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Topic: Legal Live
Replies: 109 Pages: 8 Last Post: Aug 11, 2005 3:09 PM by: jaime longoria

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Replies: 109 Pages: 8 [ Previous \| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 \| Next ]

Glenn Otis Brown

Posts: 2
Registered: Mar 3, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:49 PM

Regarding music licensing and film, there is a very interesting music company/record label called Magnatune here in California has a cool approach to music and film. (http://magnatune.com) They offer film students and filmmakers music free of charge to use in their movies provided they use it for noncommercial purposes only. This means that when the students are cutting their films or when an upstart filmmaker is just tryint to get a film done, the music is free to use; but the moment that film goes commercial, or hits the festival circuit, or finds a distributor, the filmmakers must pay to include the music in the film. It's a sort of low-risk, low-cost way to find music to put in your movies, esp. if you're on a budget. (BTW, I have no financial interest in Magnatune.com; I just like what they're doing.)

Colin Rusch

Posts: 1,435
Registered: Oct 16, 2002

Re: photographs/not just logos
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:49 PM

Hi Everyone,

I think the system restarted itself and kicked us all out. I apologize. We should be able to log in again and finish out the forum without trouble.

Colin

Hathaway

Posts: 8
Registered: Mar 3, 2005

Re: copy
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:53 PM

So, Walt,

Does that mean that the knitting pattern (instructions) are copyrightable even if I didn't invent the original pattern of the mittens or socks or what have you?

I think there is value in partnering with the museum or collection which houses the original, but it doesn't seem like a licensing arrangement, or is it?

Message was edited by: Hathaway at Mar 3, 2005 7:54 PM

Jon Garon

Posts: 23
From: Hamline University School of Law
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:54 PM

Free music is very helpful, but the filmmaker needs to know about the costs, so he or she can price the sales price. I really like Walter Lehmann's suggestion of having a musician or band be part of the filmmaker's production company from the beginning. There is potential for great synergy and more artists engaged in making the project a success.

Mary Madden

Posts: 11
From: Washington, D.C.
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:56 PM

We haven't done any studies on independent film distribution online, but Patricia Aufderheide at American University (http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/aufderheide.html) would be a great reference for latest trends in the field--esp. re: documentaries. I also suspect that Glen probably has a good read on this as well.

It is true that more and more people are posting self-produced digital videos online, but I assume you're asking about more formal distribution structures such as a Movielink-type model for independent film.

LEHMANN STROBEL PLC

Posts: 22
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:56 PM

Fundraising. Some people get pretty creative. The doc "Michael Moore Hates America" is an interesting story -- it actually started as a website and began generating an enormous volume of hits. As I understand it, some big name from Hollywood (can't remember who) stumbled on to the site and contacted the producer to finance the documentary. It was created out of raw footage and the storyline developed almost entirely in post.

Jon Garon

Posts: 23
From: Hamline University School of Law
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 7:59 PM

This has certainly been the year of the documentary. It would be fun to run a workshop or course on the law and practice of documentary filmmaking.

tim cameron

Posts: 4
Registered: Mar 3, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:02 PM

tinderbox music (MN) - tinderboxmusic.com - might a good place to look for emerging bands, if you're interested in discovering something that might be sensational and much less expensive.
I worked with The Great Depression - thegreatdepression.us -, lush atmospheres and well wraught, and they want to do music for film. I suspect there are more like them who are waiting for an opportunity to offer songs or contribute scoring.
It's veering off-topic a bit, but knowing resources, MN based and from elsewhere, can help in avoiding legal problems/big fees.

Colin Rusch

Posts: 1,435
Registered: Oct 16, 2002

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:03 PM

Any more legal questions out there for our guests?

Colin

Richert

Posts: 2
Registered: Mar 1, 2004

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:05 PM

Jon,

Hi there!

We, at Springboard for the Arts, would be happy to make that workshop happen! : )

--Kathleen

Jon Garon

Posts: 23
From: Hamline University School of Law
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:05 PM

Tim,

I think you make an excellent point. The quality of local (MN) music makes this an attractive film community as well. There is a tremendous amount of talent for both in front and behind the camera. Given that this is a digital discussion, there is a lot of talent for both in front and behind the computer screen as well.

Mary Madden

Posts: 11
From: Washington, D.C.
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:06 PM

There was actually a fascinating conference last year at Duke that covered some of the unique legal issues that documentary filmmakers face. There's a great summary and videos from the event here: http://www.law.duke.edu/framed

LEHMANN STROBEL PLC

Posts: 22
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:07 PM

It certainly would. We have managed to develop quite a practice focusing on this area. We just got back a couple of weeks ago from the RealScreen Summit of which we've been sponsors for a number of years now. We hold a "legal clinic" and meet with many many doc producers over the course of two intense days. It's a blast.

Colin Rusch

Posts: 1,435
Registered: Oct 16, 2002

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:08 PM

We are scheduled to go until 8:30, but it feels like we are wrapping up. Let's take any last questions, then call it a night.

Colin

Jon Garon

Posts: 23
From: Hamline University School of Law
Registered: Feb 24, 2005

Re: Legal Live
Posted: Mar 3, 2005 8:09 PM

Walter,

Could you tell us a bit more about the RealScreen Summit?

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