As a photographer and member of the APA I can tell you this writing your
congressman and the copyright office isn't going to get you very far.  The
copyright lobby probably makes the NRA lobby look like babes.   In 90% of
the cases I would probably tell you that I think $150 is nothing and the the
people that made the movie should be paid.

Well in your case you seem to be a VERY small community and I am guessing
super limited funds.  I would bet that if the right people new and
understood the situation they would wave the fee.    My other idea is that
you ask them to count the movies as a donation to your museum that they can
use as a tax deduction.

What I would be interested in in lieu of that  maybe there is a way to start
a private fund for musuems of below a certain size in certain population
areas so that they can provide opurtunities to their residents that is even
a little be like what a larger museum could.   Something that is a little
more agile in terms of response then the normal grant process.

Anyway.  Tell me how many movies.    Alaska was VERY VERY good to my grand
parents.   I will put an email out to some people here in Lost Angeles and
see if you can't get some money to cover this cost.

Randy


On Jan 19, 2008 7:34 AM, Anne M. Nagrant <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>  Not necessarily…
>
>
>
> We are a City Museum that is connected with the Public Library -- I don't
> mean we are located in the same place, but that the Museum Manager reports
> to the Library Director. The Library has a blanket movie license, but this
> applies only to films shown in the library building—I tried.
>
>
>
> I know this because last Halloween during a free event we showed "Abbott
> and Costello Meets Frankenstein" in one of our buildings (it was shown more
> like "wallpaper", meaning people came in and out throughout, no tickets).
>
>
>
> Every film title is licensed by a different company. This one, covered by
> Swank, cost $250 plus $21 in shipping (they send you their own copy, DVD or
> VHS, of it. You may watch it once to assure there are no defects, and then
> once during your event. Then you must UPS it back to them.) The movie "Mad
> Monster Party" is licensed by Criterion, for $225 but after explaining the
> circumstances of our event he offered it for $150.
>
>
>
> We didn't sell tickets for our event and we didn't pre-advertise the movie
> title. I think this might have mattered, but maybe not. In some cases of
> ticket-selling the agreement would have been something like "you must pay X
> unless your ticket sales are Y in which case…"
>
>
>
> Most of the public wouldn't believe we had to pay so much to show a movie
> one time, but that is the case.
>
>
>
> Maybe somebody would be willing to sponsor you.
>
>
>
> -Anne Nagrant
>
> Troy Museum & Historic Village (Michigan)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Brenda L. Abney
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 19, 2008 1:02 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: [MUSEUM-L] Movie licensing problem / Big Read plug
>
>
>
> If you are partnered with another organization with a blanket license, you
> can show the film under their auspices.
>
> Brenda Abney | Director
> (509) 888-6242 | [log in to unmask] |  www.wvmcc.org
>
> COMING UP AT THE MUSEUM:
>
>    SAVE THE DATE!  January 26, 6 - 9 p.m.  Winter Wine Gala featuring wine
> tastings from fourteen Columbia Cascade wineries and tastes from five local
> restaurants.  Advance tickets: $40.  Call to reserve (509) 888-6240.
>
> CALENDAR ON-LINE, WVMCC.ORG <http://www.WVMCC.ORG> OR CALL 888-6240
>   ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Jerrie Clarke
> *Sent:* Friday, January 18, 2008 11:17 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* [MUSEUM-L] Movie licensing problem / Big Read plug
>
>
>
> Hello all,
>
>
>
> I've read with interest the variety of copyright issues over the last
> couple of months.  I'm now embroiled in (or maybe that's just my mood after
> dealing with this issue) in a movie licensing problem.  We want to show a
> couple of movies as activities for our participation in "The Big Read"
> program.  I learned, partly from this list, that we had to have a license to
> show the movies.  So I did some Internet research and made several calls (we
> can't help you, call.....).  It turns out that we have to pay $150 each for
> the movies we show and that's the non-profit discount.
>
>
>
> Schools and libraries can buy an annual blanket license.  However museums,
> even though they are educational facilities, are not eligible for a blanket
> license.  Unintentional non-compliance can bring a $750 fine.  Intentional
> is way more.  Before I write to the Copyright Office and my Congresspeople,
> has anyone else had a different experience?  I want the actors, writers,
> etc. to make a living.  However, this seems a bit steep to me.
>
>
>
> Otherwise, we're having a great time with our NEA "The Big Read" grant.
> We've partnered with the Public Library and the local schools for 6 weeks of
> activities to promote reading among children and adults.
>
>
>
> Jerrie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Jerrie Clarke
> Director
> Sheldon Museum
> PO Box 269
> Haines, AK 99827
> (907) 766-2366
> fax: (907) 766-2368
> www.sheldonmuseum.org
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
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-- 
Randy S. Little
http://reel.rslittle.com
http://imdb.com/name/nm2325729/
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rslittle

=========================================================
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