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    licensing Fair Use

    Hello, I am looking for clarification about whether use of music in a documentary project constitutes fair use or not. As I understand it, if you have a talking head commenting on a piece of music playing in a film then that is fair use. At the opposite extreme, if a piece of music is used in...
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    pre-pro How to Choose an Affordable No-Budget Project?

    Hello, I am weighing up my options for my first fiction film (out of many ideas) and am slightly confused as to how to proceed. My first film was a relatively successful documentary (it got into good festivals (though not the big 5), was nominated for an award, received acclaim from big titles...
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    producing Landing a Producer

    Hi there, I completed the screenplay for my first fiction feature last year and am currently trying to get a producer on board. I was initially planning to produce it myself, but at the suggestion of a contact who read it, I have been trying to get a producer on board, in order to open the...
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    marketing Printing Theatrical Film Posters

    Hi there, I need to get some theatrical posters of my film made and I'm having trouble finding out what the standard specs are for this. I've contacted some companies (it also seems difficult to find good places!) and the options seem to be digital, satin or silk (mainly 200gsm). I'm...
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    pre-pro Location Scouting / Stills

    Hi there, I'm currently in pre-production on a project and am wondering what is the best way to go about location scouting. I'm intending to shoot the film in the area in which I live, across all four seasons, and over the last few years (since I got the idea for the project) I have taken a...
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    distribution Physical Vs. Digital Home Video Release

    Hi there, I'm just about to release my last project (a documentary feature) on home video. I have an offer from a distributor, which entails self-manufacturing DVDs and BDs. I have retained the right to sell from the film's website. The distributor will get the DVDs into stores and will try to...
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    pre-pro Scheduling/Crew

    Hi there, I'm putting together the schedule for my first feature and am slightly confused about how to make optimal use of certain department heads and crew members. From the books/articles I've read, and people I've contacted, almost everyone seems to have a daily/weekly rate, but I will only...
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    software-related Sorting by Custom Categories in Movie Magic Scheduling?

    Hi there, I've created breakdown sheets for the first five pages of my screenplay in Movie Magic Scheduling as a preliminary test. When sorting the scenes, the selection appears to be quite limited. I need, for example, to sort scenes by actors and by special equipment. Is there a way to add...
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    How Long to Schedule for Prep?

    Hi there, I'm wondering how long I should schedule for prep with the DP on my first narrative feature? I am producing/directing. I'm also not sure of what the entire process entails, as all the books I have on filmmaking don't really cover the subject and internet searches haven't proved too...
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    pre-pro Scheduling and Budgeting Software

    Hi there, I’m currently producing my first narrative feature and am considering which software to use for this (am currently working on the script breakdown, using the method of a pencil/ruler and highlighters). Movie Magic appears to be prohibitively expensive; Gorilla is affordable. Of...
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    character Naming and Formatting Minor Characters

    Hi there, I’m writing my first screenplay and am struggling to define naming and formatting rules for minor characters. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 1) Should minor characters be referred to with exactly the same name throughout? e.g. A minor character is introduced (p.34): “He...
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    Rates for DIY Screenings

    Hi there, When organising screenings for my feature (primarily at indie theatres, music venues etc), I am wondering if I should request a one-off licensing fee to screen or a percentage of the door? Or is it the case that I won't really have a choice between the two as it will general be...
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    Sales Agents and Upfront Fees

    Hi there, In trying to procure a sales agent for a film I'm producing, I emailed all the relevant companies I could find with little success (the half a dozen who did respond said that it is too niche for them). However, one company is interested (they actually contacted me first) but they...
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    Licensing Music from Major Labels

    Hi there, I am producing a documentary about an obscure musician and have made a licensing deal with an independent label who owns most of the music rights (the deal was concessional and fair/feasible for the project). However, some of the other tracks are owned by a major label (the tracks...
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    Timing of Festival Submissions

    Hi there, I've read some conflicting things about the best time to submit to festivals (some programmers saying it doesn't matter when you submit at all, others saying it's definitely best to submit as early as possible). I am wondering if timing of submissions is just something that varies...
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    Best Format(s) for Archive Footage?

    Hi there, I need to acquire some archive footage for a documentary. The owner of the master tape is suggesting that we just take the clip directly from a commercially-produced DVD that they put out which includes the footage we need and that anything else would require a studio to transfer it...
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    Stock Ambience Websites?

    Hi there, I need some basic ambiences for a documentary (mostly generic city noise) and am curious what are the best free, or cheap, sites for this? Many thanks...
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    Film Markets and Sales Agents?

    Hi there, I am approaching the end of the edit of my first documentary feature and am now finding myself thinking more about distribution. During pre-production I had researched the topic and ended up with some goals in mind but after continued research I am still unsure about a few things. My...
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    Fair Use?

    Hi there, I am currently making a documentary and would greatly appreciate to receive some clarifications regarding fair use. FYI the film's distribution is likely to be festivals, independent exhibition and possibly TV. The typical usage of (a large number of) copyright-controlled material is...
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    Entering the USA with a business visa for documentary filming?

    Hi there, I am currently shooting an independent documentary that is requiring multiple trips to the USA (I am a UK citizen). On previous trips I have used a visa intended for recreation (it is a minimal production that has been entirely self-financed until recently) but have had to deal with...
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