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WIFM Members Short Film
Showcase

WIFM is proud to present a special showcase of films created by our talented members on Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 PM, followed by a Q&A at the Lindsay Theater in Sewickley.

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Join us for an evening celebrating local filmmakers and a diverse collection of stories. Come early to enjoy the vibrant restaurants and shops in Sewickley before the show. Tickets are free, but we encourage you to reserve your spot in advance as seating is limited.

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Women in Film and Media (WIFM) Pittsburgh invites filmmakers, producers, content creators, and industry professionals to an exclusive legal panel discussion addressing the legal questions facing the film industry in Pittsburgh and beyond. This informative session brings together experienced entertainment attorneys to demystify legal matters - from development through distribution - and empower creatives at every level to protect their work, their vision, and their financial interests. Whether you're producing your first short film or managing a multi-million dollar feature, join us for practical, actionable insights on contracts, intellectual property, labor laws, and the unique considerations of working in Pennsylvania's growing film market.

Topics will include:

  • Contract Drafting & Negotiating: From both sides of the table – what actors need to know, crew should watch out for, and info for producers to draft solid contracts.

  • Intellectual Property Use & Protection: Protecting your work and legally using others'.

  • Non-Disclosure Agreements - What to include when drafting, red flags when signing, and real consequences of breaking them. We'll cover why that behind-the-scenes photo can cost you - and yes, studios do enforce these.

  • Labor & Employment Law: Independent contractor classifications and on-set legalities.

  • Distribution Agreements: Understanding rights, territories, and revenue sharing.

  • Risk Management: Insurance, liability, and protecting your production.

Who should attend?

  • Independent filmmakers and producers

  • Directors and screenwriters

  • Production coordinators and managers

  • Content creators and digital media professionals

  • Film students and emerging industry talent

  • Anyone interested in the business side of filmmaking

Meet the Panel

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Stephanie Dangel

Asst. Professor of Practice, Director, Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law Online Certificate Program

Prof. Dangel serves as Faculty Director of the Pitt Law School externship program and teaches courses in entertainment law, transactional drafting, social innovation and commercializing new technologies. She also co-directs a series of public Start Smart Law seminars and workshops for law students and entrepreneurs from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and the greater Pittsburgh community. While at Pitt Law School, she has delivered speeches and published articles on using law and social innovation training to prepare law students for 21st Century careers. Prior to joining Pitt Law School, Prof. Dangel enjoyed successful careers as a non-profit executive, documentary filmmaker, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart associate, and a law clerk for Judge Pierre Leval of the Southern District of New York and Justice Harry Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court. She has degrees from Yale Law School (J.D.), the University of Pennsylvania (B.A/M.A. in Political Science and B.S in Economics) and Oxford University (B.A. in Modern History), where she was a Rhodes Scholar.

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Cecilia R Dickson

Partner, The Webb Law Firm

Cecilia R. Dickson is an accomplished trial lawyer with deep experience in intellectual property litigation and a proven track record of success in complex, high-stakes disputes. Her practice spans patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, contract and tort claims, as well as non-compete enforcement and unfair competition claims. Cecilia also handles regulatory investigations and governmental inquiries, and provides e-discovery strategy. Cecilia manages and oversees Webb’s trademark practice, and has significant experience crafting global brand protection strategies for clients across many varied industries. Cecilia has served as lead trial counsel, and has experience handling cases involving cutting-edge technologies, including telecommunications, optics, software, electrical and mechanical systems, and sustainable building materials. Her clients span a wide array of sectors—from medical devices, robotics, and nutritional science, to fashion, consumer goods, hospitality, and the energy industry. She has successfully represented clients before federal and state trial and appellate courts, as well as before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the Court of International Trade (CIT), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). An authority in trademark law, Cecilia oversees prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and strategic brand management for national and international trademark portfolios. She is frequently called upon for intellectual property due diligence in corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and licensing and technology transfer arrangements. Cecilia is a court-approved mediator for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where she has also been appointed as an e-discovery special master and served on the advisory committee for the local patent rules. A prolific author and sought-after speaker, Cecilia lectures regularly on intellectual property litigation, e-discovery, IP strategy, legal ethics, and risk management. Cecilia served as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section (2011-2012), the President of the Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association (2011-2012), and the Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Civil Litigation Section (2014-2015). She is a founding master and former President (2016-2018) of the Q. Todd Dickinson Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.

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Jeffrey Pollock

Law & Mediation office of
Jeffrey L Pollock, Esq.

As an Attorney, Collaborative Settlement Advocate, Mediator, and Peace-Making Problem-Solver, Jeffrey Lawrence Pollock has devoted his 39 year law career to helping people settle disputes. Jeff's B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (majoring in Psychology and Criminology) and his J.D. from Pitt provided the grounding to best utilize the law to help his clientele maximize their options. Jeff was trained in Mediation in 1995 at Duquesne; then he co-founded CLASP (Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania) after being certified in 2006 in Rochester, NY to best use his even-handed temperament to help disputing people get their desired outcomes in a fair and balanced manner. Jeff has maintained a solo practice in Sq. Hill since 1989 that concentrates in Family Law but also focuses on Criminal Defense, Wills & POAs & Probate, Guardianship, and Entertainment Law. His CLE teaching roles have covered the topics of Divorce, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Delinquency/Dependency Ethics, and Landlord-Tenant issues. Jeff's track record of community service to NLSA, YWCA, Hosanna House, Father's Rights Groups, military veterans, etc. help him use compassion for anyone unfortunately thrust into unfortunate legal situations. He uses an empathetic approach to counsel people hoping for a just legal outcome. He has been recognized for his Pro Bono work as the PBA 1999 Outstanding Young Lawyer, a PG Community Champion, and an ACBF Fellow nominee. When he is not solving people's problems, he likes to play golf, tennis, pickleball, and softball. He watches too many TV shows and movies; but he claims that helps him with his acting in local musicals, plays, and TV commercials. His most recent achievement was playing the lead role of the Chauffeur for 5 international TV ads for "Book-A-Limo.com. He is especially proud of having performed on the Byham stage for 19 of the 25 years of the "Off The Record" musical parody that raised almost $1M total for the Food Bank.

Meet Our Moderator

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Megan McLachlan

Megan McLachlan is co-founder of the film and TV awards advocacy site The Contending. Her work also has appeared in Awards Daily, Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, The Cut, Paste, Thrillist, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and The Washington Post. Follow her at @heydudemeg and listen to her on the Contending at the Water Cooler podcast.

 

FURTHER OUT:

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Our Mission

Women in Film and Media (WIFM) Pittsburgh is a nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to improve the status and portrayal of women in film, television, and other screen-based media in Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond. We serve our community by facilitating their access to opportunities in the industry. In addition, we lend our services to non-profit organizations helping women and children. Our programs and events include workforce skills development through mentoring and training workshops, production of public service announcements for non-profits dedicated to women and children, and industry partnerships that further our mission.

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Our Activities

We serve our community by facilitating their access to opportunities in the industry. In addition, we lend our services to non-profit organizations helping women and children. Our programs and events include workforce skills development through mentoring and training workshops, production of public service announcements for non-profits dedicated to women and children, and industry partnerships that further our mission. WIFM is a chapter of Women In Film & Television International (WIFTI), a global network comprising over 50 chapters worldwide with more than 15,000 members, dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women in industry.

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SCHOLARSHIPS

Women in Film and Media presents several scholarships to women from Southwestern Pennsylvania enrolled in a film or television production curriculum. The scholarships are presented in connection with the Opal Awards or Film Festival that honors high achievement of women in film and television.

If you would like to make a donation to Women In Film please click here:

(WIFM Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization)

General Questions and Inquiries:   info@wifmpit.org

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