Broadway Theatre Owners Alter Photography Rules

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:33pm

Interesting article.  Two out of three theatre owner groups are on board for this.  http://www.playbill.com/article/broadway-theatre-owners-alter-photography-rules

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:35pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always heard that photography was illegal in the theatre because the sets were copyrighted material. Would that not still be the case, regardless of what the theatre-owners want?

I confess I have wanted, on multiple occasions, to take pictures of some sets, but in the grand scheme of things I think this will only worsen the disruptive cell-phone behavior problem. It seems like a step in absolutely the wrong direction. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:38pm

I've taken pictures of the set with my playbill on numerous ocasions, I don't see the problem.

I wonder if the Nederlander will follow.

Updated On: 6/9/16 at 05:38 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 5:44pm

It will make it worse. People break the rules now. Tell them they can take pictures before but not during a show will make no sense to them. Not many people care a whit about the architecture of a theater. They want a record of a performer or show or both.Once you tell them they can take pictures but... will not translate to them. All they will hear is it is ok to take pictures and they will filter out the but.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 6:40pm

So the woman usher who near screamed at me last night at Bright Star was, indeed, wrong.  

[Petrichor]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 6:54pm

GreasedLightning said: "So the woman usher who near screamed at me last night at Bright Star was, indeed, wrong.  

 

"

One of the ushers at the same show a couple of weeks ago nearly yelled at the teenagers in front of us and rolled his eyes.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 7:56pm

How will this work at a show like Phantom with copyrighted scenery beyond the curtain such as the false proscenium?f

[itis2l84u]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 8:07pm

I'm not sure why people think theatre goers will have such a hard time with this concept. I've seen many people take photos of the stage before the show and then put their phone away for the show. They're will still be the announcement that during the show recording of any kind and photos aren't permitted. The people who take pictures during the show will be the same jerks who did before with strictly no photographs allowed. Most theatre goers aren't as horrible as you all seem to think.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 8:16pm

itis2l84u said: "I'm not sure why people think theatre goers will have such a hard time with this concept. I've seen many people take photos of the stage before the show and then put their phone away for the show. They're will still be the announcement that during the show recording of any kind and photos aren't permitted. The people who take pictures during the show will be the same jerks who did before with strictly no photographs allowed. Most theatre goers aren't as horrible as you all seem to think.

"

Yet you only need one phone ring to ruin a show.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 8:18pm

tbh  i've taken so many pictures of the stage or curtain and have never been stopped that I assumed this was already a thing.

[itis2l84u]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 8:22pm

Dancingthrulife2 said: "itis2l84u said: "I'm not sure why people think theatre goers will have such a hard time with this concept. I've seen many people take photos of the stage before the show and then put their phone away for the show. They're will still be the announcement that during the show recording of any kind and photos aren't permitted. The people who take pictures during the show will be the same jerks who did before with strictly no photographs allowed. Most theatre goers aren't as horrible as you all seem to think.

 

"

Yet you only need one phone ring to ruin a show."

I'm pointing out this really doesn't change anything. People were already taking photos prior to the show and the jerks who already don't listen to the rules will continue not to. Now the photos prior to the show are technically okay to take. 

You guys on here have a serious problem with putting words in other people's mouths. I never said people being on their phones didn't ruin a performance. 

[EvanK]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 8:54pm

Allowing the taking of photos before hand is an incredibly smart move for theatres to take... it's like free social media publicity. 

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 9:06pm

I think it's silly to assume that people will have trouble understanding that they can take a photo before the show but not during. I frequently take a picture of my Playbill, often with part of the set in the background, but would never dream of disrupting a show by taking photos of the performers onstage during a performance. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 9:13pm

What I have heard is that this is really up to the production. If they say no pics then the house must honor that request. Otherwise pics are allowed.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 9:14pm

PThespian said: "I don't see where it's the theater owners' call. If people want to take pictures of the interior of the building itself that they can allow or disallow. 

Good luck telling Scott Rudin or a designer they have to allow people to take pictures. "

 

Well, it's their building, and the rental agreement can mandate for the allowance of pictures. That said, it's most likely going to still be on a per show basis. Technically speaking, and contrary to popular belief, it is not in the ushers' contract to stop photography or recording, and it's not the private security personnel's job either.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 11:00pm

JBroadway said: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always heard that photography was illegal in the theatre because the sets were copyrighted material. Would that not still be the case, regardless of what the theatre-owners want?

I confess I have wanted, on multiple occasions, to take pictures of some sets, but in the grand scheme of things I think this will only worsen the disruptive cell-phone behavior problem. It seems like a step in absolutely the wrong direction. "

I explained this not too long ago. It was never the case; it was just a myth. Now I think the same owners should solve the cell phone nuisance issue which they have had the power to do all along. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 11:39pm

Set designers don't give a rat's ass if someone takes a grainy iphone picture of the show curtain or walk-in look.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 11:46pm

PThespian said: "Some do. Some don't. Grainy photos aren't the best reflection of their work. 

Taking pics of the Phantom pre-set, the School of Rock show curtain, etc. is fine. 

Try taking a picture of the Waitress show curtain, the Beautiful pre-set, etc and you're going to have problems. "

I know for a fact that it's not coming from Scott Pask. Apparently ushers at the Brooks Atkinson take themselves very seriously?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 11:55pm

PThespian said: "No Hogan. You did not explain it. You offered your opinion which many of us, myself included, believe to be wrong. 
Don't be so arrogant as to presume you are the final word on anything my friend. "

it's not arrogance and it's not the final word. You are free to look for a lawyer who thinks you have a case, assuming you are a set designer and have a claim. I do not think you will find one who is not a hack. 

 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/9/16 at 11:58pm

Yes, we know what you think and how you feel. We also know that you believe what you think and feel carries more weight than others with years of experience in the industry. Your credibility has slowly worn down over the months of pompous arrogance and projected self-importance. Move on. 

 

ETA: This post was for HogieHemroid. 

Updated On: 6/9/16 at 11:58 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 12:16am

@Liza, feel free to believe whoever you want. I don't give where my statements fit in the cosmos a thought so it's amusing that you do. As I suggested in my earlier post, if you have a claim, feel free to look for a competent lawyer to make your case. If you can find one. And by all means have that lawyer contact the theatre owners whose lawyers just might have a different take. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 12:51am

PT, this is not about you any more than it is about me, especially because I don't know you. I don't know that I know anyone here. (Maybe I do; I probably do.) But if you are what you say you are, and I have no reason to question that, you should be familiar with the fact that people do not always agree, and that, sometimes, one of them is wrong about something. On this subject, I am as sure as is humanly possible that I am right, but I have invited you to believe otherwise and pursue that belief in a meaningful way. It baffles me that that is arrogant. I do sometimes come off as arrogant, and I accept that. When I do come off that way, it is because I think the person doesn't know whereof they speak. With all due respect, and I really do mean that, I don't think you know what you are talking about on this subject. Still, I have suggested that you pursue the matter and, if you are so inclined, to provide a basis for your view. So far, unless I am wrong, the only authority you have cited is a house manager (whose marching orders, it seems, have just changed), and no that does not impress me any more than a set designer's opinion on the subject would.

 

[@z5]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 12:51am

Interesting, I saw Fully Committed tonight, and the ushers told people not to take pics of the curtain before the show, which is just a simple purple curtain.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 2:29am

@PT,

I regularly admit when I make a mistake and, more to the point, I avoid stating things I don't have a basis for knowing. When I goof, I am happy to say so. I am not better than anyone else but I do know quite a lot. I admit that. 

We went through the set copyright thing in another thread, and you rejected my analysis. I am not going back to dredge up that thread, but I would say the essence of it was that you didn't think fair use had application to this. You were wrong then and if you still think that you are wrong now. Go read up on it if you want, or seek out a copyright lawyer to ask. There are many gray areas in the law; this is not one of them.

As I think we left this before, it seems we have reached a point of diminishing returns. I don't want you to believe me; I hope you will figure this out on your own. In the meantime I'll go on being a mythbuster as best I can. There are literally hundreds of myths in show business; and I am only one person.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/10/16 at 10:31am

@PT, not to drag this on but regarding set designers who may not want their sets photographed:

1. Putative copyright holders are not the arbiters of their own rights. I'm sure you agree with that.

2. In my experience, very few people who have their work used under fair use doctrine want their work used. 

3. It is producers who pushed the theatre owners to end the ban of photography outside of the performance itself. Why? Because social media is one of the best and cheapest ways of marketing a show.