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Lightning Box Media’s journey from the lab to the screen, backed by Lawpath

An Australian science video production company helping research organisations tell their stories — with company setup, contracts and legal advice handled so its founder can focus on filming.

2 companies

both registered through Lawpath with zero prior legal experience

Since 2023

Lawpath there from her very first production company

Built from scratch

an MSA and contractor contracts, made with a commercial lawyer

Beyond AI

AI to get started, a real lawyer to get it right

Advice covered by Lawpath

IP & trademarks
Contract drafting
Company registration
Compliance advice
1 The challenge

Starting a business with zero legal experience

Maddie’s background is in science — she went from scientist to TV and radio presenter before founding a production company. When she started her first, Red Moon Media, in 2023, she had no idea how to run a business or handle compliance. She needed a proper structure because she’d be working with contractors and had a government grant to account for, and she wanted every system set up correctly from the start. As a startup with limited funds, she needed something approachable, educational and affordable.

"

I had no clue about how to run a business or any of the compliance things associated with that.

Maddie Massy

Founder, Lightning Box Media

2 The solution

AI to get started, a real lawyer to get it right

A friend recommended Lawpath, and Maddie registered both her companies through it. When a large video production project required a Master Services Agreement she’d never used before, she tried drafting one with AI — helpful for outlining the focus areas, but it missed a lot and didn’t reflect her situation. So she booked a consultation with commercial lawyer Stacy Allen, who built the contract with her from scratch, spent time understanding exactly how her business runs, and helped her negotiate — telling her when it was reasonable to push back and when a client’s request was simply standard.

"

With AI it always wants to agree with you. Stacy would tell me, no, that’s very standard, or yes, that’s totally reasonable — and that context was really helpful.

Maddie Massy

Founder, Lightning Box Media

3 Impact & growth

Knowing what you don’t know

The biggest shift for Maddie has been the confidence that things are set up correctly. Starting out, she worried she could be non-compliant in ways she wouldn’t even know about — there’s no universal checklist handed to new business owners. Having guidance early meant avoiding the pain of the shortcuts that had caught her out before. Even when legal work feels expensive or slow, she’s found that getting it right early is genuinely valuable.

"

You don’t know what you don’t know. It’s really important to have guidance at the beginning so you avoid a lot of pain down the track.

Maddie Massy

Founder, Lightning Box Media

4 Future aspirations

From a portfolio of projects to a broadcast series

For the rest of the year, Maddie is focused on building Lightning Box Media’s portfolio with clients across Australia, creating a strong bank of work to show prospective partners. Next comes a second full-time hire — likely a producer to span the different projects — and the long-term dream is a large-scale science series for a streamer or broadcaster.

"

The long-term goal would be to create a series that’s really large scale for a streamer or a broadcaster — maybe eight episodes, something really amazing.

Maddie Massy

Founder, Lightning Box Media

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