12 November

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AFM-26: How Film Financing Really Works Today — Pre-Sales vs. True MG Deals

I attended the American Film Market in 2023, 2025, and 2026, and I decided to update this article following my most recent experience because, despite the passage of time, very little has changed in the fundamental economics of independent film financing and distribution. At AFM 2023, I rented a booth representing the Law Offices of Ernest Goodman. Although the event provided valuable networking opportunities, the venue was poorly suited for a market of that size. Meetings frequently took place in crowded hotel hallways, and the elevators could not accommodate the volume of attendees. Waiting twenty or thirty minutes just to reach...

07 November

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Why Long-Term Strategy Matters in Immigration Litigation

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Constitutional law, Immigration Law, Legal Advice

Survivorship Bias, Unrealistic Expectations, and the Danger of Rejecting Honest Legal Advice In immigration litigation, one of the most important principles is also one of the most difficult for clients to accept: a successful legal strategy must account for the possibility of losing....

04 November

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Grasping at Straws Is a Bad Strategy

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Civil Procedure, Constitutional law, Copyright Law, Entertainment Law, Immigration Law, Legal Advice, Uncategorized

Why chasing unlikely outcomes, ignoring probabilities, and falling victim to survivorship bias can cost you everything Whether you're dealing with immigration law, filmmaking, business, investing, or even your personal life, one principle remains the same: grasping at straws is a bad strategy....

02 November

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The $2 Million Ego: Why Non-Filmmakers Fail

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law

About ten years ago, I met a man who had $2 million to spend on making a movie. He had written a screenplay and was looking for a director. At first, it sounded like a promising opportunity. Independent filmmakers are always looking for financing, and $2 million is a substantial budget for an independent feature....

31 October

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REALITY CHECK: HOW OFTEN DOES IMMEDIATE RELEASE HAPPEN

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Constitutional law, Immigration Law

Based on my own observations and discussions with fellow immigration attorneys who regularly litigate habeas corpus petitions, immediate, unconditional release occurs in approximately 1–5% of cases. Even in California and NY, my estimate is closer to 1-5%....

29 October

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Reality Check: Film School Doesn’t Open the Door to Hollywood

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law

Why a degree from a prestigious film school is not comparable to a law or medical degree — and why aspiring filmmakers should consider building their own businesses instead of waiting to be hired....

29 October

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When Hollywood Fame Fades, but the Attitude Doesn’t

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Copyright Law, Entertainment Law

Why independent filmmakers should think twice before hiring former celebrities — and how contracts and artificial intelligence can protect their productions. Over the years, I have encountered several situations in which independent filmmakers hired former Hollywood stars who had enjoyed considerable fame in the 1980s or 1990s....

28 October

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Why I Don’t Post My Family Members on Social Media

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in cybersecurity, Legal Advice

When I was teaching Information Security Management at UCLA Extension, one of the important subjects I covered was Operational Security (OPSEC). It is an essential component of information security that focuses on identifying and protecting sensitive information that could be exploited by individuals with malicious intentions....

12 October

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Appeals in Federal Circuit Courts: Procedural Law Matters

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Civil Procedure, Constitutional law, Immigration Law

An immigration case is not necessarily lost simply because an immigration judge denies asylum, withholding of removal, or another form of relief. Likewise, an unfavorable decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) does not always mean that all available legal remedies have been exhausted....

26 September

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Morozova v. Blanche: Another Ninth Circuit Case Moving Toward Oral Arguments

Posted by Ernest Goodman

in Civil Procedure, Constitutional law, Immigration Law

Another piece of good news from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Morozova v. Blanche, No. 25-4067, is being considered for an upcoming oral argument calendar in Pasadena. The Ninth Circuit has advised counsel that the case is being considered for a 2027 Pasadena sitting and has requested that the parties identify any scheduling conflicts....

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