HOLLYWOOD Q&A

Q: Are there any laws or rules around using the words “based on a true story”? Is there a certain amount of truth that has to be incorporated in order to use that teaser?

A: The only rule regarding saying something’s “based on a true story” is the old rule about not getting caught.

If there are people alive who can say with certainty that a film or show’s account is not true in some legally actionable way — if it defames or harms a person’s reputation, for example, then there can be a problem. But not an insurmountable problem.

“If it’s ‘based on a true story,’ you are often representing real people and therefore clearances may be required,” said Christos Michaels, a partner at the media law firm Lee & Thompson LLP, adding, “There are different laws in different countries about this.”

That, backed up by a particular type of insurance covering “errors and omissions,” means you can inject quite a bit of fiction into your truth.

Much of this, of course, stems from the vague phrase “based on,” and it gets more vague from there. Consider “inspired by” — using it means your story doesn’t need any direct connection to the truth.

“If a film is ‘inspired by a true story,’ then it tends to be the case that it’s just a concept for the idea rather than a fac-

tual account,” Michaels said. “In terms of characters, such a film would generally not try and portray anyone from the real story.”

Q: I loved the movie “Blood In, Blood Out” — it was my favorite of the ‘90s teen gang movies. But was that Benjamin Bratt in the starring role? I didn’t think he was around yet.

A: Benjamin Bratt didn’t really become a star until he premiered in “Law & Order” in 1995, but he was already showing a good deal of promise, particularly in “Blood In, Blood Out” two years earlier.

That film addressed the issue of street gangs in Los Angeles and was, as you point out, part of a brief cinematic trend that included other excellent films such as “Boyz n the Hood” (1991) and “Menace II Society” (1993). Bratt starred as one of three family members all embroiled, in one way or another, in East L.A. gang life.

It was certainly a breakout role for him, but he was already on producers’ radars. In fact, he’d already starred in two TV shows — “Nasty Boys” and “Knightwatch” — but neither made it past its first season.

He also had a small but notable role in the star-studded 1994 action thriller “Clear and Present Danger.”

Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.