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 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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