An Intro...

M

Mimpi2

Hey...

Thought i'd just introduce myself as hopefully i'll be using this website a lot over the next year or so..

I'm currently working on my first feature length documentary (almost finished filming completely) and am just starting the postproduction phase..

got almost 50 hours or so to cut and play with, and some pretty special stuff amongst it, with the worlds most perfect waves, indonesia's most neolithic tribespeople, endangered gibbons and wildlife etc...

I'm pretty pumped.. :)

I guess my first question relates to my intended introduction to the film - I am hoping to use random cuts of television to be compiled into an almost incoherent montaj... I realise that I would usually need permission from all the tv programs, but am reluctant to start that process considering I may use up to 30-40 different programs in a 30 second span.

Is there any creative ways around the copyright laws? I dont mean to be disrespectful to other film makers here... its not so much plagiarism, and I hope would be more likened to a dj sampling something and creating something completely different...

any ideas?
 
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Mimpi2 said:
Is there any creative ways around the copyright laws? I dont mean to be disrespectful to other film makers here... its not so much plagiarism, and I hope would be more likened to a dj sampling something and creating something completely different...
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Doesn't work like that.

You are cotrrect. It's not so much plagiarism. It's more like theft... unless the works are in the public domain, that is.


random cuts of television to be compiled into an almost incoherent montaj
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If the shots are indeed random (and ending up as almost incoherent anyway), why not use material that is in the public domain as your source footage for this?
 
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Welcome to the forums!

Um, sorry to not answer your question, but I feel compelled to point out that ALL of humanity left the neolithic quite some time ago. Wording is important, and in this instance, it can be rather offensive to so erroneously mis-categorize a people's technology.

Especially for a feature documentary, you really need to do your research.
 
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whoa... ok... so i've opened up a can of worms here guys... .....relax.

First of all, perhaps I should have been more clear when I referred to 'getting around the copyright laws' - I am not trying to 'thieve' other people's work as you infer.

You have recommended taking stuff from the public domain - fine, thankyou. That was the answer I was looking for. I don't really know what this public domain is yet, or how to access it, but will do the research (perhaps someone can help?)... I am learning - this is why i posted in the Newbie section.

Cracker, you guys obviously have a lot more experience than me and I can understand how you get your back up when hearing a supposed PI word from someone you perceive as a kook... But next time it would be nice if you yourself did a little research before attacking me.

I have lived with these villagers in this island chain for the better part of four years, am not only fluent in Indonesian, but also have a firm grasp on their local (and much more difficult) language, I have worked with different NGO's throughout the archipelago and have many friends within the communities there... I could go on...

I gave the 'neolithic' classification, after researching and reading - the opinion that they were indeed one of Indonesia's most neolithic peoples was not of my creation, but that of a leading anthropologist.

I am not trying to start a forum war, and can appreciate I have lots to learn... I would be more than happy for you to contact me via email if you would like a more detailed explanation...

Otherwise, does anyone know how I would use this 'public domain' to be able to rip the footage I need?

Thankyou.
 
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Welcome to the forum! :)

If you're serious about producing a feature length documentary then you shouldn't really be seeing it as to much trouble to write off to the relevant authorities to ask permission to use archive footage. Most would be more than happy to help if you are promoting a similar cause to the one that they're involved in.

As for the neolithic debate, we have a neolithic settlement here in England- it's called Hull.
 
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1. Welcome
2. You say you have 50 hours of footage. What other footage do you need specifically.
3. As for neolithic. There's an ancient monolith of unknown origin, believe to be worshiped by an ancient female sex cult, in my pants. HAHA, gothcha. #'s 1&2 are serious though.
 
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Mimpi2 said:
But next time it would be nice if you yourself did a little research before attacking me.
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Take two of these and call me in the morning
chillpill.gif


Seriously, no one was attacking you. I think it's easy to misread someone's post as aggressive when it was not intended as such, but that's the nature of the internet and not being able to get non-verbal (or in this case, unwritten) signals.

Welcome to the boards!

smiley_hippie.gif
 
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welcome-3.gif


You'll find a very diverse group here with a lot of very diverse - and sometimes very strong - positions and opinions. You'll also find it's a very professional and supportive group who will, on occasion, politely but thoroughly rip you to pieces. You'll also find that, unusually, this a a fairly intelligent and well-written group as far as web forums go. The idiots, the morons and the trolls don't last long around here.

Public domain material is film, video, music, written word, etc. where there is no longer a valid single-owner copyright - the copyright expired and was not renewed. Most of the stuff in the public domain is 50+ years old, so I don't think that you'll find much that would apply to your project. The Prelinger Archives has a huge collection of downloadable public domain material, everything from home movies to TV commercials to feature films, so that may be a place to start.

As for your TV clips montage I wouldn't worry about it right now. Do the preliminary rough cut and first re-edit of your project. Once that is completed you will have some professional product to present to the copyright holders of the material you want to use in your montage. Most of those folks are willing to give a hand up to a serious, dedicated, up-and-coming professional in the form of free or reduced fee usage of material that could otherwise cost you quite a bit. And you should work with someone who knows entertainment law; someone right out of law school may want to take on the challenge as they need to network as much as the rest of us.

Another option for your TV clips may be "look-alike" stuff from fellow indie filmmakers if you don't need iconic images.
 
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Thanks for the welcome guys.

Perhaps there was a knee jerk reaction from me there... perhaps I found the tone to be more patronising than what was intended...?? I guess i'm pretty passionate about the subject.

In answer to the helpful comments from Alcove Audio and Murdock:

1) The footage I am lacking includes aspects of modern society, more specifically the negative aspects of Modern society that are difficult for me to be able to film myself. Eg. Cosmetic surgery proceedures, oil spills, modern warfare etc etc etc. It will all be cast in a negative light... in the introduction that is...

2) I did not mean to come across as lazy when I said I was reluctant to ask for permission from the relevant authorities - I am simply strapped for time, and will really only be using the shortest grabs of footage (perhaps less than a second in some cases), to be compiled into a montage. If there was a way around writing to so many different authorities and still being able to access the footage legally, it would be much more feasible for me.

3) Perhaps if the majority of video/film in the public domain is 50+ years old it would not suit for commentary on modern society? I will begin to search through the Prelinger Archives, sounds like a may be a useful resource. Are there any other types of archives?

4) I apologise if I have walked into this website and created a storm in a teacup - definately not my intention... i'm actually a chilled kinda guy... ha...

thanks to those who helped.
 
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I don't know what the equivalent of the BBC is in Oz, but if you contact them they may be able to send over a bunch of archive footage that you can use. I don't know what sort of quality you're looking for in terms of video, but there's always YouTube and you can message members to get the rights and files for their videos.
 
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NickClapper said:
I don't know what the equivalent of the BBC is in Oz, but if you contact them they may be able to send over a bunch of archive footage that you can use. I don't know what sort of quality you're looking for in terms of video, but there's always YouTube and you can message members to get the rights and files for their videos.
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ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation :)

p.s. ABC ROCKS! :p
 
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