question about using an image of a celebrity in a film

[kiyong]

i'm not sure where to post this, so i thought i'd try the directing section. i'm making a short film and i have an image of bill cosby and an image of bruce lee shown. their names aren't mentioned but the photos are props, and not part of the background. can i use those images or do i need a release of some kind? if anyone has an answer, thanks.

 

[clang]

in theory, yes they (or their lawyers) can sue you. In practice they're most unlikely to do so, unless your film is commercially released, or the film says or implies something negative about them.