Movie Questions

Nitrofox125 · Post by **Nitrofox125** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 11:24 pm

Okay, say I were to have a movie in my hand, and I want it at the theaters (BTW, I don't have a movie, this is hypotheical

). I have to go through distributors right? What should I do with that movie? Or does anyone at least know of a link that has some info on distributing/producing movies?

JMEaT · Post by **JMEaT** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 7:40 am

You mean you've written a script? Video taped (ala blair witch) a movie?

Send it to the big names I suppose.

CDN_Merlin · Post by **CDN_Merlin** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 7:54 am

Get it copyrighted first. This way, if you send it to the big boys, they can't screw you over. Then talk to a publisher I guess.

Akasha · Post by **Akasha** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:11 am

Library of Congress:

www.loc.gov

Dedman · Post by **Dedman** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:27 am

If you have written a screenplay, you need to get it registered with the Screen writers guild before you show it to anyone. That is a must. From there, you shop around for financing, a director, cast, and so forth.

My brother-in-law is a screen writer. He wrote "House of Sand and Fog". If you want or need specifics, I could ask him.

Nitrofox125 · Post by **Nitrofox125** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 8:45 am

I never said I was going to *make* this movie. We'll say that I have a movie that someone else made, and I signed a contract with them, they make, I distribute. Just wondering what the steps I go through are to go from movie-in-hand to ticket-in-hand(s).

No, if I actually made a movie (tho I do have $5-6000 of equiptment, so don't get any ideas I would be filming it with a handycam

), I wouldn't send it into the theaters

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 12:43 pm

You have copyright on anything you create - no need to apply for it.

There are some additional things you can do to protect your rights to the work too: Have it notarised by a JP, or a lawyer.

Tetrad · Post by **Tetrad** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 10:07 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Arial" size="3">Originally posted by Mobius:
You have copyright on anything you create - no need to apply for it.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do I have to register with your office to be protected?
No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section â??Copyright Registration.â?

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 10:19 pm

The major problem small peeps (no insult intended!)have with copyright is establishing WHEN the piece was created. So, you must have it notarised or something (as above).

The old/cheap way to go about it was to print the copyrighted material onto a letter-gram (The one-piece, fold-up letter) and mail it to yourself - this establishing a definitive creation date.