Ethical Dilemma Regarding MTI — Page 3

There is no dilemma here. This needs to be halted immediately, and if the offender has a mens rea, he or she needs to be punished. Aside from the stealing that is happening when royalties aren't paid, a director who changes the show in ways not allowed in nearly all contracts,is essentially saying to the writer of that show "I'm better than you, I'm smarter than you, you should've done it my way." I personally know few directors who can say that to any prominant writer seriously. If this director is so creatively smart, why isn't his or her own shows published? Odds are, their creativity doesn't even begin to approach that of the MTI represented author.

Well, you aren't even supposed to announce the show until the rights are secured - and with good reason. Just a week ago, we were all set to announce a musical I'm directing this summer, only to find out at the 11th hour that the royalties were being pulled in lieu of a tour. It pays to cross your t's in theatre.

Frankly, it would be a liitle surprising if this teacher really had been performing musicals for years without paying royalties. I mean surely - somebody along the way - a parent, another teacher, an audience member had to have brought up the subject. It would take a pretty deliberate mind to avoid seeking "necessary information" on producing a musical, which would indicate that her intentions and motives are dishonest - even if she thinks she is doing this all somehow for her students.

I agree with nobodyhome - if you address it now, there may be time for the school to work out a deal with MTI. Nobody wants to "shut down" a high school musical - I'm sure all angles would be explored.

But - stay anonymous. Don't put yourself in the middle. Give MTI the info and let them take care of it.

Are you really worried that reporting this will disappoint the kids? Is that why you don't report them?

But I like your idea. Don't report them. It's better that kids know that stealing is OK. It's good to show them that breaking the law is OK. It's good they'll learn how to steal someone else's property.

Hey..if we got away with it at school, why would a car be any different?

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Your quotes are irrelevant. They mean nothing.

1. I was warning someone looking for an Edwin Drood CD that you need to be careful and make sure it's a real CD. I have searched many times on Ebay for the DROOD CD, and whenever I have found one reasonably priced, it is clearly a "homemade" burned copy of the CD, not the actual CD release. I was not encouraging them to purchase the Cd, but, on the contrary, to make sure that if they DO look for it on Ebay to make sure that it is NOT a bootleg copy.

2. Someone wanted to hear the score, so I told them that I knew there was a recording somewhere of all the music. I didn't offer to sell it to them, I didn't say it was okay. I just said they are out there.

3. I was mocking people. How some are constantly saying "SHH! Can't say that word here!" I was making a tongue-in-cheek statement about the matter.

4. What is the point of that one? Makes no sense and makes no point.

5. I was referring to the fact that a poster mentioned a bootleg. I thought the deletion was ridiculous because of the word "bootleg." I didn't say ANYTHING about how owning bootlegs is okay.

6. The Rent movie trailer? You have taken this to the extreme. We were talking about the very early RENT trailer. There was a very early version of it recorded from a cell phone on you tube. That's all I was referring to. Not bootleg video, bootleg recording posted on youtube of a movie trailer.


The quotes you have pulled up do nothing to further your cause. They are all taken out of context, and if you were to actually go back into the threads and read the discussion, you would see that the mere mention of these things does not mean that I have disregard for private property, nor does it mean that I encourage bootlegs or think that they are an acceptable means of making money.

What I find quite sad is that you have taken the time to sort through past posts and find ANY mention of a bootleg that I have ever made. Well, I wish you had spend a little more time doing your research, because, if you have, you would have seen that - in the context of the conversations and threads - I said nothing objectionable OR contraditory to what I am saying now.

But thanks for trying to once again, put me down. It's not working. You have no point. Good luck trying to embarrass me and "catch" me next time.

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"for the sake of your own integrity, esp. if you have a relationship with this woman I say go to her first. If you sneak around doing it. You have to live with doing it behind her back. Two wrongs definitely don't make a right. You should be honest with her and then take action you feel is necessary."

How is reporting someone doing something illegally behind his or her back a "wrong"?

I can't believe some of the people's main concern on here is how the kids will feel. Yes, you're going to have devestated children, but that's life - they're not going to feel that way forever and there will be future LEGAL productions of shows to make up for it, as someone else said. A highly valuable lesson will be learned.

And etoile, I'm sorry but those quotes are out of context. Do you have hard proof that munk actually owns bootlegs? Please tell me you have honestly never stumbled over or saw a bootleg before.

Go straight to MTI; don't report it to the teacher.

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Just wanted to offer one quick bit of thought:

Remember, *if* this whole situation is how you believe, than the material the director is using does not use orchestrations or any other resources MTI uses. You would only have the P/C scores and a script to work off of. To me, this isn't presenting a full production. The cast, audience and everyone involved would be getting somewhat less than what they would if they were producing the show according to the book.

Just a thought. I would say contact MTI, let them investigate. They'll contact the director and go from there. I'm sure at least one side will come to a resolution that helps.

munk, my comment about evidence was in reply to DRSislove saying "Make sure you have some proof, and then go for it." :)

I agree that the OP should report this. Too many teachers get away with doing this and it's wrong. It can easily be done anonymously, which is why I posted Brian's email address.

This is a tricky situation...however, I do know from working with MTI on a student version of "Into the Woods" they are ALWAYS willing to work with you. Typically they do not have a problem with cuts, we cut out "Our Little World," because the director didn't really like it, and it wasn't overly pivotal to the plot. Our Witch became a male when our original Witch dropped. However, we DID still pay royalties, we DID have everything listed as we needed it to be. I would say report them, and then see what happens.

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Very useful link, Ejolras!

And just to repeat myself yet again, no matter who the licensing entity, is, please report this.

Many high school productions don't use an orchestra.

Many professional productions don't use an orchestra.

The MTI perusal scripts don't contain a score of any kind. Only the script with the vocal lines in the back. You couldn't even play the show on the piano based on what they provide, unless you are just an amazing improv pianist.

My guess is that this music teacher picks shows with published scripts and scores. I doubt she has had any contact with MTI: she's just doing a show they happen to represent.

mejusthavingfun, you are an idiot.

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"I work in corporate America and it incenses me when I constantly see people going over there colleagues heads to address an issue rather than going straight to the source to work something out, which more often than not gets worked out and keeps the ensuing drama at a minimum. But hey, this is a board about drama, so by all means jump right to opening a can of worms that might have been avoided by a simple preliminary conversation."

In corporate America, if you have a problem with a co-worker, you are told to take it HR and let them handle it. In this case MTI is HR. It's their property, and they are the ones who need to make the decision whether what this teacher is doing is acceptible or not. He would accomplish nothing by going straight to her except to create drama and adversity.