When it comes to legal concerns, there are a number of books on the subject. However, there are two books that I immediately consider and recommend to new filmmakers. If you haven't read either one, I would highly recommend them both.
Paul Battista is an entertainment lawyer that does a good job of breaking down legal concerns for the low-budget filmmaker, as his legal firm actively helps many low-budget filmmakers. More than that, however, unlike most entertainment lawyers, Battista is also a filmmaker, having written, directed, and produced a low-budget feature film that was picked up for distribution by Warner Brothers.
Thomas A. Crowell, Esquire, is an entertainment lawyer that really breaks down all the different levels of legal concerns you need to be aware of when shooting films. This is really designed as a reference manual for filmmakers, so that, when you're uncertain about whether a trademark can show up on screen, or what sorts of things can be safely used in your script, you can flip right to the correct location!
