Ya know, there is no need at all to be rude.
When was I rude? I didn't say anything rude or insulting. Can you specify what you're referring to?
I have an opinion. An opinion that your professor is wrong. That
has nothing to do with my way of communication with you or my
feeling about you as a person. And as it's simply my opinion, I may
be wrong in my assumption.
That's not an opinion. Whether or not something is legal is a matter of fact, not opinion or belief.
I asked questions I was interest in knowing your answer to. No
need at all to tell me to “pay attention”. No need to tell me I’m
being ridiculous.
I believe there was a need to tell you to pay attention, because you asked a question I had already explicitly answered. You asked if you could do something, and I had previously stated you could not do exactly that. Im sorry if you were offended, but you were being ridiculous. I had said that this was legal under some very specific circumstances, and you asked if it was legal if it was legal under what was essentially the opposite of those circumstances.
We could have had an interesting, informative conversation about
copyright.
I see no reason why we cant still have such a conversation.
I’m sorry you chose to treat me as some kind of
ridiculous person who doesn’t pay attention rather than a fellow
filmmaker wanting to discuss this issue.
I wasn't "treating" you as anything. You had asked a question which was already answered quite clearly, hence, it was only right to say you were not paying attention. Had you been paying attention, you would have already seen the answer, and had no need to ask the question.
Also, saying that you were
acting ridiculous is not an insult. Neither is saying you did not pay attention.
I’m sorry you decided to make it personal.
I never made it personal. It appears that you are
taking it personally, but thats just what it seems like to me.
Actually, the opposite is true. Works created in the US are protected by copyright until 70 years after the death of the author, when it would pass into public domain. Any posthumous revenues would be considered a part of your estate. You would have to specify in your will that you did NOT want your estate to retain copyright.
That is assuming I have an estate for posthumous revenues to be paid to. I mean that if I were to create a movie by myself, copyright it, and then die, there would be no estate and no one to take ownership. Im a 20 year old guy who is still working fast food until I find a better job. If I, not a major film maker, were to make a film and copyright it, there would be no "estate". I might have never even shown the film to anyone but my brother, I may have never sold it, or even intended to sell it, but its still copyrighted. If died after that, there would be no estate, and I dont have a will, so there would be no one to receive ownership.
If you're producing something for your own private use, go for it. If it's something you intend to sell or screen for more than just your family/friends, legally, permission must be obtained.
I disagree, for reasons previously stated.
This statement is just plain wrong. If you don't believe any of us, consult an attorney.
Ok, lets say I were to make a film, which was written, produced, filmed, edited, and owned entirely by me. All of the dialogue and characters and scenes are entirely original. However, there happens to be one scene in the movie where the characters are having a gun fight at a bar, and in the corner of the screen, you can just barely see a little TV with Star Wars playing on it. Its only on screen for about ten seconds, and the viewers' focus is going to be on the character, not on the random, irrelevant TV in the background.
You really think that violates copyright laws? Ten seconds of a scene from star wars playing in a TV in the background way in the corner of the screen?
No. It would not.
Actually, NO it is NOT legal. This is a violation of their copyright. You and your professor are absolutely, 100% wrong on this. You may not use anyone elses copywritten material without their express permission.
My professor has been teaching videography classes for more than eight years. He was a professional videographer for twelve years before that. He worked in the industry, on real films and Television shows every day. I hate to be rude, but I will believe him over anyone here. As this is a forum for INDEPENDENT film makers, and he is a PROFESSIONAL film maker who worked with studios, producers, starts, directors and the like for many years, Im afraid I will have to take his word over anyone here.
But you know what, I'll settle this once and for all. Im going to see my admissions coordinator at PTI tomorrow, so Illl stop by and ask my professor exactly how this may or may not work.
As for an attorney, I'd rather not throw away my money trying to get an answer to argument on an internet forum. If you can find an attorney who will work for free, and is still competent, I'll be more than willing to ask them.