Does anyone know anything Professional Licensing?

[missthemountains]

Posted: 6/3/19 at 6:17pm

I have a question. Let's say I want to produce a show Off-Broadway that is an existing, licensed show from a major distributor like SF, MTI, DPS. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have done this on this board as a Producer, or have overseen how this works. In amateur licensing, it is all handled pretty simply, you're given a quote from the rights holders, you pay, you do the show. When a show gears up for a professional licensed production, are the royalties calculated differently? Especially if the author is living...

I can't imagine this is handled the same way as Amateur Licensing and that there is a typical practice for this I'm not aware of that consists of the Licensing Companies and the Writer(s) coming to an agreement of some sort of upfront fee, along with a box office percentage. Maybe I'm oversimplifying it. Any insight would be appreciated.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 6/3/19 at 7:34pm

If it is truly off-Broadway and not off-off, then the deal would most likely be handled by the author’s agent and not a licensing house.

[thatdarnzach]

Posted: 6/4/19 at 12:17pm

PM'd you

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/5/19 at 2:43am

You will need at least a lawyer, and probably a lawyer and an agent, just to handle your rights. He/they will know the rest of it.

And, yes, it will be very expensive. Which is why you don't see a lot of terribly artistic adaptations of hit films like TOOTSIE off-Broadway, unless the off-Broadway production is really a workshop for a future "first-class" production.