how illegal is it to...

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:19pm

the scoop:

My friend wants to produce a musical of a christmas movie, sometime in dec. 2006-07 strictly for charity. This would be a great idea, but also a very VERY difficult thing to produce...as he would be using the characters, storyline, songs, music completely illegally. Upon telling him this, he said he would go to the production company for rights and go about it that way..

not to be a horribly negative witch i told him it would be a great idea BUT most likely impossible because the production company would want $$ (and lots OF it) whether it was for charity or not.

He also mentioned giving his 'script' to a theatre prod. company in the city and they can produce it from there but i told him they wouldn't go near it with a 10-foot pole because of the rights.

He could get a free venue, all the voluntary performers and musicians in the world, and free tech. equipment but this will probably never fly..

...right?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:23pm

Tell your friend if he doesn't stop and desist immediately, he might soon be playing Maria in Sing Sing Prison's production of "West Side Story".

Updated On: 12/5/05 at 02:23 PM

[CJR]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:24pm

Goth, that is officially the FUNNIEST thing Ive heard all day!

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:25pm

lol goth that comment definitely made my otherwise dull study-afternoon

[exedore]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 2:51pm

Write to the author of the film and ask permission. They'll probably refer you to the studio or dramatist's guild for negotiations.

[grizzabella]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 3:23pm

Lol! Goth, that was great. However, Ally, it was also pretty accurate. Tell your friend not to even think about it without negotiating the rights. "Illegal" is a bit like "pregnant." The only choices are zero or one hundred percent.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 3:29pm

I hear that Sing Sing's productions are actually pretty good. I remember a few years back when "Prisoners of Love" made a Broadway transfer. It was really good.

Akiva

[ally_kay_on_broadway]

Posted: 12/5/05 at 3:32pm

lol thanks guys-this thread wasn't so much a question, just a reassurance. I would hate for him to come up to me and be like 'HA! AND YOU THOUGHT I COULDN'T DO IT" kind of thing. I don't usually open up my big mouth unless i firmly believe in what i'm saying. Just thought i'd double check on this board