When I talk to writers, artists and other creative people with ideas for a film, television show, or other production the first thing they often want to do is start talking to other people about it. Sometimes they only have an idea in mind, or more often they have some pitch materials, a treatment, a bible, some storyboards or an entire screenplay. But whatever it is, they want to get other people excited about their project so they can get their film or television show produced.

I call them “creative entrepreneurs.” Their creative aspirations, ideas and materials are often the only assets they have. If they don’t establish ownership of these assets they may never see their dreams become realities, or profit from them even if they are produced.