Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Video Taping

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laurielu
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Topic: Video Taping
Posted: 2/28/08 at 2:57am

How do you tell cast that they cannot video tape a rehearsal or a performance? You and I both know that without purchasing video rights (which aren't always available) video taping is strictly prohibited.

The other night at rehearsal, a professional videographer showed up. I'm the producer....it's my butt on the line.

Thanks.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

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jayzehr
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Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:04am

Who arranged for a videographer at a rehearsal without the director's or your permission? That's way out of line even without considering the question of legality.

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laurielu
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Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:42pm

The video taping was arranged by the leading man (also president of our board) and the leading lady (also the choreographer). I don't know if the director was involved in the disucssion; she does not attend our board meetings and I get the feeling that all she wants to do is direct the actors and not worry about the admin stuff.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

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John Luzaich
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Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:53pm

Laurie,

Make that part of the meeting at the first read through or rehearsal so you nip it in the bud and don't have to confront it later. Make that part of whatever your process is right from the get-go. It's all in how we set the expectation. Then, when you hand out other information like bio sheets to fill out, or contact sheet info, or do's & dont's, whatever is your process, hand out copies of the license agreement you signed to people so that it's official, legal and spelled out. Just make it one of many things you talk about at that first meeting, read through or whatever your process is.

For us, it's in our playbill, it is posted in our lobby and we announce it during the shows.

Later,

John

Edited by John Luzaich - 6/21/10 at 5:08pm

John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent

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JoeMc
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Posted: 2/28/08 at 9:24pm

g'day Laurie

Either you or a Board member would have signed the Performing Licence contract?

Grab a copy & highlight the no recording/video bit. I assume you would be an Ex-officio of the Board for the duration of the production season - which is normal. Even if your not, get the contract copy &/or Licence info tabled at the next meeting, as corespondance or an agenda item!

The hiccup is it would be far too later, if the performance licences is pulled. Or the theatre is hit with an injunction. effectivly closing the season. It is not likely - but I know of cases it has happened & became very costly.

I realise your frustration, when these warm props, luvvies & twirlies, become all powerfull & believe they are the Pres & only member!

But the good old green backed dollars, can talk volumes, every time!

Besides applying 3 Phase Voltage in thier ears, inducing a frontal labotamy. this may be the easiest way of getting the message to sink in!

At least you won't have to hide the bodies or put them in a 'Glad Bag' outside the gate!

Although on the other hand it does save a lot of paper work?

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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jayzehr
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Posted: 2/29/08 at 5:06pm

I don't know what to tell you if the president of your board and you aren't seeing eye to eye on this issue. Sounds messy.

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Grant
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Posted: 5/18/08 at 9:33pm

Just tell them that it's against the law to videotape without the rights.

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ZFix1
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Posted: 6/06/08 at 6:07am

You are allowed to video tape for the theatre archives. However you cannot sell or give the tapes to anyone else. Since they have already video taped it I would have them sign a statement that they video taped it for the theatre and are not going to redistribute the tape. This puts you in a safe place and lets them know that this is REAL serious. If caught violating this rule, royalty houses WILL refuse to lease you any productions. Plus a very hefty fine and possible court time. Which means "Hello royalty free grammar school plays." I worked for a theatre that the sound guy was video taping the archival footage. However he was selling copies of the tapes on the side without the theatres knowledge. The theatre got a very hefty fine, lost the privilege to higher Equity actors, and could not get any newer shows for almost two years. VERY poopie.
On a side note, it is also very illegal to make shirts and the such with the shows font and or logo on them without the consent of the royalties house either. Even if it is just the cast. VERY big no, no. You can make the shirts, just use a different font and create your own logo, since the font used by the original poster is copyrighted.

If you can dream it, I can make it happen

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JoeMc
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Posted: 6/07/08 at 2:16am

Good points ZFX1, however we have been tackled in the past, for even wanting to do an archival video. However under our West Oz State Health & Safety Laws, which are linked to the federal Act. If as a Group or Establishment we deem it necessary to produce a 'Safety Video of each performance, this is believed to negate the Copyright provisions. However the fact we agreed & signed a contract, not allowing it. This could take precedent over the Fed Act. There again I'd hate to test it in court, as you can't make a contract contravening the law.

I'd think I would rather pay upto the 45000 penalty, for breaches of the Health Act, than throw a heap of gold dust & flushing it down the Dunny, by contesting.

So it would be less costly to design your own show logo & forget the video.

Actually I think it may be close to the time the copyright industry took action & hit one or two schools on utube or whatever. Just to keep bar stewards honest. But I think they would rather create less waves, by keeping the honest - more honest!.

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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tristanrobin
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Joined: 4/25/05
Location: United States
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Posted: 6/07/08 at 8:29am

It has happened already.
The R&H Library has fined several high schools for video taping productions of their shows.
It was the first I had ever heard of it being so strictly enforced. Some school got fined a bazillion and two dollars for video taping "The King and I."
Any BOARD member who can't see how important such a blatant violation of contract is shouldn't even BE on the board of a theatre organization.

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Author	Message
laurielu Walk-On Joined: 4/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Video Taping Posted: 2/28/08 at 2:57am
	How do you tell cast that they cannot video tape a rehearsal or a performance? You and I both know that without purchasing video rights (which aren't always available) video taping is strictly prohibited. The other night at rehearsal, a professional videographer showed up. I'm the producer....it's my butt on the line. Thanks.
	Nothing changes if nothing changes.

	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:04am
	Who arranged for a videographer at a rehearsal without the director's or your permission? That's way out of line even without considering the question of legality.
	IP Logged

laurielu Walk-On Joined: 4/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:42pm
	The video taping was arranged by the leading man (also president of our board) and the leading lady (also the choreographer). I don't know if the director was involved in the disucssion; she does not attend our board meetings and I get the feeling that all she wants to do is direct the actors and not worry about the admin stuff.
	Nothing changes if nothing changes.
	IP Logged

John Luzaich Celebrity Joined: 2/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 174	Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:53pm
	Laurie, Make that part of the meeting at the first read through or rehearsal so you nip it in the bud and don't have to confront it later. Make that part of whatever your process is right from the get-go. It's all in how we set the expectation. Then, when you hand out other information like bio sheets to fill out, or contact sheet info, or do's & dont's, whatever is your process, hand out copies of the license agreement you signed to people so that it's official, legal and spelled out. Just make it one of many things you talk about at that first meeting, read through or whatever your process is. For us, it's in our playbill, it is posted in our lobby and we announce it during the shows. Later, John Edited by John Luzaich - 6/21/10 at 5:08pm
	John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 2/28/08 at 9:24pm
	g'day Laurie Either you or a Board member would have signed the Performing Licence contract? Grab a copy & highlight the no recording/video bit. I assume you would be an Ex-officio of the Board for the duration of the production season - which is normal. Even if your not, get the contract copy &/or Licence info tabled at the next meeting, as corespondance or an agenda item! The hiccup is it would be far too later, if the performance licences is pulled. Or the theatre is hit with an injunction. effectivly closing the season. It is not likely - but I know of cases it has happened & became very costly. I realise your frustration, when these warm props, luvvies & twirlies, become all powerfull & believe they are the Pres & only member! But the good old green backed dollars, can talk volumes, every time! Besides applying 3 Phase Voltage in thier ears, inducing a frontal labotamy. this may be the easiest way of getting the message to sink in! At least you won't have to hide the bodies or put them in a 'Glad Bag' outside the gate! Although on the other hand it does save a lot of paper work?
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 2/29/08 at 5:06pm
	I don't know what to tell you if the president of your board and you aren't seeing eye to eye on this issue. Sounds messy.
	IP Logged

Grant Walk-On Joined: 5/18/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/18/08 at 9:33pm
	Just tell them that it's against the law to videotape without the rights.
	IP Logged

ZFix1 Player Joined: 5/05/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 6/06/08 at 6:07am
	You are allowed to video tape for the theatre archives. However you cannot sell or give the tapes to anyone else. Since they have already video taped it I would have them sign a statement that they video taped it for the theatre and are not going to redistribute the tape. This puts you in a safe place and lets them know that this is REAL serious. If caught violating this rule, royalty houses WILL refuse to lease you any productions. Plus a very hefty fine and possible court time. Which means "Hello royalty free grammar school plays." I worked for a theatre that the sound guy was video taping the archival footage. However he was selling copies of the tapes on the side without the theatres knowledge. The theatre got a very hefty fine, lost the privilege to higher Equity actors, and could not get any newer shows for almost two years. VERY poopie. On a side note, it is also very illegal to make shirts and the such with the shows font and or logo on them without the consent of the royalties house either. Even if it is just the cast. VERY big no, no. You can make the shirts, just use a different font and create your own logo, since the font used by the original poster is copyrighted.
	If you can dream it, I can make it happen
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 6/07/08 at 2:16am
	Good points ZFX1, however we have been tackled in the past, for even wanting to do an archival video. However under our West Oz State Health & Safety Laws, which are linked to the federal Act. If as a Group or Establishment we deem it necessary to produce a 'Safety Video of each performance, this is believed to negate the Copyright provisions. However the fact we agreed & signed a contract, not allowing it. This could take precedent over the Fed Act. There again I'd hate to test it in court, as you can't make a contract contravening the law. I'd think I would rather pay upto the 45000 penalty, for breaches of the Health Act, than throw a heap of gold dust & flushing it down the Dunny, by contesting. So it would be less costly to design your own show logo & forget the video. Actually I think it may be close to the time the copyright industry took action & hit one or two schools on utube or whatever. Just to keep bar stewards honest. But I think they would rather create less waves, by keeping the honest - more honest!.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 6/07/08 at 8:29am
	It has happened already. The R&H Library has fined several high schools for video taping productions of their shows. It was the first I had ever heard of it being so strictly enforced. Some school got fined a bazillion and two dollars for video taping "The King and I." Any BOARD member who can't see how important such a blatant violation of contract is shouldn't even BE on the board of a theatre organization.
	IP Logged

Topic: Video Taping( Topic Closed)
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