It is a little silly, and it seems to be a hot topic right now as there is another post on forum about the same subject.  In most royaltied show contracts it states that there can be NO copying of scripts, NO copying of music, NO videotaping of shows, NO photography, the writer's name needs to be NO less than 50% smaller that the title, yadda yadda - without exception - unless you get permission to do otherwise. Now that is another story.  Just try to figure out who to call to get permission. I've tried that nearly every show I have directed, because I like to have a copy of the shows I do. My Mother lives in another state and it is the only way she can see what I have done. I directed a royaltied show once, and we did get ahold of the the writer who actually asked us to send him a copy of the show when we taped it. He couldn't have cared less if we taped, I would say he was even happy we taped. Another good question is, if you are forbidden to copy, what are you supposed to do for the stage manager or the tech booth? Have them do all of their cues in the real script.  Who's script? They don't send enough scripts for every member of the cast to even get a script half the time. Especially in large musicals, with large ensembles. 

On the other hand, I have heard of CT's getting in trouble over videotapeing.  However, personally, I think that the main thing they are trying to avoid with their wordy contracts is having people do the show without paying the royalties.  It's a gamble, but I think unless someone is actually out to get you, like a disgruntled fellow CT member, I think the chances are slim to none in having anyone come after you for it.

With the explosion of the internet and other technology, the main concern about video-taping performances of copywritten material is the potential exploitation of the recording for personal gain.

There is no guarantee that once a play has been captured on videotape that the this tape will be secure from re-broadcast anywhere at anytime.

A play I both wrote and directed for a community theater was video-taped as a "keepsake" for the cast -- with my blessing.  Unfortunately, it soon wound up being shown on a public-access cable channel because one of the cast's relatives worked for the station and was looking for some time to fill.

Needless to say, video-tapes of staged performance rarely turn out worth viewing anyway and I believe this tape displayed my work in (literally) a bad light.

In the dark ages prior to 2000 PN.
Pre Net copyright agents used to subscribe to all the local newspapers here & scour them for items or adds about performances, to check on if any scripts in there stables were being performed, so I believe.
However it has become much easier now AN to just to monitor the net these days & they do!
On the film/recording rights issue these are totally separate to the performing rights & in a lot of cases are handled by other agents.
Groups here thought they found an anomaly in law a few tears ago. Under the OHS Worksafe act, were by a venue could adopt the policy of doing a safety video of each performance at the venue. Successfully side stepping the copyright act in compliance with State law.
Unfortunately Federal Law in all cases of conflicting legislation, takes precedent over that of the State law.
Especially since our wombat  Little Jonnie boy Howard agreed to accept the US trade agreement. Which stuffed a lot of our Acts up & amendments had to be quickly guillotined through to comply &/or even flushed down the Dunny!
So back on topic It is not a good idea to promote the fact if you video &/or do anything else untoward on these forums!

Originally posted by suzecue1 It is a little silly, and it seems to be a hot topic right now as there is another post on forum about the same subject.  In most royaltied show contracts it states that there can be NO copying of scripts, NO copying of music, NO videotaping of shows, NO photography, the writer's name needs to be NO less than 50% smaller that the title, yadda yadda - without exception - unless you get permission to do otherwise. Now that is another story.  Just try to figure out who to call to get permission. I've tried that nearly every show I have directed, because I like to have a copy of the shows I do. My Mother lives in another state and it is the only way she can see what I have done. I directed a royaltied show once, and we did get ahold of the the writer who actually asked us to send him a copy of the show when we taped it. He couldn't have cared less if we taped, I would say he was even happy we taped. Another good question is, if you are forbidden to copy, what are you supposed to do for the stage manager or the tech booth? Have them do all of their cues in the real script.  Who's script? They don't send enough scripts for every member of the cast to even get a script half the time.

It's all pretty simple, really.  It's a matter of copyright - literally "the right to copy."  By making a video tape of a production you are making a copy of the play.  Video taping and film rights are reserved by the author, and belong to them.  You found an author who was happy to let you make a video tape and wanted a copy for themself.  That's great, but it was his choice.  And it's possible that some authors might not allow you to do so or may not be able do because the rights might have been purchased by a movie studio.

And trying to figure out who to call is not difficult.  On the copyright page of any play published by Dramatists Play Service, Samuel French, Dramatic Publishing, Playscripts, etc., you will find a note that gives you the name of the author's representative.  If none is listed, you can contact the publisher and get the proper information from them.

As for a stage manager, they are allowed to make a photocopy of THEIR OWN script for their own use.  What you are not allowed to do is to buy, say, one script and make copies for the cast and crew.  I'm not sure what you mean by "they don't send enough scripts for everymember of the cast."  The theater can order however many copies of a script that they feel they need.   

The bottom line is that a play protected under copyright is the intellectual property of someone, and it's only right that theaters are honest and follow the proper protocol. 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, you still need to obtain permission to make an archival video tape copy of a performance.  Most of the time I think agents or authors are open to allowing that.  The time it might get tricky is if the play has been made into a movie or the film rights have been purchased by a movie studio.  In most cases the studio would then own the film and video rights.

But as I said, in my experience, most agents or authors will allow a theater to make a single archival tape.