using other movies in your movie

[one3rd]

I want to have the 1978 movie The Sentinel playing on a tv in the background of a scene. I want to use it because that movie inspired me, and I want to give it a nod. Do I need permission to use it? How difficult is it to get permission?

 

[directorik]

Here's the skinny;

It depends. If you are making a movie with distribution in
mind you will need to clear the use of that film. If you are
making the movie just to make it, you can get away with
it. Even some festivals aren't too strict on that kind of usage.

Just to be safe and to do the right thing, you should get
permission. Getting permission can be difficult. You will have
to track down the current copyright holder and possibly pay
a fee. Maybe difficult, but it can be done.

 

[bloodandgutsProduction]

We used Night of the Living Dead in our newest film Puzzled. So it depends