YouTube clip of Robin Thicke’s song and video of “Blurred Lines”.

In the second podcast that I listened to by the same lawyers above, they discussed the trademark issue between Will.I.Am And Pharell Williams. The issue between the two artists was that Will.I.Am. felt that Pharell Williams stole his “I Am” trademark. Will.I.Am has many registered trademarks, mainly I Am being one of them. Pharell is claiming copyright non-infringement, because his mark does not mean same thing as Will.I.Am mark.

Pharell’s company name is I.Am Other, meaning that he is something else. The argument is not over the I.Am symbolism, but, it is over the period in between the I and the Am that is symbolic to Will.I.Am’s brand. Will.I.Am also claims that Pharell has stolen other trademarks. Since both of the artists are on the same label, there could be confusion between the two of them. The question in this case is whether the period is a matter in this case. Will.I.Am is known for the period in his names. When you read Will.I.Am, you read it just as it looks, not William. There is not a ruling yet on this case, so what is your opinion? Should they settle or let it go to trial?

Breezy’s Performing Arts Academy needs to be aware of slogans or names that they use with their company. BPAA’s slogan is “All Kids R Our Kids”. In doing further research for this assignment, I found a website called AKROK Designs (http://www.akrokdesign.com/). My question is will this be a problem for my company? What if the company wanted to get a shirt with the acronyms A.K.R.O.K.? Will AKROK Design send us a cease and desist letter? BPAA has to be aware of trademark issues in other states and with Illinois, where the business is located. BPAA will definitely need to follow up on this possible issue.

Recent Legal Controversies

Hip Hop mogul Jay Z, is a successful businessman known for his rap skills, producing skills and clothing line, Rocawear. Rocawear has clothing for men, women and children. A t-shirt company called HoodLove, LLC is suing Jay Z over copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims that Jay Z created a t-shirt design that has the words “Hood Love” on it. HoodLove, LLC claims they have owned the rights to the phrase since 2006. The company does not want there to be any confusion with people thinking Rocawear and HoodLove, LLC are affiliated. HoodLove, LLC would like to receive monetary compensation for all the sales of the t-shirts by Rocawear along with a cease and desist of any future sales.

In my opinion, if HoodLove, LLC can prove in court that they own all the rights to the phrase HoodLove, then they should be able to receive compensation from Rocawear clothing. Rocawear should also have to cease and desist any future t-shirts being manufactured. However, if they only own the name for their company and not the phrase, Rocawear could possibly win the lawsuit and continue distribution.

The late great Marvin Gaye’s family is suing R&B singer Robin Thicke over copyright infringement. The family claims that Robin Thicke’s hit single “Blurred Lines” sounds just like Marvin Gaye’s song “Got to Give it Up”. Robin Thicke offered the family a six-figure amount to put a halt on any lawsuit but the family rejected the offer. Thicke also admitted that when he went into the studio to write the song, he wanted the song to remind him of his all time favorite song “Got to Give it Up”.

In my opinion, the beat sounds a lot like Marvin Gaye’s beat, just different words. Thicke did not use the same lyrics in his song “Blurred Lines” as Marvin Gaye’s song. However, if Thicke feels he did nothing wrong, then why are you suing the Gaye’s family? Copyright is supposed to protect you from copying someone else’s work. If Thicke had released his song without ever hearing Gaye’s song he would probably win this lawsuit. Since Thicke admitted to Gaye’s song being his all time favorite song, there is a possibility he will lose this lawsuit and have to pay royalties to the Gaye’s family.

The late great Martin Luther King Jr.’s children are in a trademark battle over MLK’s estate. Two of King’s sons are suing their sister Bernice King, who is over the estate, stating she has been careless with the use of King’s "name, image, recorded voice and memorabilia." The estate claims care of the property is unacceptable and susceptible to damage. The two brothers claim they have tried to work with the sister but their relationship has become strained. The estate wrote a letter to the King Center terminating the royalty-free licensing agreement.

In my opinion, when it comes to a family member being deceased, feelings and emotions get in the way of what the real problem is. When my parents passed in 2009 my siblings and I became further apart instead of closer. Financial strain, emotional stress and greed played a huge part in decision-making. I wonder if King’s children are in conflict about something else and the brothers are taking it out on Bernice thru the estate. If the courts deem the intellectual property as being damaged or not up-to-par, then I agree that she should lose all rights to the property. However, if the courts deem her fit and well to manage the trademarks of Dr. King, and that there are no damages to the property, than she should continue on being the estate holder of the King’s Center.

When dealing with my own company, Breezy Entertainment, I have to watch for copyright infringement with my artist’s. I have to make sure that they have clearance on any songs they may sample. When releasing my daughter’s clothing line in 2014, I must consider certain phrases on her t-shirts and make sure no one owns the copyrights to the words. Lastly, protecting my name, image and brand is very important to myself. If forever reason God takes me from this earth early, I would always want my legacy to live on. However, I would want my brand to be represented in the upmost respect and treated with dignity and pride.