Filming a School Play

235 Studios

235 Studios

Veteran
So I've been approached by a local high school to film their plays and I was wonding if anyone knows of any copyright issues that I should be aware of ... copies of the final video will be sold on DVD. Thanks for your help, and input. :beer:
 
copyright issues? Is it original material?

If it's established work then selling the DVD's might be an issue but I highly doubt anyone would try to sue you guys. I mean it's not like your going to sell 150,000 copies or even 1,000..... right?
 
Unfortunately it will not be original work. Usually I film events that contain original work so that the whole copyright issue is easier to handle. I assume that the plays have some sort of copyright to them ... I'm doing some searching on google, but thought I wold check here to see if anyone else has any expierence, or thoughts on the issue. (It's for a local high school, so I can't imagine that more then 100 copies would be sold.)
 
If it is not an original work or is in the public domain, then selling the videos will be a copyright infringement. Weither you get away with it or not is one thing, but I believe that the school district would have a problem with incurring any liability risk.

From my understanding, schools have to pay modest amounts for the right to do their public performances of copyrighted plays. The head of the drama department should know that.

Get them to do Shakespeare, then you'd be alright.

This was discussed well on another forum.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=50161
 
Thanks for the link, and the advice. I think that the plays are all contemporary, so I'll have to see about paying rolalities.
 
waltind said:
Thanks for the link, and the advice. I think that the plays are all contemporary, so I'll have to see about paying rolalities.
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Translation: Hmmm... I wish I wouldn't have bothered posting about this now. Screw it! I'm just gonna do it and not worry about it.


:grin:
 
Terry_Lasater said:
Translation: Hmmm... I wish I wouldn't have bothered posting about this now. Screw it! I'm just gonna do it and not worry about it.


:grin:
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That's pretty much what I did with the High School plays I shot. We never sold enough copies for it to become an issue.
 
waltind said:
So I've been approached by a local high school to film their plays and I was wonding if anyone knows of any copyright issues that I should be aware of ... copies of the final video will be sold on DVD. Thanks for your help, and input. :beer:
Click to expand...

Ryan, as interesting as the answers you're getting are, the answer to your question is simple.

"I've been approached by a local high school to film their plays", you are supplying a service, filming their plays. The responsibility is with the high school as to handling any "issues" as to rights if there are any future sales . You are not in that loop.
 
pookie said:
Ryan, as interesting as the answers you're getting are, the answer to your question is simple.

"I've been approached by a local high school to film their plays", you are supplying a service, filming their plays. The responsibility is with the high school as to handling any "issues" as to rights if there are any future sales . You are not in that loop.
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I concur with the Hudson wannabe. :thumbsup:
 
Terry_Lasater said:
Translation: Hmmm... I wish I wouldn't have bothered posting about this now. Screw it! I'm just gonna do it and not worry about it.
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LOL! :evil:

I don't mind paying a fee to sell DVD's - as long as the fee is reasonable. Everyone should be paid what their work is worth. (As long as it is not like $20 per DVD.)
 
pookie said:
Ryan, as interesting as the answers you're getting are, the answer to your question is simple.

"I've been approached by a local high school to film their plays", you are supplying a service, filming their plays. The responsibility is with the high school as to handling any "issues" as to rights if there are any future sales . You are not in that loop.
Click to expand...

I figured that it was their responsibility, but I like to cover my own ass just in case. I don't see the school steping in to help me out should anything occur. They would just leave me hanging.

So I'm trying to figure out if there are copyright issues (yes there are) / what the cost of those rights are (have to talk with the owners) / what the risks are (fines) / what the benifits are (potential profits) ...
 
I am having trouble understanding this. They have permission to perform it but they dont have the option of watching it again afterwards?? I wouldnt let the school "leave you hanging". I would get a contract drawn up if you are worried about it and make them sign it. If they employ you than you really cant get in any trouble for doing what they told you to do. This copyright stuff makes my head spin.. let me get this correct. If I were to record a little kid singing some song and than sold copies to people that would be a copyright issue or violation?? Where is the line drawn?
Here is the way I see it. The school has permission to do the play. The school is performing the play, their is someone there to videotape the schools production of that play. Why on earth should the playwriter or whoever have anything to say what happens after they give permission to the school to perform it. Wouldnt it be understood that it would be filmed?
 
Hectorxd said:
I am having trouble understanding this. They have permission to perform it but they dont have the option of watching it again afterwards??
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From what I now understand, yep that's right.

Hectorxd said:
This copyright stuff makes my head spin..
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Me too, that's why I want to figure this out now instead of later ...

Hectorxd said:
let me get this correct. If I were to record a little kid singing some song and than sold copies to people that would be a copyright issue or violation??
Click to expand...
I'm not a legal expert, nor do I want to be, but from what I gather, strictly speaking yes it would be. Whether or not you would get in trouble / caught is another issue. I doubt anyone would go after a parent who filmed their kid in the school play to watch at home. But they might go after someone who made money off of the sales of those copies ...
 
Maybe when the school gets permission to do the play that should be in the contract at that point that it will filmed and sold. I hope it all works out for you
Brian
 
Plays are performed on specific dates in specific locations. On stage.

Filming one brings it into the Movie arena, whihc is a whole other set of rights.

However, I really doubt French or Witmark or whoever would have a problem letting a school film a production and then sell/distribute that film to the school folks.

But they need to be asked.
 
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