MALCOLM RANGER-MURDOK

Attorney
Business Affairs, Inc

Interview

• Where are you originally from?
  Brooklyn, New York

• Where do you currently reside?
  Los Angeles, California

• What prompted you to get into the entertainment industry?
  I am a huge baseball fan and initially intended to pursue a career in sports, but in law school, I learned that sports and entertainment law are essentially comprised of the same areas of law - contracts, employment and intellectual property - and this prompted me to expand my career aspirations. I pursued jobs in both fields and was fortunate enough to get some traction in the entertainment field and have not looked back since.

• Please outline the services you provide for clients and any specialties.
  We pride ourselves on being a "one-stop shop" law firm providing services to our clients (whether they are producers, production companies, distributors and/or talent) on all facets of the entertainment process from development through production and distribution. We negotiate, draft and review a wide range of agreements including rights, co-production, financing, above-the-line/below-the-line talent and distribution agreements.

• What type of clients do you typically represent? What factors do you consider when deciding which clients to take on?
  We specialize in representing producers, distributors and financiers, but also represent some talent clients. As long as there is a certain level of respect and understanding, I am willing to work with any client.

• What is one thing people would be surprised to know about your profession? What is one of the biggest misconceptions?
  There is a surprising amount of specialties within entertainment law. Some lawyers only focus on film or television, while others only represent talent, or draft distribution/license agreements. A lawyer's responsibilities and day-to-day can vary significantly based on their specialty.

• What are some challenges or obstacles you have faced as an African-American in this profession?
  Learning how to respond to and handle microaggressions in a constructive and meaningful way.

• What do you think can be done to improve diversity with regards to representation?
  I think since we are in sort of a renaissance of film and television, where more and more diverse storytellers are now able to produce and tell their stories, there just needs to better avenues to connect these storytellers with diverse representatives. Most of my personal clients have been through word of mouth.

• What advice would you have for other African-Americans looking to enter this profession?
  Even though this can feel like a cutthroat industry, keep dreaming and keep thriving. Someone, somewhere will see your hustle and give you a shot.

• What is the best way for people to get in touch with you?
  Linkedin or email